Adeyemi College of Technology Awards Diplomas to 10 Students, Certificates to 56 Others

Adeyemi College of Technology holds its first convocation ceremony, awarding diplomas in Software and Hardware Engineering and 56 certificates.

The convocation ceremony was held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the New Centre for Educational Technology building of Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo City, Ondo State, bringing together members of the academic community, government officials, traditional rulers, parents, families and other guests.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Governing Council of ACT and Vice-Chancellor of AFUED, Prof. Bayode Isaiah Popoola, described the maiden convocation as a historic and landmark occasion for the institution.

According to Popoola, the ceremony represented more than the conferment of certificates, as it also provided an opportunity to celebrate knowledge, perseverance, discipline and service.

He emphasised the growing importance of technological knowledge in a rapidly changing world, noting that changing global conditions increasingly require individuals to adapt, innovate and continuously acquire new knowledge and skills.

The AFUED Vice-Chancellor congratulated the graduating students and urged them to remain conscious of their responsibilities to society. He challenged them to distinguish themselves through practical skills, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship as graduates of a College of Technology.

Popoola also encouraged the graduands to make effective use of the knowledge, skills and experience acquired during their studies to solve problems and create opportunities capable of contributing to Nigeria’s development.

Earlier, the Acting Rector of Adeyemi College of Technology, Dr. Kehinde Emmanuel Adenegan, commended the graduating students for their courage, resilience and sacrifices throughout their period of study.

Adenegan described ACT as a specialised institution established to provide practical skills and entrepreneurship training for Nigerian youths. He reaffirmed the commitment of the institution’s management to academic and practical excellence and to achieving its vision and mission.

The Acting Rector said the institution’s objective was to produce graduates who would not only seek employment but would also possess the capacity to create employment opportunities.

He urged the graduates to remain good ambassadors of the institution and cautioned them against relying solely on the certificates presented to them at the convocation.

According to Adenegan, continuous self-improvement would remain essential after graduation, describing a certificate as not the end of learning but a licence to serve the needs of the country.

The convocation keynote address was delivered by Dr. Foluso Bamidele Falaye, Managing Director of CBC Emea Group of Companies, who spoke on the theme, “From Classroom to Industry: Harnessing Technology and Innovation to Drive Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation.”

Falaye, a Canada-based computer scientist, stressed the importance of technology and innovation in contemporary society and encouraged individuals seeking to participate meaningfully in emerging global trends to adapt to changing technological realities.

He also drew attention to the challenge of graduate unemployment in Nigeria, arguing that greater emphasis on skills acquisition and the acceptance of technical and vocational pathways could contribute to addressing the challenge.

Falaye called on parents to prioritise the education and development of their children while avoiding the practice of imposing preferred courses of study on them. He encouraged parents to support young people who demonstrate interest in technology-oriented education and institutions where they can acquire practical skills.

The keynote speaker further advised graduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions not to depend exclusively on conventional white-collar employment. Instead, he urged them to embrace continuous learning, innovation and skills development as they navigate changing demands in the world of work.

He stressed that innovative thinking and effective use of technology would be necessary for young people seeking to participate in Nigeria’s industrial transformation.

The ceremony featured the conferment of awards on eight students who obtained National Diploma awards in Software Engineering and two others who obtained National Diploma awards in Hardware Engineering.

Another 56 students who completed certificate courses in various disciplines were also presented with awards.

The certificate programmes covered areas including multimedia technology, hardware engineering and maintenance, data analytics, software development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, content creation, digital marketing and data analysis.

The range of programmes represented at the maiden convocation reflects ACT’s focus on practical technology education and skills development across several areas of the digital economy.

Prizes were also presented to the best-behaved graduating student and outstanding graduating students in Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Technology.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olayide Owolabi Adelami, MNI, alongside principal officers of AFUED, including Prof. Bayode Isaiah Popoola; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ireti Folasade Alao; representatives of the University Registrar’s office, including Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede and Mr. Oladele Balogun; Bursar, Mrs. Taiwo Adedoyin; and Librarian, Dr. Azino Akpokuriere.

Also present were principal officers of Adeyemi College of Technology, traditional rulers from different communities in Ondo State, deans and directors, heads of directorates, divisions and units from AFUED and ACT, religious leaders, parents and other invited guests.

The maiden convocation marks an important stage in the development of Adeyemi College of Technology as the institution formally celebrates its first graduating cohort while reinforcing its emphasis on technology, practical skills, entrepreneurship and continuous learning.

The messages delivered during the ceremony also placed emphasis on the transition from classroom learning to practical application, with graduates encouraged to use their acquired knowledge and technological skills to address problems, create opportunities and contribute to Nigeria’s broader development.