No fewer than 3,500 students were on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, matriculated for the 2016/2017 Academic Session of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete. The students took the oath of matriculation at the University Mini-Convocation Arena.

Addressing the newly admitted students at the 8th Matriculation Ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, congratulated them on the feat, pointing out that they were considered for admission among over 14, 000 candidates who applied to KWASU.

“Indeed, you are fortunate to have secured places in the University for the 2016/2017 Academic Session. I wish to state that those of you matriculating today earned your admissions on merit, considering the strict and rigorous processes the Institution engaged in choosing the best from the lot,” he stated.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the matriculating students to take full advantage of unique programmes, such as Undergraduate Research, Entrepreneurship, Study Abroad, and Certificate in Community Development, offered by KWASU, to make its graduates worthy citizens.

He said: “Kwara State University, established as an Institution with core values of academic excellence, institutional integrity, justice, equity and diversity: such ideals as are impetus for fostering intellectual growth and personal development of its students.

“With its mantra; ‘The University for Community Development’, the University aims not only to create a conducive environment for intellectual growth and personal development of its students, but also to facilitate a selfless, visible and sustainable cooperation, growth, development and transformation of its host communities.”

Prof Na’Allah remarked that aside joining a world-class research University with some of the finest scholars and researchers in the world, the newly admitted students would also achieve Leadership, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Entrepreneurship excellence and transformation through outstanding training in those areas, regardless of their specialisations.

“Your ability to achieve these kinds of transformations will hinge on the quality of your education, the foundation of which you will continue to lay, brick-by-brick, over the next four years,” he said.

Urging the matriculating students to be committed to outstanding and purposeful academic pursuits to avoid expulsion, he warned that KWASU would not tolerate any acts of indiscipline.

The VC stated that the University has been enjoying stable academic calendar since its inception, stressing that due to its commitment to academic excellence, the Institution was recently ranked 15th in the country by the National Universities Commission (NUC).