No fewer than 62 graduates of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, in Ondo State, have bagged first-class degrees
The first-class graduates were among the 1,202 that would be conferred with bachelors degrees in the coming convocation of the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions of the institution.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, revealed this at a news conference to herald the 2nd convocation of the institution.
Ologunorisa said that the convocation, which would combine the two academic sessions, would be held on Monday with a lot of fun to make it colourful.
He explained that 23 first-class graduates were produced in the 2020–2021 academic session, while 39 first-class graduates were from the 2022–2023 academic session.
The vice chancellor stated that the 2021–2022 academic session was cancelled due to the prolonged industrial action undertaken by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
According to him, the university has moved from a teaching university to a research institution, having achieved a lot in the area of research.
He added that some of the university staff won N50 million and N250 million in different research programmes at different times in the past.
Ologunorisa appreciated the late governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for his infrastructural development stride in the institution, extending his appreciation to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for providing solar road lights in the institution.
He said that there were many projects being abandoned in the university for 10 years, appealing to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to visit the university and bring positive transformation to it.
Ologunorisa cited a proposed School of Maritime project being abandoned in the university, saying that if the school could start, it would align with the blue economy initiative of President Bola Tinubu.
He said that the university had signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with some institutions abroad in research, student, and staff exchange policy, urging the governor to intervene in the development programmes of the citadel of learning that would bring its dream to reality.