A cross section of fresh students during the Orientation Programme (Inset) :The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Chryss Onwuka

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Agriculture Abeokuta (UNAAB), Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun has called on the newly-admitted students of the University to shun any form of social or societal vices, such as examination malpractices, hooliganism, cultism, robbery and indecent dressing.

He stated this while delivering his Welcome Address at the Orientation Programme for the fresh students of the University.

Professor Balogun, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Chryss Onwuka said the essence of the orientation programme was to welcome them as new members of the UNAAB family as well as to integrate them into the system and enlighten them on the extant rules and regulations governing their stay in the citadel of learning.

He assured them that the University will not compromise its high moral and academic standards under any guise as the present administration has zero tolerance for all forms of indiscipline and anti-social activities.

In the area of academics, which is their primary aim of coming to the University, Professor Balogun advised them to be well focused as there were lots of things that could jeopardize their chances of completing their programmes and graduating with good degrees from the University. He also implored the new students to face their studies squarely, in order to come out in flying colours and be prepared for real work, in order to meet the expectations of both the University and their parents.

In order to fulfil the tripodal mandates of the University, that is, teaching, research and extension services, Professor Balogun informed the new students that the University had put in place state-of-the-art facilities under a serene environment.

“Most of the University Lecture Halls are fully equipped with air-conditioners, multimedia facilities and white boards”, he added.

On landscaping and aesthetics, which have earned the University the reputation of being reckoned with as one of the most beautiful campuses in Nigeria, the University’s helmsman urged the new students to join in the efforts at keeping the campus clean, avoid crossing of lawns, learn to use the walk-ways, which were constructed to link the buildings and avoid writing or pasting of materials indiscriminately on the University structures.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that about 2,700 students were offered provisional admission in the new academic year.