BY LAW IBITOYE
The 29th convocation of the Ekiti state university, Ado Ekiti will remain evergreen in the anal of Ekiti State, Nigeria and those in the academia across the globe. The influx of ‘creme de la creme’ at the convocation made a strong statement about the stuff EKSU is made of, coupled with the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Award on three eminent personalities in Nigeria.
At the 29th convocation held on the 29 March, 2025, the Pro- Chancellor, Prof. Akin Oyebode re-echoed that Ekiti state university, Ado Ekiti ranked the BEST STATE UNIVERSITY IN NIGERIA AND 12TH BEST NATIONWIDE according to the latest ranking by TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION. This is a confirmation that Ekiti state has not lost her leading role in Education as fountain of knowledge, land of honour.
15,981 graduates were presented first degrees and 465 Postgraduates Degree, categorised as : PhD 162,
Masters 242 and Postgraduate Diploma 61.This feat can only be achieved in a serene academic environment where the management team had not only put in place every indices for the landmark breakthrough but worked hard to impact necessary skills on the graduates to excel at the global world.
The highpoint of the convocation was the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Award on three important Nigerians :
Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele – Doctor of Laws(Honoris Causa)
Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji– Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa)
Executive Chairman, Board of the Bank of Industry Dr. Mansur Muhtar–Doctor of Finance.
Confirming the academic performance of EKSU, the Nigeria Senate president, Senator God’swill Akpabio commended the management , Ekiti state Governor and senator Opeyemi Michael Bamidele for their huge investment in education which he said would reduce crime rate in the state. He said when you build and prioritize education, you are closing the gate of prisons, adding that Ekiti sons and daughters would hardly be caught in social maladies .
Also, governor Oyebanji reiterated his commitment to qualitative and functional education for development that would drive the economy of the state, noting that education remained the bedrock of any thriving society as well as critical pillar and Roadmap to Keeping Ekiti State Working.
The governor tasked the governing council of EKSU on creativity and innovation, said innovation and creativity rule the world. While applauding senator Opeyemi Bamidele on his several interventions on the campus developments, Gov Oyebanji said Senator Opeyemi is a worthy son of Ekiti state whose imprints are not only visible in Ekiti state University but in all the three senatorial Districts. He congratulated him on the award, Doctor of Laws(Honoris Causa) bestowed on him by the institution.
On his part the Senate president, God’swill Akpabio who came along with seventeen other senators and eight House of Representatives members to celebrate the Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele applauded him for his resourcefulness, contribution to the Senate and the development of Ekiti state. The Senate president thrilled with the number of projects, senator Opeyemi Bamidele had facilitated in the institution made him announce a donation of #100 million ( one hundred million naira) to the institution for maintenance. He directed the chairman of appropriation to urgently appropriate the roads from the airport to the institution. According to the Senate president, “we cannot have the best brains and facilities without having a good road network”
Advising the graduates, the Senate president, senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Governor Oyebanji and the Vice Chancellor of EKSU, Prof Joseph Ayodele said they have been equipped with skills and knowledge to excel in life. They further enjoined them to think outside the box and be good ambassadors of the institution wherever they find themselves.
Indeed, the caliber of personalities: top politicians, captains of industries, religious and community leaders , including parents and guidance of the graduating students that thronged Ekiti state on Saturday 29 March made the convocation memorable and the institution cannot forget its impact in a jiffy.