Olutoke noted that postgraduate students should not only
limit their inputs to their alma mater alone, but work in concert with their
contemporaries in similar institutions in a manner that encourages cross
fertilisation of ideas from one end of the world to another.
Olutoke stated this while presenting his inauguration
speech, having been elected the pioneer Global President of Global Association
of Post Graduate Students (GAPOGS) during the body’s inaugural election which
held in New York in the United States of America.
Addressing members after his inauguration, Olutoke said his
reason for joining like minds to initiate GAPOGS was anchored on his
understanding that postgraduate students, regardless of individual status, are
naturally of higher reasoning, adding that with such faculty, they could
provide the necessary intellectual and material support base for their schools.
This, Olutoke explained, is why GAPOGS came on stream to
create that all-inclusive ambience which would fast track handshakes of
postgraduate students across borders, while ultimately creating a global
community where scholars would facilitate development of their various campuses
through a swap of ideas across varying fields.
“The aim of GAPOGS is to establish a dynamic and supportive
international network that empowers postgraduate students by providing
opportunities for academic growth, interdisciplinary collaborations, cultural
exchange, and professional advancement. GAPOGS is the unifying platform that
promotes intellectual engagement, supports research endeavours, and cultivates
a sense of camaraderie among postgraduate scholars globally,” Olutoke said
while explaining the aim of the students body
On the purpose of GAPOGS, Olutoke who is currently a PhD
student at the LASU, stressed that the body would seek collaborations with
academic institutions, research and culture institutes, corporate
organisations, and individuals across the world for academic growth, cultural
exchange, business empowerment as well as professional advancement among
members.
Aside that, he added that the body would further engender an
active intellectual entity that would support research undertakings in addition
to skill acquisition, and other needs of students at that level which,
according to him, would rub off on their campuses, connect town to gown,
facilitate academic exchange programmes, as well as joint research initiatives
and academic mobility of members.
He added that membership comprises strictly students on any
postgraduate programmes-Post graduate diploma, masters, Ph.D or or professional doctorate from any part of
the world.
Emphasisng on the modus operandi of GAPOGS, Olutoke
identified some of them to include: promotion of academic discourse; consistent
organisation of seminars, webinar and conferences; critical thinking and
intellectual engagement among scholars, enhancement of members’ professional
growth, mentorship, public speaking skills, helping undergraduate students in
their academic pursuits, as well as emphasis on the role of postgraduate
students in addressing special needs of their campuses, as well as tackling global
challenges.
Olutoke enjoined interested post graduate students all over
the world to join this global movement.