The Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, has highlighted the university’s expanding postgraduate capacity and research output, as the institution produced hundreds of higher-degree graduates at its 18th convocation ceremony.
Kalilu described the achievement of the postgraduate graduands as a reflection of discipline, sacrifice and intellectual strength, noting that their research contributions have advanced knowledge across diverse fields.
According to him, the university awarded 596 academic diplomas, 1,850 academic and professional master’s degrees, nine Master of Philosophy degrees, and 127 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.
He urged the graduates to embrace continuous learning, innovation and excellence in a rapidly evolving global knowledge landscape, stressing that postgraduate education requires courage, persistence and adaptability.
“Being a Ladokite is a mark of excellence earned through rigorous academic training. You must uphold the values of this institution and make meaningful contributions to society,” he said.
Kalilu further disclosed that the university has strengthened its postgraduate ecosystem through improved research infrastructure, expanded collaborations, upgraded laboratories and digital platforms, as well as enhanced supervision frameworks.
He added that 43 professors were recently promoted, while new initiatives such as the Sunday Adewusi Institute of Security and Strategic Studies and the upgrade of the Department of Architecture to a full faculty are positioning the institution for global relevance.
In a related development, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the university, announcing the approval of a ₦650 million take-off grant for the Teaching and Research Farm at the Iseyin campus. He noted that the initiative is part of broader efforts to address infrastructure gaps and align the institution with the state’s economic agenda on agriculture, food security and youth employment.
Makinde who was represented by his deputy Bar Bayo Lawal also reiterated that the state government would discharge all outstanding obligations to Osun State before the end of the administration, stressing that the transition to sole ownership has brought stability and improved academic performance.
Meanwhile, the Pro-Chancellor, Ayodeji Omole, said the convocation has now become a fixed annual event scheduled for April 22 and 23, commending the state government for its continued support and the progress recorded at the university, including ongoing developments at the Iseyin campus.
At the ceremony, an honorary Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) was conferred on Olu Raphael Aina, described as the first professor of vocational and technical education.
Aina, in his remarks, said the award was not merely a personal accolade but a celebration of the values that guided his academic journey, recalling his long-standing connection with the university from its foundation years when it was jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states.
The convocation attracted a wide array of dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, and former Chief of Defence Staff, Alani Akinrinade (rtd).
Others in attendance included former Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole; Commissioner for Energy, Femi Popoola; Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade; Commissioner for Education, Segun Olayiwola; and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Ayodeji Omole.
Also present were academics and stakeholders such as Daud Kehinde Sangodoyin, Segun Ajiboye, former Vice-Chancellor Lanre Salau, former Deputy Speaker Abass Adedibu, and former Registrar Kayode Ogunleye, alongside traditional rulers including the Onpetu of Ijeru, Aseyin of Iseyinland, and representatives of the Soun of Ogbomoso and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
