17th Convocation: LAUTECH will be among 50 best varsities globally – Makinde
pannigeriannews
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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said the state government will help Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso achieve the vision of ranking among the 50 best universities in the global arena.
Governor Makinde, represented by the state Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, stated this on Wednesday while speaking during the grand finale of the 17th Convocation and Founder’s Ceremonies at The Great Hall of the iinstitution.
Makinde, who commended the university administration for its giant strides in the nation’s education, charged the institution’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Ayodeji Oludare Omole, and Vice Chancellor, Professor Rasaq Olatunde Rom Kaluku, to continue to strive, saying “That more work is the reward of hard wwork.”
Makinde noted that LAUTECH has produced innovative graduates who have made remarkable contributions to the nation’s development and beyond.
Makinde said, “I congratulate LAUTECH community on this year’s Convocation and Founder’s Day Ceremonies.
“But I must say that more work is the reward of good work. Our administration will continue to prioritise education in the state. The Vice Chancellor talked about the vision of being among the best 100 universities in the world.
“This is not a tall ambition. It realisable. We will help LAUTECH achieve being among the best 50 universities in the world.”
Makinde, however, explained that the university should play relevance in its academic curriculum and contribute to national development.
“Oyo State government under His Excellency, Engr. Dr. Seyi Makinde, will support LAUTECH in all ramifications, saying “We will prioritise staff welfare and provide conducive learning environment.”
In his address, Professor Omole commended Governor Makinde for his leadership role in the state and his contributions in LAUTECH.
He charged the graduands to break more grounds, adding that the competition in the labour market is keener than it used to be.
Professor Kalilu highlighted what he described as some modest efforts and achievements of the institution in the last one year.
Kalilu said all academic programmes of LAUTECH are duly accredited by the National Universities Commission and relevant professional bodies.
“Our six new regular programmes, namely: Theatre Arts, Psychology, Mass Communication, Linguistics, Yoruba and Political Science scaled through the Resource Verification of the National Universities Commission and have become fully operationalized.
“Similarly, the five new additions to the undergraduate programmes in the Open and Distance Learning namely: Cyber- Security Science, Science Laboratory Technology, Transport Management, Crop Production and Soil Science, and Crop and Environmental Protection have equally become operationalized,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor also reported that the University continues to internationalize its operations in research and staff as well as students’ exchange.
LAUTECH, according to Professor Kalilu, has entered into collaboration with similar institutions across the globe, such as University of Kentucky, and University of Utah, United States of America, as well as the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation and Bayer Foundation of Germany that established the Humboldt Research Hub-Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases in the University among several others.
He continued, “In research, our scholars are making significant breakthroughs. Twenty-three of our researchers severally won the TETFund for Institution Based Research for research in various fields. Two teams of researchers led by Professors J. A. Badmus and E. A. Adebayo won the National Research Fund respectively for Development of Indigenous Non-Caffeinated Herbal Leaves for Reduction of Non-Communicable Diseases, and Production of Mushroom for Development of Novel Immune Booster. Similarly, the Form and Material Technology team led by Professor R. O. R.”
Kalilu has successfully developed stone ware ceramic glazes from horticulture and animal wastes and cullet.
“In sports, our athletes have been keeping the flag of the University flying. In the 1lth Al Africa University Games (FASU) held in September 2024, of the 69 universities from all over Africa that participated in the games, LAUTECH came 11th with 4 Gold, 1Silver, and 5 Bronze medals. Two of our athletes have qualified to represent Nigeria in the World University Games (FISU) coming up in Germany in July 2025.
“It is noteworthy that the University’s rating and ranking has been on continuous ascent since 2023. In 2025, in the Times Higher Education’s World University Ranking, it retains its position as the best state university in Nigeria.
“In a similar development, the 2025Interdisciplinary Science Ranking (ISR), which assessed universities’ contributions to and engagement with interdisciplinary science, ranked LAUTECH second position nationally and within the 251-300 bracket globally.
“These achievements mentioned here are not exhaustive but are reflective of the pace at which the University is growing. He said the vision of the University is to be among the top 100 universities globally. This is a tall ambition, but it is possible.
“In the face of this vision, and the ever-growing student enrolment, it is imperative that we urgently improve our infrastructure, introduce more technologies into our pedagogy and research systems, improve research output and internationalize our staff and students mix among other important and urgent steps required”, he concluded.
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