When Nigeria’s premier private University of Technology commenced operations on 1st July 2005 at Ota, Ogun State, with the noble, bold and brilliant Vision: ‘To be a world-renowned university that is committed to the development and transformation of society through environment-friendly technologies and other innovations’, the futuristic founders and patriotic minds behind it perhaps could only have guessed what it would achieve years later.
But hardly could they have realised that it would attain this lofty level with some of the best-performing graduates in engineering and different fields of human endeavour across the globe, and currently boasting two professors listed in the 2026 Ranking of the Top 2% Scientists in the World. Yes, you read that right. That is the power of vision acted upon with total commitment, character, creativity, and an unwavering passion for excellence sustained all through two demanding decades.
As Sam Walton, the world – renowned American business magnate (now of blessed memory), rightly noted: ‘The secret of success is constancy of purpose.’ That is it! Right from the period of the first Vice Chancellor Prof Julius Okogie through that of his highly committed and capable successors from Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, through that of Prof. Jeremiah Ojediran to the current one, Prof Abel Olorunnisola the momentum has been consistent.
Good enough, all the members of staff, including the lecturers and administrators have keyed into the vision and have been guided by that moving mantra that: ‘Only the Best is Good for Bells’
Apart from raising students who are so well heeled in academics that they practicalise their knowledge while still in school to the point of owning their businesses and graduating as solution-providers instead of being job-seekers, they have become problem solvers to all manner of society’s multifaceted challenges.
As the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olorunnisola highlighted during the recently held and well attended Press Conference ahead of the 18th Convocation the citadel of knowledge stands at the threshold of another milestone as it ‘prepares to graduate a new cohort of skilled individuals who have been found worthy in both character and learning.’
Interestingly, the past year has been a defining epoch for Bells University of Technology as it successfully celebrated its 20th anniversary, described as ‘a monumental two decades of pioneering private tertiary technological education in Nigeria. ‘
Guided by the University’s commitment to innovation and research impact it has recorded significant strides by making a historic debut in the prestigious 2026 Times Higher Education (THE). That is outstanding, is it not? Of course it is.
For instance, on the Sustainability Impact Rankings, assessing the Institutional contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), out of over 309 Universities in Nigeria, Bellstech proudly secured A place among the elite Ranked Institutions, placing 7th overall in Nigeria and 6th among Nigerian Private Universities. This is highly commendable. But there was more to come.
In strict compliance with National Universities Commission (NUC) Directives, Bells University formally established the College of Computing (COLCOMP), positioning its Curriculum right at the Cutting Edge of Information Science, Cybersecurity, and Computer Science.
Furthermore, on the provision of infrastructure and facilities, acting as catalysts to enhance the much – needed learning environment, he listed the completion and commissioning of several state-of-the-art facilities. These include a Centre for Climate Change – a Climate Monitoring Centre established in partnership with the National Meteorological Centre (NiMet); a newly established Centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI); a newly renovated central laboratory, and an expanded Digital Library Facility.
To prove the delivery of academic excellence with empirical evidence on the ground through awards, recognitions and grants, he stated that: ‘The students and faculty members have distinguished themselves globally, securing competitive scholarships, fellowships and research grants.
A few examples would suffice. For instance, Miss Rosemary Funke Adekunle and Mr Olawale Joel Adeyemi, two of the recent graduates, arrived in China on September 6, 2026 to commence Postgraduate Studies (up to PhD level) in Software Engineering and Computer Science and Technology respectively on full Chinese Government Scholarship. That is at the University of Electronics Science and Technology of China (UESTC).
Worthy of note is that a student of the University, Miss Fariat Damilola Hamzat emerged as the Overall Best Female Graduate in Food Science and Technology in Nigeria, clinching the prestigious Dolapo Coker Award. Furthermore, Mrs. Bolanle Esther Daramola secured the Second Position in the Poster Presentation Category, reinforcing the institution’s dominance in Agricultural and Food Science Research.
In a similar vein, students in the Surveying and Geoinformatics programme came 2nd in the Legacy Pitch Competition organised by Young Surveyors Network, Ogun State.
Another set of students secured 2nd and 3rd positions in Architecture Design Competition organised by the NIA Ogun Assembly. Yet, that was not all to the bumper package of well – deserved academic garlands. Also, three of the students have qualified for the Finals of the Smart Challenge Competition 2026-2027, Edition.
And on the sterling achievements of the lecturers, two professors of Bells University were listed in the 2026 Ranking of the Top 2% Scientists in the World. While Prof. Sunday O. Oyedepo was ranked no. 54, Prof. O. S. I. Fayomi was ranked no. 62, both in the Engineering Discipline.
Similarly, two of the lecturers, Dr B. I. Adetunji and Dr Tunde Adeleke secured Postdoctoral Research Fellowships at INTI International University, Malaysia and Durban University of Technology, South Africa respectively. These are truly commendable and worthy of emulation across the nation’s University spectrum.
As if all these were not enough, in the field of sports and holistic development, staying true to its Ethos of Building the ‘Total Person,’ Bellstech successfully hosted the 2nd Nigerian Private University Games Association (NPUGA) Championship, where the vibrant Student Athletes delivered stellar performances, proudly capturing the coveted Football Championship Crown.
The University deserves commendation for certifying a total of one thousand and sixty-one (1,061) graduands across various programs with
114 (15.6 percent) of them smiling back home with First Class degrees. And big kudos also goes to the overall Best Graduating Student, Miss Kafayat Abisola Lawal, from the Department of Computer Science who achieved a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0/5.00 in Computer Science.
Twenty good years after, one’s standing ovation goes to all those who have breathed life into the University ‘s Mission Statement: ‘To discover, disseminate and apply the knowledge of science and engineering for human well-being and the development of the society’.