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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
Nigerian billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Femi Otedola, CON, has pledged an additional ₦500 million donation to Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, to support ongoing infrastructural projects and accelerate the completion of the university’s Faculty of Engineering complex.
Otedola made the announcement on Thursday during the institution’s 7th Convocation Ceremony, which also marked its 10th anniversary. The double celebration drew together dignitaries, religious leaders, government officials, and members of the academic community to honour 148 graduating students and reflect on the university’s decade-long journey of faith, knowledge, and character formation.
The event’s theme, “AUI @ 10: Fulfilling the Mandate of Providing Integral University Education for a Borderless World,” captured the institution’s philosophy of producing globally competent graduates who embody integrity, discipline, and a strong moral compass.
In his address, Otedola who serves as Chancellor of Augustine University reaffirmed his commitment to the institution’s growth and to the completion of the Faculty of Engineering complex, named after his mother, Dame Doja Otedola. He explained that the rising cost of construction due to inflation had slowed progress on the project, which is now estimated at ₦4 billion, but presented a ₦500 million cheque to the contractor to fast-track completion before the 2026 Convocation Ceremony.
“Augustine University has come a long way in just ten years,” Otedola said. “We started with a vision, and today, we are witnessing the fulfilment of that dream, an institution that produces graduates who combine knowledge with strong moral character. This donation is a reaffirmation of my personal commitment to the success of Augustine University and the ideals it stands for.”
The Chancellor also presented each graduating student with a copy of his best-selling motivational book, “Making It Big,” encouraging them to pursue excellence and embody the university’s motto, Pro Scientia et Moribus (“For Learning and Character”).
The convocation ceremony also featured the formal induction of the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Rt. Hon. Dame Winifred Akpani, who succeeded Chief Gilbert Grant. The induction was conducted by the Proprietor of the University, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
Dame Akpani, who described her appointment as “a sacred responsibility and a call to service,” pledged to uphold the institution’s vision of providing quality education grounded in Catholic values. She noted that her family’s earlier contribution, the construction and donation of the Chapel of Mary Mother of the Church symbolized her enduring commitment to Augustine University’s mission.
She emphasized that leadership at AUI goes beyond administrative duty, describing it as “a moral and spiritual mandate to nurture a generation of students who are intellectually sound, morally upright, and socially responsible.”
“Excellence is not a destination but a journey,” Akpani remarked. “Our task is to sustain the university’s momentum and continually renew its capacity to meet global academic standards while preserving the faith-based principles on which it was founded.”
In his own address, Archbishop Martins, who serves as the Proprietor of the University, reflected on the spiritual significance of the institution’s ten-year journey. He expressed gratitude to God and to all who had contributed to the university’s steady growth from a modest 54 students in 2015 to over 1,200 students in 2025.
“Augustine University is not just a place of learning but a sacred space where faith and intellect meet,” the Archbishop said. “Our goal from the beginning has been to form men and women who are not only knowledgeable but also virtuous citizens who will build a better society through integrity, compassion, and service.”
He reiterated that the university’s motto, Pro Scientia et Moribus, remains central to its mission, urging staff and students never to compromise on moral standards. “The essence of true education,” he added, “is not just to fill the mind with facts, but to shape the soul with virtue.”
Delivering the convocation lecture titled “Providing Integral University Education for a Borderless World,” Professor Stephen Afolami, the institution’s Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, reflected on the university’s decade-long accomplishments. He lauded Augustine University’s innovative curriculum, which integrates character formation, interdisciplinary studies, and digital learning, citing its ability to sustain uninterrupted sessions during the COVID-19 lockdown as proof of its resilience.
Professor Afolami emphasized that AUI’s model of “integral education” is the key to producing graduates who can navigate the complexities of an interconnected world. He urged stakeholders to invest in the university’s next phase by committing ₦5 billion for infrastructure expansion, competitive staff remuneration, and academic innovation.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Professor Anthony Alaba Akinwale, OP, celebrated Augustine University’s achievements over the past decade, including the promotion of the institution’s first two “home-grown professors”, Prof. Grace Evbuomwan and Prof. Adelodun Kolapo. He highlighted ongoing projects, including the development of new hostels, laboratories, and digital facilities, describing them as part of the university’s mission to create a “borderless learning environment.”
Fr. Akinwale also used the occasion to challenge the graduating students to contribute to national development rather than join the migration wave. “The difficult task of building Nigeria is in our hands,” he declared. “You have been trained not to flee but to transform this nation with the knowledge, faith, and character you have acquired here.”
A total of 148 students graduated from various faculties, with 22 earning First-Class Honours, 57 Second Class Upper, 57 Second Class Lower, and 12 Third Class degrees, while 21 students received diplomas. The Best Graduating Student, Miss Annie Ifeoluwa Adeyera, earned a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.90 in Biochemistry.
The university’s alumni were also celebrated for their accomplishments, including Dr. David Nwachukwu, the institution’s pioneer valedictorian, who recently completed a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology, and several others excelling in technology, entrepreneurship, and the clergy.
