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By Kayode Abdul
The Management of Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), Oko-Irese in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has reiterated its commitment to excel across the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine, and Innovations (STEM-i).
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Francisca Oladipo restated this while addressing journalists at the institution campus ahead of the maiden convocation ceremony slated for Tuesday 26th of November, 2024.
The VC said, “TAU is built on a proud legacy of about three decades’ experience in nurturing great minds through the Thomas Adewumi International College.”
The University which was officially licensed by the Federal Government of Nigeria on 8th April 2021, began on 16th May of the same year with 13 academic programmes across three faculties.
“Since then, we have expanded to the tune of offering 27 academic programmes in 24 departments under seven faculties, with a solid record of achievement, including 100% FULL accreditation by the National Universities Commission, (NUC)” he said.
The VC also made known that “apart from awarding a degree in various academic programmes all our graduates have also acquired a minimum of two International ICT Certifications offered by Google, IBM, Coursera, and other Global Partners for Sustainable Development, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
“Our innovative approach to university education has given us recognition as the first among the 20 universities licensed by the Federal Government in 2021, we did not get here by sheer luck, but through strategic planning and deliberate commitment to excellence.
“Between 2021 and now, we have doubled our academic programmes from the original 13 approved by the National Universities Commission for take-off to 27, established four (4) new faculties (Arts and Humanities, Engineering, Law, and Nursing Sciences), to give a total of seven faculties from the original three as approved for take-off. We achieved 100% FULL NUC accreditation in all our academic programmes.
“Additionally, our LLB Law Programme is approved by the Council of Legal Education, while our Bachelor of Nursing Science Programme is fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Earlier this month, we presented our first set of Nursing Students for the Council’s qualifying examinations, and we achieved a 100% pass.
“We are deeply committed to making a meaningful contribution to all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s most sustainable university campuses: with a 214KW solar farm.
“We rely majorly on renewable energy to power our campuses, and with our over 10 kilometers of fibre optics infrastructure. We make fast broadband internet connectivity available to our faculty, staff, and students, as well as some part of Oko Community, within the limit of law.”
Speaking on the safety of students and workers, the VC made known that the institution is well protected by the troops of armed forces comprising; Soldiers, NSCDC, Police, and local vigilantes and also safeguarded with a perimeter fence.
The VC also made know that TAU promotes good health and well-being, saying “While we own the only Medical Center serving our immediate community and over 62 others, we have just constructed a new Physiotherapy Clinic, adjudged by the accreditation panel from the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Reg.) The Board of Nigeria as one of the best in the country in terms of engineering and equipment.
Speaking further on the rising profile of TAU, she said “According to the most recent Webometrics ranking of World Universities, TAU is ranked 1st among the 20 universities that were licensed in 2021, 4th among the 9 universities in Kwara State, 5th among the 149 Private Universities in Nigeria, and 50th among the 274 universities in Nigeria. In Sub-Saharan Africa, we ranked 190 out of 1417.
“We have also been listed in the last two editions of the Times Higher Education (THE) World Universities Ranking as 37th in Nigeria and the 2024 Impact Rankings.
The VC who is the Secretary General of Consortium of Universities in Kwara State (KU8+) stated that “All the above and more are some of the things that set our university apart from others.”
The VC however gave the account of the graduating students as follows:
“The degrees shall be conferred on 26 graduands from two Faculties and nine academic programmes. 6 bagged First Class Honours, 14 will graduate with Second Class Honours (Upper Division), 4 with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) and 1 with a Third Class.
She also made known that Governor Oluseyi Makinde of Oyo State will deliver the convocation lecture titled, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Future of Work: Implications for Nigerian Graduates,” adding that The High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Humphrey Geiseb, will give the Convocation Commencement Address while Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq will be Special Guest of Honour.
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