Professor Ademola Tayo urges freshers to embrace discipline and reject campus vices at the 27th Matriculation Ceremony.

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Professor Ademola S. Tayo, has urged newly admitted students to avoid behaviours that could derail their academic future, stressing that success is never accidental but the product of discipline, diligence and humility.

Professor Tayo delivered the charge during the university’s 27th Matriculation Ceremony held on 27 November 2025 at the Amphitheatre in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.

Welcoming the students, he described matriculation as the beginning of an exciting journey of growth, discovery and transformation. He said Babcock University remains a community “where minds are sharpened, characters molded and destinies shaped.”

The VC warned the freshers to shun cultism, examination malpractice, hooliganism, bullying, corruption and all forms of immorality, emphasising the institution’s zero-tolerance policy toward such acts. He also appealed to parents and guardians to support the university in maintaining a safe and peaceful learning environment.

In his goodwill remarks, the representative of the JAMB Registrar and Ogun State Coordinator, Mr. Hakeem AbdulHameed, echoed the VC’s stance. He urged the students to take their academics seriously while encouraging the management to continue adhering to all extant admission guidelines.

The event formally welcomed thousands of students into the Babcock University community, marking the start of their academic pursuit.

A matriculation ceremony is a formal event held by universities to officially welcome new students into the institution. During the ceremony, students are often introduced to the university’s rules, values, and traditions, and may take an oath to uphold them. It marks the official start of their academic journey and helps students feel part of the university community, often including speeches by officials, symbolic activities, and cultural presentations.