To the glory of God, on 27 July, the University would be conferring first degrees on 657 students from five of its seven colleges. The graduating students come from the following colleges:

College of Agriculture 16 (01, 12, 03, Nil)
College of Education 43 (03, 10, 22, 08)
College of Humanities and Culture 96 (Nil, 22, 57, 17)
College of Management and Social Sciences 368 (10, 121, 220, 18)
College of Science, Engineering and technology 133 (06, 62, 59, 06)
Total 657

The total number of graduating students reveals a significant increase from the 364 that graduated in 2011. It is also significant that this year, the College of Agriculture is producing its first set of graduates, just as the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Environmental Studies in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

The breakdown of the class of degrees is as follows:

• First Class Honours 20
• Second Class Upper 227
• Second Class Lower 361
• Third Class 49

The 2-week activities lined up to mark the 2012 convocation commenced on Sunday, July 15, 2012 with Thanksgiving Service at St. Benedict’s Catholic Cathedral, Osogbo. Other events lined up include:

• The First Distinguished Lecture to be delivered tomorrow, Thursday, July 19, 2012 by His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, Governor of Lagos State, on the topic, “Democracy, Federalism and Higher Education Development in Nigeria”.
• Jumat Service at the Central Mosque, Oja Oba, Osogbo, on Friday, July 20.
• Convocation Lecture to be delivered by the Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency, Dr. J. Kayode Fayemi, on the topic ‘Repositioning Nigeria Universities within a Dynamic Global University System: Challenges and Prospects’, on Monday, July 23, 2012.
• Convocation Play titled “Aringindin and the Night watchmen", written by Professor Femi Osofisan and directed by Dr. A.D. Akoh, to be staged on Tuesday, July 24, 2012.
• Valedictory Symposium on the theme, “Reflections on the Future of the Nigerian University System” in Honour of the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, on Thursday, July 26. The symposium, which is co-organised by Committee of Friends, is expected to be chaired by the Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors/Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Is-haq Oloyede.
• The Convocation Ceremony and grand finale on Friday, July 27, 2012, which would witness the admission of the second set of graduates to various first degrees of the University and the award of prizes.

During the past year, the University has continued to make progress on all fronts: physical and infrastructural development, development of academic programmes and of the required human resource capacity, growth of student enrolment, and networking with its peers nationally and internationally. I am pleased to report that all our programmes have been accredited by the National Universities Commission as well as by relevant professional bodies for affected courses. In addition, seven new programmes were approved for take-off in the 2012/2013 academic session by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Student enrolment grew from 4,073 in 2010/2011 to 6,303 in 2011/2012.

I am also pleased to report that our graduates have continued to excel. In particular, two of the pioneer set of Youth Corpers produced by the University distinguished themselves in their service to their fatherland (or is it motherland?) These are Miss Rachael Omobukola Jegede, 2011 graduate of Biochemstry who received Certificate of Honour as the Corper of the Year in Kogi State from the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Captain Idris Wada, in recognition of her outstanding performance and excellent service to the people of Kogi State during the 2011/2012 National Youth Service Corps. Similarly, Hassan Omolaja Abayomi, a 2011 graduate of History and International Studies, received commendation from the State Governing Board of the Edo State Chapter of the National Youth Service Corps for exceptional performance, loyalty and devotion to duty in the 2011 service year.

On other fronts, our staff have also been excelling in their research and other activities winning competitive international awards and research grants. Details of these would be provided in my Convocation Address by the grace on God on 27 July.

This year’s convocation marks the end of an era and the beginning of another in the history and development of the University. Osun State University would be concluding its fifth year in September 2012 and there would be major changes in its leadership and governance. More importantly, the institution has been looking forward and planning its strategic development in the next five years. Towards this end, the University concluded work on its Strategic Plan for the period 2012 – 2016 (both years inclusive). The document, which is already being implemented, would be formally presented to stakeholders during the Convocation ceremony on 27 July. This Plan, which adopted a bottom-up approach and involved every segment of the University including stakeholders from outside the system in its crafting, is to drive the development of the university and the institutional priorities in terms of resource allocation during the five-year period covered. An Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Committee has been set up to ensure that the University commits itself fully to its implementation. At this stage, I must appreciate my colleagues in the Strategic Planning Committee as well as our three consultants who worked tireless to produce this document.

As I noted earlier, this year’s convocation coincides with a period of change of leadership in the University. While this has been in the public domain for several weeks now, ladies and Gentlemen, it is with gratitude to God that I formally wish to inform you, my dear friends, that I would be completing my tenure as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of this University, on July 31, 2012. The past five years have been momentous and personally, the period has been for me one of major self-development and professional fulfilment. I have no doubt whatsoever that our university is on course to be a major player in the league of tertiary institutions not just in this country but globally. I plead with you to kindly cooperate and support the in-coming leadership of the University more than you have done for us.

I like to appreciate those who have helped us in one way or the other. To the Government and People of Osun State, we toll our bell of gratitude for supporting the development and growth of the University. We appreciate the Governor of the State and Visitor to the Osun State University, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for his support and love for education. We thank the Deputy Governor of the State who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, Her Excellency, Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, who has emerged as a personal friend of this University and who believes so much in the institution’s potential for greatness. We thank the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, the Rt. Hon. Najeem Folasayo Salaam, and members of the House, the leadership of our Local Governments in the State; our Royal Fathers, Spiritual Leaders, and the leadership and members of our host communities in the six towns where our campuses are located in Osun State and their adjoining communities. I appreciate all members of staff who have put their hands on the deck to ensure that the ship of UNIOSUN keeps sailing towards the desired destination and all stakeholders including the leadership and members of the Parents Forum.

Finally, I must appreciate a group that made great sacrifices to ensure the proper and accelerated growth of this University, the members of the pioneer Council led by Professor Peter Okebukola, OFR, the first Pro-Chancellor. These individuals have written their names in gold and I am sure that history and generations to come that would traverse the four walls of this university would be kind and grateful to them.

But I cannot end this address without appreciating you distinguished members of the fourth estate of the realm, for the support you have given us individually and severally over the years. We do hope you would be able to join us to celebrate our second graduating set as we rejoice with them on this momentous occasion in their lives. Meanwhile, let me congratulate the graduating students and their proud parents in advance, even as we look forward to the events of the next few days.

In closing these remarks, I like to appreciate the Almighty God who has been my Help and Support throughout these five years. I have never hidden my confession as a Christian and adherence to the principles and values of my faith has helped me in the discharge of my duties. God has been faithful to me. That I am leaving this office alive is simply by the grace of God. As such, I would be inviting you sometimes in the near future for the Thanksgiving Service to mark the completion of my tenure as pioneer Vice-Chancellor and I do hope you will oblige my family and friends with your presence.

I thank you all for your attention.

Professor Sola Akinrinade
Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University
July 18, 2012

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