THE Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, Rt Rev. Professor Dapo Asaju on Monday disclosed that the institution, as a matter of policy, its mission is to produce students with uncommon standard that will think outside the box to solve Nigerian problems.
Professor Asaju made this known while addressing a press conference to herald the commencement of the university’s 11th convocation ceremony, held at the Senate chamber of the institution.
He informed that 1,390 students shall be conferred with first and postgraduate degrees in various programmes of the university which comprises of 1063 undergraduates and 327 postgraduate students with 44 undergraduates graduating with first-class; 550 in Second class Upper-division,457 in the Second class Lower division and 12 students in Third class.
He also revealed that the university has commenced test transmission of its radio station, 88.5 FM, to be run during the course of convocation period while awaiting licence from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for full transmission.
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The vice-chancellor said “ACU is sitting on the grounds of old Saint Andrew college where the best of brains and the leadership of this country were produced at the old St Andrews college, Oyo, we are building upon that tradition we want to do something different. We’re not competing with any university, so we don’t even mind about their ranking.
“We make sure we produce people standard in knowledge and in character because knowledge without character amount to nothing. This is what is bring Nigeria down, we have professors, doctors everywhere but they are powerless and those who have nothing to offer dominating the affairs of this country.”
“We are raising Godly leaders who will solve Nigeria’s problem. In the physics department, one of our lecturers has developed a drone, traffic light. Our students are equipped with vocational skills, no student will leave this university without an additional certificate of vocational skills in order to be able to do something on their own.”
“The students here are being taught to think different from the Nigerian people, different from those who are following evil trends in this society. We are telling them that we cannot compromise your morality, we cannot compromise your dedications, these people we are producing, we want them to fix the problem of Nigeria.”
“This is the kind of leadership we want to raise in this country, people who will say no to corruption, people who are courageous enough to develop the country.”
“It is shameful for us to have bad roads in this country, where are the engineers? Why are people stealing money, hospitals are collapsing. At Ajayi Crowther University we are producing people who will think outside the box, who will be revolutionary. We are poised to change the situation of this country. And we will by the grace of God.”
The ACU’s convocation ceremony begins on Tuesday, October 15, with the town and gown interaction, alumni lecture on Wednesday, the new chancellor of the university, Chief Dr Tunde Afolabi, will be installed while ceremony of award of degrees comes up on Friday.
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