Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has gifted N2 million each to four overall best graduating students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in the Ago-Iwoye area of the state.

The beneficiaries – Azeem Ayomide Talabi, Damilola Ibrahim Adesanya, and Ifeoluwa Victoria Alabi from Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Computer Engineering departments respectively – all graduated with GPA of 4.86 for the 2021/2022 academic session.

The list included Adegoke Asisat Adejoke from Pharmacology department, who emerged as the overall best graduating student with a GPA of 4.90 for the 2022/2023 session.

Announcing the cash awards at the university’s convocation ceremony in Ago-Iwoye on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, Abiodun also gifted the sum of N500,000 each to the other best graduating students in each Faculty of the institution.

A total of 15,428 graduands at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels were awarded different degrees for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions of the university.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, described OOU as a great citadel of learning that continues to blaze the trail in the propagation of positive virtues, adding that the university had also become a beacon of knowledge at both the state and global levels.

He said his administration will continue to motivate scholarship among students and celebrate exceptional graduands in various educational institutions.

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According to him, university education has become globally recognised as the fulcrum upon which national and individual developments rest.

The governor stressed that his administration had placed priority on education and committed huge resources to make the sector functional and result-oriented.

Abiodun said: “As a responsible administration, we shall continue to do our best to sustain the current status of our state as the education capital of Nigeria through deliberate policies tailored towards smooth academic activities on our campuses.

“Our administration, while not shying away from its primary responsibilities, welcomes partnerships from public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations that have genuine concern for the development of education in the state.”

Also speaking at the event, the OOU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, said the goal of the current administration is to place the university as a world-class university recognised internationally as a producer of first-rate quality graduates.

Agboola, who disclosed that OOU currently ranks 15th nationwide, noted that the university has added 10 new programmes to its pool of career paths in its further quest for academic excellence.

Giving a breakdown of the graduands for the combined convocation, the Vice-Chancellor said a total of 11,900 students graduated for undergraduate programmes for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions.

Other categories of graduands, he added, include 175 First Class, 3,463 Second Class (Upper Division), 6,185 Second Class (Lower Division), 1,535 Third Class Division, 146 Pass Degree, 280 unclassified Degrees, and 116 from outstanding sessions.

He said: “We also have 1,199 graduands from our affiliates, as well as a total of 1,099 from our Centre for Continuing Education programmes (comprising 789 Advanced Certificate and 310 Degree programmes).

“For Postgraduate programmes, a total of 1,230 graduands were awarded Postgraduate Degrees and Diplomas of the university: 1,118 graduands awarded Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s Degrees, while 112 graduands were awarded PhD Degree.”

The Star