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The First Technical University, Ibadan, has commenced the payment of N10,000 monthly salary to 36 students who had been able to score a cumulative grade point average(CGPA) of 4.5 and above on the scale of 5.0 and 8 students who epitomise the vision of the university, through their passion for and innovativeness in entrepreneurship, courtesy of Josephus Foundation.
The vice-chancellor, Professor Ayobami Salami, disclosed this during the third matriculation ceremony of the university.
According to Salami, two of the 36 outstanding students who were also honoured as ‘Tech-U Scholars’ Maryam Afonja,300L; and Amos Olaleye,200L with a perfect CGPA score of 5.0, will both receive N15,000 every month effective from January, 2020.
Salami said that the university believes in best practices and its students must operate along that line.
He told the new students that there is no room for absenteeism, truancy, cultism, internet fraud, examination malpractice or other vices in the institution.
“The university is founded on knowledge, practice, talent and character; so we do not allow anyone to smear our reputation,” he said.
The vice-chancellor’s remark was about the comparative advantage Tech-U has over universities of technology and other conventional institutions, because of its “rich emphasis on employment-preparation skills.”
He said with attachments, apprenticeships and internships, there is an assurance of competence and better preparedness in Tech-U students.
“With the efficient usage of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and TVET to secure a better future for Nigerian youths, Tech-U seeks to midwife the country’s economic development through the provision of market-ready graduates.
“And just two years after the commencement of academic activities, the First Technical University is already grooming innovators and job creators,” Salami said.
He listed some of the achievements of the university to include: the signing of collaborative agreements with the Texas Technical University, US and Girne American University, Cyprus; hosting of the Hult Prize Pitch in Nigeria; producing a finalist in the International Breweries Kickstart Business Plan Competition, for which 17,000 people applied and producing the 2019 winner of the Miss Intellect Universe.
Salami also touted the University’s listing as the 43rd out of the 252 higher institutions ranked in Nigeria on the 2019 Webometrics, saying it was proof that Tech-U’s modest efforts were receiving global attention.