The Commissioner, Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, African Union Commission, Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, alongside some academic eggheads, have tasked the students of Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute to take advantage of their studies in advancing the course of Africa in line with the vision of the AUC.
In his address on Tuesday during the matriculation ceremony of the Masters and PhD students for the 2021/2022 academic session of PAULESI, held at the institute’s facility at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, the Commissioner expressed confidence that their experiences would translate to notable advantages for their respective countries in particular as well as the entire African continent.
Belhocine, who was represented on the occasion by Hambani Masheleni, acting Director ESTI, AUC, urged the beneficiaries of the AUC scholarship and grant from the five African regions to remain committed to their engagements as future leaders.
He said, “PAULESI is a highly rated institution, has provided a suitable academic environment for PAU students to productively engage in learning and research under the tutelage of prominent academics who are available and approachable.
“Dear students, you are lucky to live the African diversity and the dynamics of culture that will lead to understanding each other, give mutual respect, live peaceably and be good representatives of your countries during your study in Nigeria, but also in becoming the leaders of tomorrow.”
In his charge, the Vice-Chancellor of UI, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said that “The Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute, being a continental initiative of AUC, is domiciled in the University of Ibadan and the management of the University of Ibadan has been supporting PAULESI in its drive to be a major instrument for the second decade for Africa which is expected to give way to the African Continental Education Strategy as well as the African Common Position on post Sustainable Development Goals.”
Adebowale, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, UI, Prof. Ezekiel Ayoola, stated that “It is my pleasure to welcome the new students aboard this academic train. It is a special matriculation ceremony, so I consider you trailblazers. I have deliberately used that tag because this is the very first time this ceremony would be taking place in a PAULESI facility. This lays credence to the fact that your start is on a new pedestal and I believe, by God’s grace, you will end well.
“We do not count you as mere academic statistics. There is a vision that defines the establishment and operations of PAULESI, hence the need for you to key into those ideals from this very beginning. In this new dawn, I wish to admonish you to be circumspect and focused. It is exigent to note that PAULESI draws its strength from experts both within and outside Africa and Nigeria. You will, therefore, be exposed to international standards and I am positive that Africa will be proud of your emergence from this programme.”
He urged them to prioritize the development of Africa, saying, “You people sitting here are the hope of this continent. Do not be tired of exploring how your academic experiences and training here will address the problems that are holding this great continent back. If you do not do it, who would?”
He lauded the Director of PAULESI, Prof. Esther Titilayo Akinlabi, for her dogged leadership, saying, “The apparent feats of PAULESI under your able watch justifies the confidence reposed in you by the University management. I congratulate you on the occasion of this matriculation ceremony and also wish to appreciate the entire PAULESI workforce for fulfilling their call to duty on their different schedules.”
The Director of PAULESI, Prof. Esther Akinlabi, disclosed in her address of welcome at the 9th matriculation ceremony that a total of 110 students were enrolled into nine Masters degree and five PhD degree programmes.
She said, “I seize this opportunity to congratulate you on the PAU scholarship award. PAULESI received a total of 2,838 captured applications in our pool of applicants from 47 countries of the African continent. However, a total of 110 candidates; only about 3.87per cent of the total applicants were selected after a thorough and rigorous process comprising of representatives from all regions of the continent and you all are blessed to be among the selected few for the 2021/22 academic session.
“I would like to emphasize that PAULESI, as with other PAU institutes, was founded to support the revitalization of higher education in Nigeria and to contribute to the vision of the African Union. It is our dream and hopes that you all will exemplify excellence, contribute to the development of the African Continent, make meaningful and relevant contributions across the globe and dominate in your various fields of study.
“You all are postgraduate students, and even though postgraduate studies come with a higher degree of freedom, I would like to state that this freedom is not without some expected requirements and boundaries. It is pertinent that you abide by the rules and regulations as required of you during your course of study.”
Quoting former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Benjamin Disraeli, the director said, “University should be a place of light, of liberty and aiming. PAULESI, as a high-performance rated institution, has provided a suitable academic ambience for our students to productively engage in learning and research with the guide of prominent academic who play several roles as teachers, instructors, supervisors, advisors, mentors and many more.
“We have our peculiar culture here in the south-western part of the country that forms part of the cultural diversity of the African continent; we try our best to accord respect to one another. Hence, you are admonished to be on your best behaviour throughout your stay on campus so you can have a good time at PAULESI and in Nigeria.
“Still, on diversity, we currently have students from 41 countries. Based on the dynamics of culture. I will like to encourage you to learn to live peaceable with one another, act responsibly, be a good ambassador of your home country and practice Ubuntu because you are a quality that includes the essential human virtues: compassion and humanity.
“You all have gone through the intensive language classes which have aided your language knowledge and prepared you for your academic sojourn here most especially students from the francophone countries who need an appreciable knowledge of the English Language – the language of instruction in PAULESI.
“In addition to attaining technical skills in your chosen fields of study, there is also a lot of extra training that you would have to undergo to make you a round person, this include series of entrepreneurship and software training. As you are all aware, entrepreneurs are wheels of economic development. The Assembly of the Heads of State in Africa would want every student running through the PAU have an awareness and be conscious of entrepreneurship and also issues as it relates to gender, human rights and African history.
“These are general courses that we offer at PAULESI as required. Also, I would like to make mention of the Innovation hub; the PAULESI Centre of Excellence sponsored by the African Development Bank which was established with an agenda to promote and drive innovation,
creativity, entrepreneurship and private sector linkages.
“The hub is currently being driven by the Co-Creation Hub and will be made open to all PAULESI and Ul students when it becomes fully operational. All these have been put together to make you a balanced student. With all these in place, it is our sincere hope that you all will not add to the statistics of job seekers in our continent but become owners and pioneers of businesses, companies and organisations in a few years to come. I believe that together, we can make a difference positively to the high rate of unemployment on the African continent.
“On behalf of His Excellency, Mr Moussa Faki, the Commissioner of ESTI; Director of ESTI; and my humble self, I welcome the new students once more to PAULESI as I enjoin you to feel at home and enjoy your stay in Nigeria.”
