Rev. Fr. Peter IBIMILUYI

 

In a grand ceremony, Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, celebrated its convocation, graduating 148 students across various programs. The ceremony also marked the inauguration of its 2nd Pro Chancellor, Rt. Hon Dame Winifred Akpani, FCA, KSS, OFR, and the presentation of its new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Alaba Akinwale, OP.

 

The graduands included 22 first-class honors students, 57 second-class upper division, 57 second-class lower division, 12 third-class honors, and 21 diploma recipients.

 

The Proprietor of the university, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, expressed gratitude to God for the university's growth, highlighting the institution's motto, "Pro Scientia et Moribus" ("For Learning and Character"). He urged the graduands to let their learning serve humanity and their character be their lasting testimony. His speech read in bit “This motto is the heartbeat of our mission. In these ten years, we have strived to remain faithful to it, ensuring that our students are not only intellectually prepared but morally formed to face the world with courage, honesty, and compassion.”

 

The Chancellor, Mr. Femi Otedola, CON, demonstrated his commitment to the university's growth by donating N500 million towards the construction of the Electronic/Electrical Engineering block, which is estimated to cost almost N4 billion.

 

The convocation lecture was delivered by the Pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Olaoluwa Afolami, Ph.D, FNISON, FNSPP, who spoke on "Augustine University Ilara-Epe at Ten: Providing Integral University Education for a Borderless World." In his lecture He identified that a borderless world is not simply a metaphor but a lived reality when we consider globalization of economics, cultures, and technologies and in fact, the game of football, which allows us to participate in events in other cultures and places. This is not without its negative side (cybercrime, porous international, national disciplinary, and institutional boundaries), He noted.

 

In his words, “The global landscape from which university graduates seek employment and in which they must survive requires interdisciplinary fluency to collaborate across cultures, interdisciplinary agility to solve complex problems, ethical reasoning to navigate moral dilemmas; all of which lead to adaptability and resilience in dynamic intercultural environments. Such holistic education prepares the students for employment and global citizenship.” Prof. Afolami noted with pride that AUI in the past 10 years has promoted this integral education through her policies and remarkable steps.

 

The ceremony was also marked by an emotional moment when Otuoniyo Oghenerukome Emmanuel, a remarkable student who overcame significant challenges to complete his tertiary education, was wheeled into the hall to thunderous applause.

 

The Vice Chancellor earlier welcomed all present at the ceremony as He recounted with sentiment of thanks all those who had in one way or the other supported and contributed to the growth of the University, in the past 10 years. He said “this university is thriving today because of the roles played by each of you and by her numerous benefactors, her highly competent and devoted staff, past and present, and her very brilliant and dynamic students.” He recognized with pride, saluting the accomplishment of the graduating students, most especially Miss Anne Ifeoluwa Adeyera, the overall best graduating student, with a cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.90 in Biochemistry.

 

Speaking also at the ceremony, the Pro - Chancellor, Rt. Hon Dame Winifred Akpani charged the graduands to uphold the values of truth, diligence, humility and faith wherever life may take them. She encouraged them to be proud ambassadors of the University as she reminded them that their conducts in the society reflect not only who they are, but also the ideals of the institution that has nutured them.

 

Also present at the ceremony were, Msgr. John Aniagwu, the Pioneer, Chancellor of the University, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Sir Steve Omojafor, OON and other members of the Board, HRM Oba (Dr.) Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Telade IV, Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Epe Division, Lagos State and also some visiting institutions such as Dominican University, St. Augustine College of Education, Caleb Univesity, Yaba College of Education amongst others.

 

AUI is a Catholic university owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, offering programmes in Sciences, Management, Social Sciences, Humanities and Postgraduate studies in Computer Science. 

 

The event showcased the university's commitment to providing quality education and character formation, as it continues to strive for excellence in its 10th year.