The Vice Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Prof. Omolola Irinoye says the institution has promoted five of its academic staff to professorial cadre, adding that 15 of its programmes are now 100% tuition free.
Prof. Irinoye disclosed this at the weekend during the 13th convocation and 16th foundation ceremonies of the Ondo State-based University.
Precision Online Newspaper, however gathered that the staff promoted to Professorial cadre are; Prof. Adetoyosi Daniels, Prof. Taiwo. Adenegan, Prof. Adeboye Akinwunmi, Prof. Johnson Ajayi and Dr Mathias A. Chuba – Reader.
According to Irinoye, the University’s Council has graciously ratified the promotion of staff recently, stressing that the welfare of staff is of great priority.
“Achievers University has over 800 staff with about 70 that were just added recently. As many as are qualified to advance their education are encouraged. Staff enjoy basic health care provided by the Health Centre managed by qualified professionals. They also benefit from the Contributory Pension Scheme. The University’s commitment to providing accommodation for staff is unwavering. Four (4) Professors and One (1) Reader were among all qualified academic and non-academic staff that were recently approved for promotion by the University Council and the exercise is still ongoing,” she noted.
She also disclosed that the 2023/2024 admission exercise is still ongoing, adding that the Council of the University approved increase in the number of students and programmes that will benefit from the University’s scholarships, as part of the corporate social responsibility to make education accessible to many young people and buffer the economic hardship on parents and guardian.
“Students from 15 programmes are offered 100% tuition-free scholarship in College of Natural and Applied Sciences and College of Social and Management Sciences: These programmes include Plant Science and Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Geology, Business Administration, Economics, International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Banking and Finance, Biology Education, Chemistry Education.
“Students from other 11 programmes are offered 80% tuition free; (1) Faculty of Health Sciences, (2) College of Natural and Applied Sciences and (3) College of Social and Management Sciences. The programmes are Public Health, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Computer Science, Mass Communication, Health Information management, Remote Sensing and Geoscience Information System, Procurement Management, Criminology and Security Studies, Library and Information Science.
“Students in all the seven (7) engineering programmes are given 65% tuition-free scholarship and these include Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering,” Irinoye said.
554 graduates with 520 first degree graduates and 34 with postgraduate degrees were presented to the public during the convocation.
Of the 520 first degree graduands, 37 had first class, 259 had second class upper division, 198 had second class lower division and 26 had third class grade.
From the School of Postgraduate Studies, the institution awarded master’s degrees in various fields to 34 graduating students. These include 14 candidates with MSc. Accounting, 09 with Msc. Business Administration, 02 with Master of Business Administration (MBA) and 09 with Msc. Nursing Science.
The Vice Chancellor also informed the gathering on the status of programmes in the institution vis-a-vis accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“Out of the 27 existing undergraduate programmes of the university, 18 are fully accredited, one (1) has interim accreditation. Six (6) of the 10 existing programmes that are just due for accreditation and 4 old ones are being re-accredited after 5 full years of initial full accreditation. We have only 2 programmes that are yet to be due for accreditation and we are preparing do this as and when due.”
On resource verification for the commencement of new programmes, Irinoye disclosed that the University received approval of the National Universities Commission to commence eleven (11) new programmes this 2023/2024 session. These programmes are: MBBS. Medicine and Surgery; Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy; DPT. Doctor of Physiotherapy: B.Sc. Health Information Science; B.Sc. Procurement Management and B.Sc. Banking and Finance.
Others are B.Sc. Remote Sensing and Geoscience Information System; B.Ed. Guidance and Counselling; B.LIS. Library and Information Science; B.Sc. Chemistry Education and B. Sc. Biology Education
“These 11 programmes thus increase the undergraduate programmes in the University to 38. A Joint Committee for Implementation and Monitoring of the new medical and health sciences programmes comprising highly experienced and senior scholars from the various professions was formally inaugurated by the Chairman of Council on 4th December, 2023, This Committee has started working with the University management to ensure that solid foundation and high quality standards are laid to drive best practice in curricula implementation in the new programmes.
“As a University, we are mindful of standards despite all challenges that currently face the education sector in Nigeria today. All the 38 programmes running in the University have approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC). We also have approval and comply with directives of all regulatory agencies for the professional programmes. We are looking forward to 100% success in the NUC re-accreditation process still going on for some of our old programmes, she added.
Doctor of Philosophy (honoris causa) was awarded on three prominent Nigerians at the convocation.
“I pray for higher grace for Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria: Mrs Olajumoke Anifowoshe, former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Ondo State, and Engr. Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele, Executive Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria. Abuja
“Achievers University will continue to give recognition to individuals that are distinguishing themselves in service, excellence and commitment to a just society,” Irinoye said.
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT
“We are excited that we are growing with arrays of construction works and positive changes that are meant to provide a conducive environment comparable to international standards that are planned to make teaching and research more conducive. Some of these projects include the 17 rooms Achiever Signature – the University Guest house, a 250 Computer Based Test Centre, A Central Laboratory building with 17 laboratories for basic, life, and health sciences programmes with capacities ranging from 80 to 280 students per session, an extensive Anatomy Laboratory, the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science Building, new accommodation buildings for staff, the Green House project, the bakery, to mention just a few.”
PROJECTION
“As we continue to expand our infrastructure, our priority programme in the nearest future is Agriculture As we commit to development of agriculture with emphasis on food security, we would work to expand collaboration and partnership to achieve success. The university is working to bring to reality the convening of stakeholders in an Agriculture Development and Food Security Summit in the coming year. The meeting promises to be a landmark intervention in this area.
“We are going to be expanding the frontiers of high impact research that will be focussing on finding solutions to challenging life situations through local and international collaboration and partnership in the coming years. With the Council’s approval of the University Research, Innovation and Linkages Policy with approved funding and the Information, Communication and Technology Policy, the University is set to break new grounds in translational research.”
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