From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Thomas Adewumi University (TAU) in Oko-Irese, Kwara State, has unveiled an ambitious vision for its students, insisting that graduates leave not only with degrees but with global skills, including fluency in up to four United Nations languages.
At the institution’s sixth matriculation ceremony recently, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Francisca Oladipo, welcomed 967 students, 939 undergraduates and 29 postgraduates, urging them to embrace a future that goes beyond certificates. “Arabic for Business, Chinese for Trade, French for Diplomacy, German for Science and Technology. These are not extras. They are your global passport,” she said.
Professor Oladipo highlighted TAU’s rapid growth from its modest start with 66 students, noting, “Many would think that the dream of a university in a quaint little village was too large and too ambitious. However, we knew that greatness does not begin with size, it begins with seed.” Today, the university ranks fourth among 13 universities in Kwara State and 45th nationwide, operating largely on solar energy and producing 75 per cent of its food locally.
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Beyond language proficiency, TAU has integrated industry-recognized microcredentials into its programs through partnerships with edX, Coursera, IBM SkillsBuild, Microsoft Emerging Academy, Oracle, Huawei, and MIT OpenCourseWare.
Professor Oladipo told students, “With our edX initiatives, you will graduate not with one certificate but with a portfolio of verified competencies from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Columbia, Berkeley, RUDN University, Amazon and Google in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cloud Computing, Project Management, Cybersecurity and Digital Marketing. These are the skills employers are paying for, and we are ensuring you have them before they can even ask.”
Entrepreneurship and community engagement are also core to TAU’s curriculum. “Students must complete at least 60 hours of community service, participate in mentorship programs, and develop practical skills to solve real-world problems. “Start a company, build a product, solve a problem. Nigeria does not need more applicants but more founders,” she urged.
TAU maintains strict discipline, warning against examination malpractice, bullying, and misconduct. The Pro-Chancellor, Professor Victor Olarewaju, echoed this sentiment, advising students to embrace discipline, focus, and the fear of God. “If you want to have a successful journey, you must be disciplined and responsible. Your primary purpose here is your education,” he said.
Founder and Chancellor Engrineer Johnson Adewumi, also encouraged students to prioritise time management and skill acquisition, warning that social media distractions could derail their ambitions. “The future is not about certificates alone. It is about skills. People are asking, what can you do? Your skill will be your meal ticket,” he said. Adewumi also assured parents and stakeholders of the university’s commitment to infrastructure, entrepreneurship complexes, and innovation-driven facilities aimed at producing globally competitive graduates.
In her closing remarks, Professor Oladipo charged the matriculating class, christened Team Flourite, to take their academic journey seriously. “You are not merely enrolling in a university, you are becoming part of an ongoing history of greatness. Welcome home. Welcome to TAU. Welcome to your future,” she said, marking a new chapter for students ready to compete on the global stage.
This approach positions Thomas Adewumi University, as a pioneer in producing graduates who are academically accomplished, internationally skilled, entrepreneurial, and community-conscious, setting a new benchmark for higher education in Nigeria.
