By AbdulRahman Sanni
AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University (AAT University), Oke-Ogba, Ganmo, Kwara State, at the weekend formally admitted its pioneer students during its maiden matriculation ceremony, marking a historic milestone in the life of the institution.
Speaking at the colourful event, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdulrauf Ambali, described the ceremony as a defining moment that celebrates vision, courage, and commitment to quality education. He welcomed the matriculating students, their parents and guardians, principal officers, staff, and invited guests to what he termed “the formal birth of an academic community dedicated to global citizenship.”
Professor Ambali noted that by the matriculation, the students had become full members of a private, not-for-profit university committed to producing globally competitive, ethically grounded, and socially responsible graduates. He disclosed that with the approval and guidance of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University is proposing to commence several undergraduate programmes from the 2026/2027 academic session in line with national priorities and global trends.
According to him, the first category includes Artificial Intelligence, Community Health Science, Intelligence and Security Studies, and Islamic Economics and Finance, which are among the newly introduced programmes by the NUC. He added that other programmes are planned across phases, spanning health sciences, sciences, social sciences, arts, and professional disciplines, positioning the University as a comprehensive institution.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that the NUC commended the University for its state-of-the-art infrastructure and quality academic staff drawn from diverse ethno-religious backgrounds. He also emphasised the institution’s strong focus on vocational skills, entrepreneurship, technology-driven learning, and proposed international collaborations with universities across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Highlighting the growing public confidence in the institution, Professor Ambali revealed that out of a JAMB quota of 700 candidates, 994 secured admission, 684 accepted the offer, and over 600 successfully registered for the current academic session.
The high point of the ceremony, attended by the representative of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Isiaq Oloyede, was the administration of the matriculation oath on the students by the University Registrar, Mr Emmanuel Dada Obafemi, formally binding them to the rules and regulations of the institution. This was followed by the joyful blaring of trumpets by the Harmony Band, complemented by a lively DJ session, as the matriculating students erupted in jubilation to celebrate their formal entry into university life.
The ceremony, which featured the Vice-Chancellor’s procession, ended on a note of optimism, with Professor Ambali congratulating the students and wishing them a rewarding, fulfilling, and transformative academic journey at AAT University.
