Babcock University, Ilisan, Ogun State, announced and awarded degrees to 2,842 graduates at its 22nd undergraduate and 13th postgraduate convocation ceremony on Sunday.
Of the 2,442 undergraduates that graduated, 148 received First Class grades.
At the postgraduate cadre, 52 had Postgraduate Diplomas, 74 Masters, 19 MPHIL, and 160 at the Doctoral level.
In his speech at the coral class graduation ceremony, President/Vice Chancellor Professor Adeola Tayo congratulated the graduate students and encouraged them to continue to live the University’s mission and vision by positively impacting their communities and the world.
The Professor of Education Development said, “It is a delight to witness the transformation of our students into capable, innovative, and compassionate individuals, ready to make their mark in the world. Today, we acknowledge the unwavering support of families and faculty members who have guided our graduates every step of the way.
“To our graduates, today is a testament to your resilience creativity, and passion. As you stand on the threshold of this new chapter, remember that the knowledge, skills, and values you have acquired here will serve as a foundation for your future success.”
The VC stated that while the deliberate goal is to deliver quality education while keeping costs affordable, the rising inflation has resulted in considerable increases in expenses ranging from staff wages and the cost of feeding students to infrastructure maintenance.
He expressed concern about the recent increase in electricity tariffs, claiming that in May alone, the institution paid more than N300 million to keep the university operational.
The VC emphasised that the rise was the result of customers being reclassified in Band A for tariff purposes, and it urged the federal government to review the electricity tariffs of educational institutions.
He added, “In Nigeria, investing in education is crucial for economic growth and development. We need policies that prioritise education funding and support universities in navigating these economic challenges.”
In his commencement address, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) in a paper titled: “Go and Replenish the Earth: Man’s Misconception of God’s Mandate”, urged Nigerians to exhibit caution in unguarded procreation, saying the dangers are both intrinsic and extrinsic.
He said, “Reckless procreation will inevitably lead to societal rascality, and before we know it, we will have ourselves and our world engulfed in ‘procreation terrorism.”
Governors Dapo Abiodun and his Ekiti State counterpart, Biodun Oyebanji, commended the students and the management on preserving the standards in their respective remarks to the guests and graduating students.
The conferment of Honoris Causa honours on Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Mrs Bukola Onikepo Smith, as well as the presentation of graduates to the delight of their families, were the ceremonies’ highlights.