The Alumni Association of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State has revealed plans to award a whopping N250,000 prize to the university’s overall best graduating student next year.
Speaking in Akungba Akoko at the 2023 biennial General Assembly of the Alumni Association, the president of the Association, Dr. Olumide Olugbemi-Gabriel, said the proposed prize is aimed at encouraging scholarship among students, “many of whom are displeased with the paltry prizes awarded for outstanding academic performances.”
Olugbemi-Gabriel, who announced scholarships and financial support for indigent and physically challenged students on the bills of the alumni association, disclosed that he had personally defrayed school fees for no fewer than four students in 2023.
He added that efforts are underway to re-equip the transcript processing unit of the university to facilitate a seamless transcript collection process.
At the General Assembly meeting, 54 delegates from six branches of the association ratified the new constitution of the association.
The new constitution, according to the national Event and Publicity Secretary of the association, O’Seun Ogunsakin, created five new offices aimed at accommodating certain peculiarities within the association, particularly the agitation of people living with disabilities (PWDs) and women.
Ogunsakin, who listed the new offices to include national social and welfare officer, national director of ICT, national Auditor, national director of women, and Director of PWDs, said the positions of the national director of women and director of PWDs are aimed at enhancing inclusiveness, as women and PWDs are protected by the constitution.
The publicity officer, who disclosed that the new constitution equally makes provisions for the sanction of erring officers of the alumni, added that the Assembly considered the audit report of the association from 2016 till 2021 but failed to ratify the report, which was rejected.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Olugbenga Ige, commended the leadership of the association for commencing work on the hostel project, which had remained incomplete for a long time.
Ige, who was represented by the varsity’s Director of the Advancement Office, Professor Victor Olumekun, expressed delight at the transparency of the Olugbemi-Gabriel-led administration, stating that this would fast-track the development of the association and the university community.
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