Today, January 18th, 2025, marked a significant milestone for Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) as its 11th Matriculation Ceremony took place at the university’s main campus in Ibeju-Lekki. The event celebrated the formal induction of a record-breaking 714 new students into the PAU community.
Key figures from the university graced the ceremony, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Enase Okonedo, who delivered an inspiring address; Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr. Peter Bamkole; and Registrar Mr. Kingsley Ukaoha. Also in attendance were other principal officers and deans of various schools, including Dr. Sola Oni and Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya of the School of Management and Social Sciences and the School of Media and Communication, Dr. Darlington Agholor, Professor Olayinka David-West, Dean of the School of Science and Technology, Lagos Business School, and Mrs. Nneka Okekearu, Director of the Enterprise Development Centre. Father Ifeayin Ogboh, the university chaplain, led a prayer to kick off the event.
This year’s matriculation saw 400 male and 314 female students officially become bona fide members of the PAU student body and embark on their undergraduate degree programmes. This represents the highest number of matriculated students in the university’s history.
Professor Okonedo’s address centered on the vibrant and youthful community that these new students bring, enriching the academic environment at PAU. She emphasized the university’s dedication to creating a supportive environment through its various service initiatives, aligning with one of the core pillars of the university’s strategic plan (2022-2026): Community Engagement.
The PAU Seed (Special Education Empowerment Drive), a collaborative initiative with the Ibeju-Lekki community, serves as a shining example of this commitment, aimed at improving JAMB/UTME results for students in local public secondary schools. Notably, four of the matriculation students are proud beneficiaries of this programme, demonstrating the tangible impact of PAU’s community engagement efforts.
Experiential learning also took center stage in the Vice-Chancellor’s speech, highlighting that 40% of PAU’s teaching methodology incorporates experiential activities, role-play, and hands-on learning. Professor Okonedo emphasized that university life is a transformative period of growth into adulthood and reiterated PAU’s core values: Community, Respect, Integrity, Service, and Professionalism.
She thanked the parents for entrusting their children to the university, emphasizing that their time at PAU would extend beyond simply earning a degree. It would be about making a lasting impact on society. The university’s ambition, she stated, is to continue being a university of choice.
Professor Okonedo concluded with a resounding welcome: “Congratulations to the Class of 2024/2025! Welcome to Pan-Atlantic University, where your dreams take flight and your potential knows no bounds.”
The 11th Matriculation Ceremony was a resounding success, well attended by faculty, parents, and staff members, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the newest members of the Pan-Atlantic University community.
