For the management, staff and the pioneer students of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), March 3, 2008 would remain ever green in their minds as it was a day the university authority fullfilled the age long tradition in the academia with the matriculation of its first set of students.

It was a gathering of who is who at the first matriculation ceremony of UNIOSUN for 2007/2008 academic session which attracted Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, his deputy, Erelu Olusola Obada, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, Head of Service, Elder Segun Akinwusi.

The maiden matriculation event of UNIOSUN, which took place at its Main Campus, Osogbo, also had in attendance the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Peter Babalola, Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Oyewale Matanmi, other traditional rulers, commissioners, governing council members, local government chairmen, Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Michael Faborode and parents after over four months of academic related activities by the 551 lucky students.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Professor Sola Akinrinade described the ceremony as historic and symbolic because it fulfilled an age long tradition in the academia whereby students are formally accepted into membership of the university community and are recognized as being students.

Professor Akinrinade said while there would always be matriculation ceremonies, the ceremony would go down in history as the first of its type in UNIOSUN and commended Prince Oyinlola as well as the defunct implementation committee and pioneer council for being the instrument God used to establish the institution.

He congratulated the 551 pioneer students and their proud parents who, he said, have thought it fit to invest in the future of their children by giving them excellent education provided by UNIOSUN.
Said he: "I appreciate the parents for the trust they have placed in us to deliver on the promises we have made to provide high quality tertiary education in the state of the Living Spring".
According to him, UNIOSUN emerged at a critical time in the development of higher education in the country and that while the demand for tertiary education has continued to expand, the capacity to meet the needs has not matched the pace.

The VC observed that questions continue to be raised about the quality of the products of our educational system and the value of the instructions they are receiving.
His words: "Our goal is to produce entrepreneurial graduates who would be able to hold their own among their peers anywhere in the World. We have the assurance of the government that the university would receive all the necessary support to make it a truly international center for learning".

Professor Akinrinade used the occasion to read the riot act to the new students that UNIOSUN has no room for irresponsible student unionism, cultism and other social vices that have turned our universities in the country to the Hobbesian state of anarchy.

The UNIOSUN VC stressed that the code of conduct for staff and students including the code of dressing must be adhered to, warning: "We have the intention of enforcing every clause in the code. Our pioneer students have a particular burden placed on them because they will be the reference point for the generation that will follow".

He revealed that the university management has been putting together the structures of a system for building and moulding the lives of the students in the four to six years that they would stay and that the UNIOSUN vision is on course.

An elated Governor Oyinlola, who inspected some facilities, told the gathering that the maiden matriculation of UNIOSUN marked another opportunity of his administration to provide quality higher education and that the state with the establishment of the university has taken a giant step in the nation’s quest for development.

Governor Oyinlola confirmed that the take-off of UNIOSUN and the conduct of its first matriculation ceremony, his administration had proved its critics wrong as the university would wax strong as well as contribute its quota to national development.

The governor pledged his administration’s commitment to make UNIOSUN a world class university and that resources would be made available to provide facilities to enhance the academic pursuit of the students and staff.

He disclosed that through the state government efforts, some top - rated universities in USA, UK, Korea and Africa have agreed to collaborate with UNIOSUN in the area of exchange programmes even as he stressed that the education of children should not be the responsibility of government alone but a joint venture which parents must play their role.

He commended the 551 new students for being lucky among the many that applied for admission and charged them to abide with the rules and regulations as well as be worthy ambassadors of the university.
The Pro– chancellor and chairman of council, Professor Peter Okebukola, who was beaming with smiles, told the governor, parents and stakeholders that he sees, in the 551 new students future president, governors, lawmakers, UN scribe, Judges and businessmen and women that would make the university proud.

The former Executive Secretary of NUC assured the state government that the university would produce top quality graduates that would match the best in the world while noting that the governor has secured an exchange programme with a UK university for the students.
Professor Okebukola, who praised Governor Oyinlola’s wisdom of establishing UNIOSUN, said the university was on course to produce future leaders and sought the support of stakeholders to attain its vision.