AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
A total of 22 graduates of Dominion University, Ibadan from different faculties will, on Friday, bag First Class Honours Division in their respective courses as the institution turns out its first set of graduands numbering 96 after completing their three to four years academic activities in 11 programmes.
This was announced on Tuesday during a pre-graduation ceremony press briefing held at the Conference Hall, Central Administrative Building of the private university, along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abel Olorunnisola, while addressing the press, said that the 22 First Class students represented 22.9 per cent of the graduating students of the institution.
Olorunnisola said that 53 students, representing 55.2per cent, made Second Class Upper Division while 21 students, representing 21.9per cent made Second Class Lower Division.
Going down memory lane, the VC, who recalled that the National Universities Commission granted operating licence to Dominion University on February 5, 2019, said that “The University was set up as a unique institution committed to raising generational leaders.
“It was envisioned as a centre of excellence engaged in highly qualitative teaching, scientific research and training that will engender the production of well-rounded, locally relevant and globally competitive graduates who are not only employable but are also employers of labour.
“In October 2019, the university opened its gates to the first set of students and commenced academic activities at its campus at Kilometer 24, Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, Ibadan, Oyo State. This week, we are celebrating a significant milestone in the journey of Dominion University, (i.e. our maiden convocation).”
He said that having conducted the first matriculation ceremony on February 28, 2020 for a total of 92 students (43 males and 49 females), later joined by 22 students (10 males and 12 females) through direct entry in the 2020/2021 academic session, only 110 of the 114 students made it to the final year in the 2022/2023 academic session.
“By the end of the 2022/2023 academic session, the student population increased to 661, 49.8 per cent of whom are females. We are proud to say that at the end of the 2022/203 academic session, we had students drawn from 22 states, covering the six geo-political zones of the Nigeria. We also had a few students of Ghanaian and Lebanese origins. You will agree with me that Dominion University is already living up to the billings of a budding world class university – one that brings people together from a range of different cultures and backgrounds to tackle shared global challenges,” the VC said.
He further explained that the 11 programmes run by the University, namely Accounting, Biochemistry, Business Administration, Computer Science, Criminology and Security Studies, Cyber Security, Economics, Industrial Chemistry, Mass Communication, Microbiology and Software Engineering, had been accredited by the National Universities Commission.
Beyond academics, he said that the institution encouraged its students to register for various certification and professional programmes in order to enhance their employability. The institution also promoted entrepreneurship and students’ participation in ENACTUS: Entrepreneurial action made by students around the world.
On laurels won, he disclosed that in the year 2020, the University won a grant of five hundred thousand Euros from Erasmus+ programme to facilitate staff- student exchange programme with Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, and Piraeus University, Greece, founded in 1927.
However, it was learned that due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, the grant could not be utilised until 2023. In May 2023, two 300 Level students of the university, (Paul Ayo- Akintade and Miss Rhoda Adeola, and two staff, namely Dr. Fortune Afatakpa, and Miss. Iyanu Fanimokun, travelled to Greece for semester. The grant, the VC said, had been renewed for another two years.
Assuring the public that Dominion University was on a journey that would define the future of education in Nigeria, he said that the institution continued to make progress in infrastructural growth and development.
He listed the infrastructure to include a worship centre, an administrative building housing Council/Senate Chambers and Offices for the Principal Officers, a set of classrooms, lecture theatre, studios and laboratories; staff quarters, four halls of residence for male and female students, a central library and an e-library, a central cafeteria, three privately-run restaurants, a mini-supermarket, a health centre, a mini water treatment plant and internet connectivity with wireless hot spots across the campus.
On Corporate Social Responsibility, he explained that “The university maintains very cordial relationship with the host and neighbouring communities. The University, at different times, has donated a Police patrol car, bore holes, and electric poles to the communities.
Meanwhile, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, who is the Chancellor of Dominion University, Ibadan, while casting his mind back to October 2019 when the university commenced activities officially with 113 students, has expressed gratitude to God for making the dream come true.
Apart from impacting quality education on students, the Bishop emphasized that the University took the students through thorough spiritual regeneration for godly living.
Despite the challenges placed by the COVID 19 pandemic occasioned by academic disruption barely two years ago, he said, “Thank God for the robust ICT policy already in place to run the institution online. The university has succeeded in running four uninterrupted academic sessions and it is just at the beginning of the fifth session.
“We are glad to announce the maiden convocation of our first set of graduands from Dominion University.”
The University convocation ceremony would kick off by 5pm, Wednesday, October 18, with the Convocation Service followed by the Convocation Lecture to be delivered by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo by 9am on Thursday, October 19.
The Bishop said, “Conferment of first degree and award of prizes to the maiden set comes up on Friday, 20th October at 10am. We want to inform the general public that Dominion University is set for the tops and we invite all to join us to release ‘the Pacesetters’ – our pioneer students, into the market place for a take over.”
