MATRICULATION SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE 2ND MATRICULATION CEREMONY OF THE DOMINION UNIVERSITY, IBADAN, OYO STATE BY THE AG. VICE-CHANCELLOR DR JONAH AKOUN ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021

The Chancellor of Dominion University, Ibadan, Bishop Taiwo Victor Adelakun,

Members of the Board of Trustees of Dominion University

Distinguished Guest Speaker, Mr Joseph Tegbe, Lead Consultant KPMG

Visiting Vice-Chancellors and Principal Officers from other Universities and Tertiary Institutions

Members of Senate and Staff of the University

Parents of Matriculating Students

Esteemed Students of Dominion University

Distinguished Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with, great appreciation to God that I welcome everyone to the Second Matriculation ceremony of the Dominion University, Ibadan. In the Maiden Matriculation ceremony the University, matriculated, 103 Students. In this Second Edition, we are formally matriculating 188 students into the Faculty of Arts, Social and Management Sciences and Faculty of Computing and Applied Sciences. Presently, the University has over 300 Students on Campus.

Today’s event is important because it marks the official enrollment of the matriculating students into Dominion University’s academic program and in line with the approval of the National Universities Commission. It is, with, great joy that I welcome all the students into the University.  I trust that God will use this University; to nurture your growth and development in all facets of life. I congratulate your parents for the central roles they have played in your lives. It is my prayer that their labour will not be in vain.

It will be germane for me to mention that Dominion University is a student-centred University. It is a boot camp for the grooming of generational leaders. The dominant narrative is that a University is the place of freedom. However, here at Dominion University, that freedom often comes with some equivalent obligations and boundaries. 

At Dominion University, we take pride in training students in academic work. We are focused on the character development of our students. It is based, on the assumption that when they graduate from here, they will contribute meaningfully to developmental discourses across the globe. Our goal at Dominion University is to raise godly men and women who will dominate in their various fields of endeavour. I counsel that you follow the footsteps of your lecturers. Embrace self-discipline, self-care, a good mode of dressing faithfulness to your studies and general comportment within and outside the campus. Remember that you are now ambassadors of Dominion University and must express that ambassadorial disposition in all interactions on campus.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Dominion University has now come of age. It has a strategic vision to offer the best in cutting edge research and service delivery in science, leadership and management. To this end, the University is partnering with world-class Universities across the globe to enable her to deliver on the divine mandate to the Chancellor, Bishop T.V. Adelakun. 

Dominion University is perfecting an international partnership with the University of Tasmania, Australia. Equally, the University has also won two International Mobility Scholarships under the European Union Erasmus+ Programme. The programme will take some of our students, academic and non-academic staff of the University, to two world-class Universities in Athens, Greece. We are spreading out tentacles and exploring more avenues that will enhance the grant-winning streak for the University. The University has also showcased her drive for creativity and innovation on several fronts. Our latest is the production of Dominion University Hand Sanitizers. It was which was officially launched by the Chancellor at the recently concluded Ibadan City Crusade. We are pleased to inform our distinguished guests that Dominion University offers courses that are of commercial value. Our teaching approach is market-oriented and entrepreneurially based. Therefore, graduates of this University cannot join the army of job seekers in the nation; they will be owners and pioneers of businesses in some years to come.

2019-2020 academic year was quite challenging as a result of the global COVID -19 Pandemic. All institutions were, shut down. Nevertheless, Dominion University completed the 2019-2020 Academic through the skillful deployment of ICT.

The vision of Dominion University is a lofty one. I call on everyone present here to join the Chancellor and his team, made up of sound academics and intellectuals see to the fulfillment and further expansion of the University.

Once again, I thank you all for your presence here today and pray that the good Lord will take you back safely to your various destinations. Thank you. God bless you all.

Jonah Akoun, Ph.D

Ag. Vice-Chancellor, UNIMED