The management of Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), Oko-Irese, a newly licensed private institution in Kwara State, has engaged approximately 500 armed security personnel to safeguard the campus and ensure a conducive environment for academic excellence.

This decision, according to THISDAY, aligns with efforts to address prevailing security challenges reported in parts of Kwara South, where the university is situated, and across the country.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the institution's first convocation ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Francisca Oladipo, disclosed that six of the 26 pioneer students would graduate with first-class honours. She stated that the engagement of the security personnel, including soldiers, civil defence officers, vigilante groups, and local hunters, is part of the institution's strategy to attract more students and provide an environment conducive to academic focus.

Professor Oladipo emphasised, “We prioritise the safety and well-being of our students, and this security arrangement ensures they can focus entirely on their academic pursuits without distractions.”

“This is apart from the perimeter fencing of over 300 hectares of land of the University so as to guide against any invasion of the institution”.

Prof. Oladipo said, “The management of the institution realised the present insecurity in the country which called for such engagement so as to assure the parents and guardians of the students that adequate security are in place for their children in our school.

“This is also important because our students are residing in the campus of the university 24/7 and we must ensure that all necessary adequate security arrangements are on ground to ensure effective learning of the students without any hindrance in the campus”.

Speaking further, Prof. Oladipo stated that, six graduands of the institution would be honoured with first class in the forthcoming first convocation of the University.

She said that, “Apart from this, 14 will graduate with Second Class Honours (Upper Division), 4 with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) and 1 with a Third Class.

“And these graduates cut across Faculty of Computing and Applied Sciences with 8 graduates and Faculty of Management and Social Sciences with 18 graduates.

“Given the quality of the training that these graduands have received from our university, we are proud to be contributing this token of innovators to the Nigerian and global workforce and we have no doubts that they will deliver”.

Professor Oladipo noted further that, “the university was officially licensed by the Federal Government on 8th April 2021 and began on 16th May of the same year with 13 academic programmes across three faculties.

“Since then, the University has expanded significantly, offering 27 academic programmes in 24 departments under seven faculties, with a solid record of achievement, including 100% full accreditation by the National Universities Commision.

“On 2nd September 2024, TAU as popularly called received its full operational license, affirming its status as a fully recognized private university ad infinitum.

“Our innovative approach to university education has positioned our graduates to address contemporary challenges with competence, innovation, and integrity.

“Hence, in a little over 3 and half years, we are set to proudly present our first set of graduates for the award of the degrees of Thomas Adewumi University.

“The maiden convocation ceremony is not just a celebration of academic achievement but a testament to the hard work, resilience, and dedication of our pioneering students”.

She said that the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, would deliver convocation lecture at the event slated for Tuesday at the campus of the institution at Oko-Irese with the lecture titled ,”The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Future of Work:

Implications for Nigerian Graduates.”

She said that, Governor Makinde was s also expected to commission the new locally-engineered Sustainable Student Hall of Residence while the Kwara State governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq would be the special guest of honour and will lay the foundation for the Faculty of Medicical and Health building.