The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) held a combined matriculation ceremony on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to formally welcome fresh students enrolled in its Professional Development, Top-Up Degree, and Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Speaking at the event, which took place at the T.I. Francis Auditorium, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Taiwo Amos, encouraged students to stay committed to discipline, integrity, and academic excellence. She cautioned against actions that could damage the University’s image or derail their academic journey.
“Upon completion of their program, one of the official remarks that would be made is that you have been found worthy in character and learning, character is as important to the academic community as the academic exploits,” she noted.
Professor Oladiji emphasized that matriculation marks a crucial step in every student’s academic path. It is only after taking the oath and signing the matriculation register that students officially become part of the FUTA community. “In all modesty, it’s a great thing to be a FUTARIAN,” she said, highlighting FUTA’s reputation as Nigeria’s top University of Technology for over two decades.
She also praised FUTA’s global standing as a research-driven institution, with many of its faculty and alumni ranked among the top 2% of scientists globally, according to a 2024 report by Elsevier/Stanford University, USA.
The Vice Chancellor explained that the university’s alternative learning programmes were designed to make tertiary education more accessible to both Nigerians and international students, regardless of background. She assured students that the Student Affairs Division is available to guide them throughout their journey, and that a student handbook would be provided to support them with institutional guidelines.
She urged all matriculating students to embrace FUTA’s vision of becoming a world-class university and to live by its core values captured in the acronym “I-CARE.”
A total of 517 students took the matriculation oath: 365 in the Top-Up programme, 72 in the ODL programme, and 80 in the School of Professional Development. The Directors of the respective schools—Professor Fakokunde (Professional Development), Professor Alao (ODL), and Dr. Akinwonmi (Top-Up)—presented their students for the ceremony, with the oath administered by the Registrar, Mr. Charles Adeleye.
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