AUST Matriculates 150 Fresh Students For The 2025/2026 Academic Session
The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, on Saturday, January 24,2026 matriculated 150 newly admitted undergraduate students for the 2025/2026 academic session, reaffirming its commitment to excellence, innovation, and problem-solving education.
The matriculation ceremony which took place at the RMRDC hall, AUST, marked the fourth matriculation exercise since the establishment of the Pan-African University in 2007.
The new students were admitted into eight undergraduate programmes, namely, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Engineering, Petroleum and Energy Resources Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Business Administration, and Accounting.
Speaking at the event, the President of AUST, Engr.Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, described the University as an institution deliberately designed to produce innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders equipped to address real-world challenges in the next millennium.
According to him, AUST’s academic philosophy goes beyond classroom learning, focusing on developing students who can create value, lead change, and contribute meaningfully to national and continental development.
Prof. Onwualu disclosed that AUST recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), aimed at expanding students’ access to advanced innovation facilities and hands-on skills training.
He explained that previous collaborations with NASENI had already resulted in the funding of commercialization projects derived from AUST research outputs, while the newly signed MoU will strengthen cooperation between both institutions’ innovation and incubation hubs.
Through the partnership, AUST students will benefit from industrial training opportunities, access to state-of-the-art technological facilities, participation in innovation hackathons, and exposure to real-world product design and manufacturing processes. Outstanding participants from across Nigeria may also be offered scholarships to study at AUST in innovation-focused areas.
Reiterating the University’s stance on discipline, the AUST President emphasized the institution’s zero-tolerance policy on cultism, substance abuse, and examination malpractice. He noted that the University adopts preventive, corrective, and rehabilitative measures, including screening, counselling, and security interventions where necessary.
Prof. Onwualu also highlighted AUST’s high academic standards, noting that an ‘A’ grade requires a minimum score of 95 percent, in line with the University’s international outlook.
He explained that assessment at AUST is continuous and comprehensive, combining attendance, tests, projects, seminars, assignments, and examinations, ensuring that students remain engaged and academically grounded throughout the semester.
Delivering the matriculation speech on behalf of the Class of 2025, a student representative, Mr. Okotie Mitchell Orere, described AUST as a beacon of excellence, innovation, and academic community, expressing gratitude to the University’s management, faculty, parents, and guardians.
The student urged fellow matriculants to pursue academic excellence with discipline, integrity, and a strong sense of social responsibility, emphasizing that science and technology must be guided by character and leadership to achieve meaningful impact.
In his remarks, the Dean, School of Engineering and Acting Chairman of the Senate Ceremonial Committee, Dr. Vitalis Anye, attributed the growing number of matriculating students to AUST’s enhanced visibility and strategic outreach efforts.
He noted that the University’s transition from a small postgraduate institution to an undergraduate-admitting university has been supported by increased awareness of its project-based, innovation-driven teaching and learning model.
The ceremony concluded with the formal administration of the matriculation oath and a charge to students to uphold the core values of excellence, discipline, and innovation, as they begin their academic journey at AUST.