The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, has urged newly admitted undergraduate and postgraduate students to embrace the virtues of integrity, accountability, and academic excellence throughout their time at the university. She made the call during the matriculation ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic session, which took place on Monday, January 27, 2025.
In her address, Professor Oladiji emphasized the importance of maintaining good character alongside academic achievement. She warned students against engaging in any form of antisocial behavior, reminding them that character and academic excellence go hand in hand. “My first appeal to you as new members of the FUTA community is that you should abstain from any actions that could tarnish the university’s esteemed reputation,” she said. “Be mindful of this responsibility, especially in the age of social media, where negative news can spread quickly. Your character is just as vital to the academic community as your academic accomplishments.”
The Vice Chancellor urged the students to avoid vices and unethical behaviors, stating, “FUTA has zero tolerance for cultism and any form of antisocial conduct. Do not get involved in such activities.” She specifically cautioned the students against cyber-crimes, highlighting the importance of being vigilant in the digital age. “As members of Generation Z, who are ‘always on’ with mobile devices, you must understand that while technology has made the world a better place, it has also facilitated crimes such as cyber-bullying, phishing, hacking, and particularly, plagiarism in academia.”
Professor Oladiji also called on the students to develop a culture of efficient management and maintenance of university resources. She reminded them that, in light of the country’s economic challenges, the Federal Government expects the university to make optimal use of its limited resources. “We must avoid waste and deploy our scarce resources effectively,” she said. “Take good care of university property as if it were your own. By maintaining our facilities well, we can avoid unnecessary expenses on repairs.”
The Vice Chancellor encouraged the students to contribute to building FUTA into a global brand. “In all modesty, being a FUTA student is a remarkable achievement,” she said. “Our university has earned an enviable reputation among Nigerian universities.” She urged the students to align themselves with the university’s vision of becoming a world-class institution, excelling in training, research, and service delivery, while embracing its core values.
Professor Oladiji also highlighted the importance of tolerance for debate, an essential trait of the academic community. She urged students to engage in respectful debates and strive for consensus and peace during their studies. “In any open debate, there will be differing opinions,” she noted. “One hallmark of enlightened individuals is the ability to disagree without being disagreeable. Remember, we cannot make meaningful progress in the absence of peace. The university is a place of knowledge generation, where debate and critical inquiry are vital.”
A total of 5,247 undergraduate students and 1,369 postgraduate students took the matriculation oath, administered by the university’s Registrar, Mr. Charles Adeleye, marking the official beginning of their academic journey at FUTA.
