The Executive Chairman of Doyin Investment Limited, Samuel Adedoyin, has called on the 72 graduating students of Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos State, not to be part of the japa syndrome because of the harsh economic situation in the country.
Adedoyin said this on Friday after his installation as the chancellor of the institution at its combined first and second convocation ceremonies.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH after the event, the newly installed Chancellor charged the graduates to hope for a better future in the country.
He added, “All efforts are on to bring the university up to date. I am so proud of their (students’) achievements. With where I see the university going, it will be one of the best in the country.
“I wish them the best of luck. And I advise them not to japa, because Nigeria will be better. Economically, we will soon see changes for the best in the country. We have gone through this kind of situation in the past. We’re done now and next will be up, never to go down again.”
Meanwhile, Dr Florence, the wife of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, was conferred with an honourary degree of Doctor of Business Administration at the event.
Earlier in his remarks, the registrar of the institution, David Oyejide, said the awardees were found worthy by their records of notable accomplishments and deserved to be publicly recognised and awarded.
Speaking in a similar vein, the acting Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof Clement Kolawole, disclosed that out of the 72 graduating students from two academic sessions of 2021/2022, and 2022/2023, the university awarded a total of 22 First-Class, 33 second class-upper, 17 second class lower degree.
Kolawole added that Oyindamola Adewunmi was the overall best-graduating student with a CGPA of 4.88 in Biological Science (Microbiology), from the Faculty of Basic Medical and Applied Sciences in the 2022/2023 academic session; while Ruth Okpala from the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Sciences, emerged as the best-graduating student of the 2021/2022 academic session with a CGPA of 4.85.
Also, the acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki, who was represented by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatuyin Ogundipe, commended the graduating students, saying they held a special place in the heart of the nation.