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…Gov. Eno is set to deliver the convocation lecture, as 42 students bag first class out of 346
By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
The Vice-Chancellor of Mountain Top University (MTU), Markogi Oba, Ogun State, Professor Elijah Ayolabi, has appealed to government at all levels to move beyond policy statements and take decisive, practical actions to address insecurity.
He stressed that the situation discourages investment, reduces expatriate participation, and negatively impacts national development.
He added that government must treat security as a top priority and back it with concrete actions, not just policy formulation.
Prof Ayolabi made this assertion during a press briefing heralding the 7th Convocation and 10th-year anniversary of Mountain Top University, scheduled for December 18th, 2025. He expressed deep concern over the country’s worsening security situation, describing it as a challenge that affects every citizen and sector. “Even a blind man knows that nobody is safe in this country today,” he declared, calling insecurity a national emergency.
“However, 42 out of a total of 346 students in the 2024/2025 academic session are set to graduate with first-class degrees, while 124 obtained Second Class Upper, 102 Second Class Lower, and 14 Third Class degrees at MTU’s 7th convocation ceremony. The best graduating student, Miss Akinyemi Omolola Faith of the Department of Mathematics, emerged with an exceptional CGPA of 4.94, reinforcing MTU’s growing reputation for academic excellence.
Meanwhile, the university will also conduct its maiden doctoral hooding ceremony, graduating nine PhD holders among 64 postgraduate students. This milestone underscores MTU’s transition into advanced research and postgraduate training.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Basset Eno, is scheduled to deliver the convocation lecture titled: “Dream Big, Start Small, and God Will Lift You to the Highest Point Possible.”
Giving a breakdown of activities to mark the convocation and achievements since inception, the Vice-Chancellor described the moment as more than a ceremonial gathering. He declared that the institution was celebrating “ten years of divine faithfulness and institutional growth.”
“MTU commenced operations in 2015 with modest facilities, few programs, and a small student population. Within a decade, through pioneering staff and focused efforts, it has emerged as a respected academic hub.”
He noted that the university now has 37 fully accredited programs across three colleges, with additional colleges of Law and Engineering in view. The student population has grown to about 2,000 students drawn from across the country and beyond, supported by over 200 academic and non-academic staff. Modern student hostels have been built, with an additional 1,000-bed capacity under construction, alongside the near completion of the Folashade Olukoya Centre for Fine and Applied Art. Plans are already underway to establish Colleges of Law and Engineering, indicating an ambitious expansion agenda.
“Beyond classroom achievements, MTU has recorded notable national and global recognition. Every program visited by the **National Universities Commission (NUC)** during the last accreditation cycle received full accreditation. Additionally, new programs in Data Science, Information Systems, ICT, and International Relations have been introduced to align with global trends.
“In research and innovation, MTU has strengthened its research ecosystem through the Centre for Research, Innovation, and Collaborations (CRIC). Its internally funded DKOMFA-MTU Grant Scheme, valued at about ₦14 million annually, continues to support impactful research addressing public health, food safety, engineering solutions, and social development.
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‘These deliberate efforts have earned MTU global recognition in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, where it placed first in Nigeria for Quality Education (SDG 4), second for Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), and third for Zero Hunger (SDG 2).
Further expanding its global footprint, MTU recently installed a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, positioning it as a national geospatial monitoring center, which led to the establishment of a Centre for Space Research in collaboration with institutions in Germany and Nigeria. A faculty member also secured a €500,000 Max Planck–Humboldt Grant to establish a cancer genomics laboratory.
Additionally,Infrastructure development has kept pace with academic growth. Current projects include a new College of Allied Health Sciences, additional hostels with over 1,000-bed capacity, a world-class female hostel nearing completion, and the Elizabeth Olukoya Centre for Fine and Applied Arts.
“MTU students have also distinguished themselves in debates, sports, and national competitions, winning prizes at zonal and national levels. The university’s strong entrepreneurship culture has produced digital professionals, agropreneurs, fashion designers, and student-led production ventures.
“Looking ahead, the VC outlined an ambitious vision for the next decade, centered on deep research and artificial intelligence.
“The next decade of the institution will focus on deeper impact through research,” the leadership said. “The system must run on artificial intelligence. This is not negotiable.”
He emphasized that AI-driven research will be strategically aligned with national development priorities, ensuring that academic output translates into practical, real-world solutions.
Moreover,the institution also acknowledged the critical role of its alumni network, describing graduates as vital stakeholders who continue to contribute meaningfully to both the university and national development. “Our alumni are part of the university,” the speaker stated. “They have continued to support the school and contribute to the development of the country.”
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that politics and governance more broadly,must move away from personality-driven power structures toward systems that work for everyone.
“When you build a system and that system works, everybody benefits at the end of the day,” he noted. “That is how progress is sustained.”
As MTU looks to the future, the Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to producing graduates who are not only intellectually sound but morally upright, entrepreneurial, and socially responsible.
With a decade already marked by growth, innovation, and global relevance, Mountain Top University appears poised to scale even greater heights in Nigeria’s education landscape.
