The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, says the institution has achieved rapid growth and development in the areas of academics, research, infrastructure and human resources.

Ogunbodede made the assertion at the flag-off of 45th Convocation Ceremony of the University, held on Thursday in Ile-Ife.

The Vice-Chancellor congratulated the parents and guardians of the graduands for seeing their wards to this stage.

“It has been a long and torturous journey, but we are rejoicing today because your efforts and support that you have given them to achieve their dreams have not been in vain,’’Ogunbodede said.

He expressed optimism that the graduands would positively impact the various sectors of the country’s life and help in resolving the challenges currently facing the country.

According to him, they are not trained only for the Nigerian environment, but to also function adequately, efficiently and effectively anywhere across the world.Ogunbodede appealed to them to be global ambassadors of great Ife.

He said that the institution which started with 244 students, 64 academic members of staff and 15 Senior administrative and technical staff with five faculties, now has over 25,000 students and more than 4,000 members of staff.

“OAU now has two Colleges (College of Health Sciences and Postgraduate College), 13 faculties: Administration, Arts, Education, Environmental Design and Management, and Basic Medical Sciences.

“Others are Clinical Sciences, Dentistry, Law, Pharmacy, Science, Social Sciences and Technology.

“All the 94 academic Programmes in the university are currently accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), making OAU one of the few universities with 100 per cent accreditation of its programmes.

“Also, some newly developed undergraduate Programmes have successfully passed the stages of Resource Verification and Accreditation by NUC,” the vice chancellor said.

Ogunbodede said further that OAU has developed a robust entrepreneurship programme supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to improve the employability and ability of graduates to contribute effectively to national development.

He explained that the institution has always prioritise students and staff welfare, adding that a new career structure has been approved by Council.

According to him, Non-teaching members of staff with adequate qualifications have been encouraged to ensure career progression and fulfillment.

Ogunbodede, on behalf of the university, also commiserated with the family of the late Adegoke Oludare, a student of the Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme, who was reported missing on Nov. 7.

He said that the university authorities would work closely with law enforcement agents to unravel the circumstances leading to the death of Mr Adegoke.

The Vice-Chancellor pledged that the university would continue to give priority to harnessing and adapting modern technologies in the implementation of its objectives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Faculty of Arts, Law, Administration and Social Sciences flagged-off the convocation programme, to continue on Friday, while the Grand-Finale would come up on Saturday.