The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced a cash reward of N2m each to four overall best graduands of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

Abiodun announced the cash reward at the combined 32nd and 33rd convocation held on Wednesday.

The convocation which covered two academic sessions of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 saw over 15,000 graduands receiving degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Master’s Degrees as well as PhD awards in various disciplines.

The management of the OOU had announced three students; Talabi Ayomide from the Biochemistry Department, Adesanya Damilola from Pharmacology and Aĺabi Ifeoluwa who studied Computer Engineering as the overall best graduating students with a 4.86 CGPA and were rewarded with N2m cash each.

The governor also announced another N2m cash award for Miss Adegoke Azeezat, a graduate of Pharmacology who emerged as the overall best graduating student for the 2022/2023 academic session with a CGPA of 4.90 while the best graduand from each department is to receive the N500,000 cash reward.

Congratulating the graduands, Abiodun represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said the state government would continue to prioritise education through adequate funding and every other support that could help to produce quality manpower that is needed to help add value to having very virile and buoyant nation.

He, however, urged the students to be proud ambassadors of the university saying, “As you are being released into the world, please note that your degree has equipped you with the necessary skills to be innovators and problem solvers.

“The business environment is evolving, and degrees acquired should not be seen as the end of your learning, but the onset of another vista in your lives”.

“I therefore charge you to brace yourself for a competitive work environment where what you consider excellent might not even be considered good; hence, you must aspire for the best.”

Earlier, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Ayodeji Agboola, disclosed that his administration has continued to pursue initiatives that would further aid academic excellence and make it fulfil the vision of the university’s founding fathers.

Agboola said the school has not only started 10 new programmes such as Medical Laboratory Science, Forensic Science, and Taxation among others but has also begun its Business School while its Open and Distance Learning Centre is about to commence operation.

He said the focus of his administration remains to make OOU a world-class university that churns out graduates who drive innovation, entrepreneurship and global employment generation through a ten-year plan which runs from 2023 to 2033.

Congratulating the graduands, Agboola urged them to make a worthwhile venture out of the great future that lies ahead of them and always be proud ambassadors of the university using the knowledge acquired during their course of study to make the world a better place for all.

The Vice-Chancellor appreciated Abiodun as well as the support of Prof Toyin Ashiru-led the Governing Board of the university, saying that their selfless dedication and genuine commitment to prioritise qualitative university education has further lifted academic excellence and infrastructural development in the ivory towers.

Highlights of the occasion include the conferment of the university’s Honourary Doctorate Degree in Science on both the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi, and the immediate past Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Board of the university, Mrs Mosunmola Belo-Olusoga.

In the previous year, the governor awarded automatic employment to the two overall best graduands of the institution.

Abiodun also announced job offers at the combined 30th and 31st convocation of the institution held on Monday, and also rewarded each of the graduands with N1 million.

The former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr Wole Olanipekun SAN gave the convocation lecture titled “Mass Exodus Of Human Capital In Nigeria: An Anatomical Analysis of The Causes and Effects”.