FUTA Holds Matriculation for Special Programme Students, Urges Discipline and Institutional Values

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has held a combined matriculation ceremony for newly admitted students into its Top-Up Degrees programme, School of Professional Development (SPD), and Open Distance Learning Centre for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The ceremony took place on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the T.I. Francis Auditorium, where the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, urged the new students to uphold the university’s core values and serve as worthy ambassadors of the institution.

Addressing the matriculants, Prof. Oladiji stressed that the values embraced during their academic journey would significantly shape their professional development and the reputation they carry beyond the university.

“As you begin this journey, I urge you to be guided by the ideals of the institution. The values you uphold here will define your career and your impact on society. Be good ambassadors of FUTA wherever you go,” she said.

She advised the students to familiarise themselves with the university’s rules and regulations, warning that discipline, focus, and hard work remain critical to academic success.

Prof. Oladiji noted that FUTA continues to position itself as a leader in expanding access to quality education through flexible learning pathways. She explained that the introduction of the Top-Up Degrees, SPD, and Open Distance Learning programmes was a strategic response to the growing demand for inclusive and accessible higher education.

According to her, the programmes are designed to accommodate working professionals, entrepreneurs, artisans, and individuals from diverse backgrounds, enabling them to upgrade their qualifications without disrupting existing commitments.

The matriculation oath was administered by the Registrar, Mr. Charles Adeleye, following presentations by the Director of the School of Professional Development, Prof. Fakokunde Olubamiji; Director of the Open Distance Learning Programme, Prof. Felix Alao; and Acting Director of the Top-Up Programme, Dr. Akinwonmi Emmanuel.

Some students of the programmes shared positive experiences, describing the academic structure as convenient, systematic, and enriching. Ayodele Emmanuel of the Open Distance Learning Centre, Babatunde Titilayo of the School of Professional Development, and Ali Mudashiru of the Top-Up Programme all expressed satisfaction with the flexibility of the system.

Mudashiru, in particular, noted that the Top-Up programme would enable him to obtain a bachelor’s degree from FUTA while balancing other commitments.