Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who also serves as the Visitor to Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) in Okitipupa, declared that his administration has transformed the state’s education sector over the past six years. Speaking at the university’s maiden convocation in the main auditorium, he noted that OAUSTECH was inherited in a “deplorable condition,” with inadequate roads, buildings and essential facilities for a conducive learning environment. Determined to change this narrative, the governor said his government launched a “gradual, radical and systematic” implementation of a strategic plan for the university.
Within the first 100 days of his tenure, the administration completed an asphalt overlay of the first phase of the university’s road network and inaugurated it for use. A further 2.5 kilometre road project is now about 75 percent complete. Other campus improvements include the construction of a new Senate building, a library and an auditorium, with additional projects slated for completion as state finances improve. The governor also highlighted the administration’s support in securing TETFund funding, noting that OAUSTECH has begun to benefit from TETFund projects and that more opportunities are forthcoming.
Akeredolu praised the university’s academic expansion, noting that OAUSTECH, which originally offered only Science courses, now includes the Schools of Engineering and Engineering Technology and Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. All programmes across the three schools have been accredited by the National Universities Commission, and he commended the university’s management and council for these achievements.
Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Emmanuel Ologunorisa reported that 982 graduates from six cohorts (2014/2015 to 2019/2020) received their first degrees at the combined convocation. Of these, 26 earned first‑class honours, 307 second‑class upper division, 488 second‑class lower division, and 161 third‑class. He also announced a collaboration with the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission to launch a Maritime Academy in September, and a Memorandum of Understanding with several international institutions under the university’s “Blue Economy” programme.
The Vice‑Chancellor emphasized the university’s research focus on the Blue Economy— the marine, coastal and ocean environment— and outlined the establishment of a School of Maritime Transport and Logistics and a Center for Blue Economy and Innovation. Leveraging its coastal location, OAUSTECH aims to develop programmes that produce skilled manpower for the maritime sector.
Finally, Prof. Ologunorisa identified key challenges facing the institution, including funding, power supply and hostel accommodation. He appealed to the state’s distinguished sons and daughters to invest in the university, encouraging collaboration and donations to support its development.
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