53 make first class at University of Ibadan

Fifty three students graduated with first class degrees from the University of Ibadan, out of 2,362 graduands in Ibadan on Friday.

The first class graduates emerged from the institution’s Faculties of Arts, Science, Clinical Science and Public Health.

Prof. Emilolorun Ayelari, the Ag. Vice-Chancellor of UI, disclosed this at the 67th Foundation Day and Convocation 2015 held at the International Conference Centre in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that 14 of the 53 first class graduates were of the Faculty of Arts, 32 from Faculty of Science, one each from Clinical Science, Public Health, Distance Learning and four from affiliate institutions.

Ayelari said 494 had Second Class (Upper Division), 822 secured Second Class (Lower Division), 185 had Third Class, 40 in the Pass category, 177 from unclassified degrees and 48 diplomas.

He said the 53 first class graduates had become UI scholars, adding that the university would bear the cost of their studies up till their doctorate (PhD) degrees.

Ayelari urged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the institution wherever they find themselves.

Responding on behalf of the graduands, Ms Ejemenare Daodu, from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, said they had come a long way but thanked God that they had succeeded.

“It was not all rosy. We experienced many challenges. There were times for laughter and times of despair.

“All the challenges we faced have shaped us into intellectuals that we are today”, she said.

Daodu, who secured the highest number of awards at the ceremony, urged the students of the institution to be fully prepared for the task.

She called on the management of the institution to embrace the digital world that is growing fast.

“I look forward to a day when Nigerian students will on admission know the date they will graduate.

“What I mean is an educational system devoid of incessant industrial strikes”, she said.

Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, who graduated from the Faculty of Law, said he was glad he succeeded, despite the his responsibilities.

Ayelari presented the incoming Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, to the audience.

He would assume duty on December 1.

(Punch)

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FG to make hostel accommodation in universities compulsory

The Federal Government has said that it was taking serious consideration at reintroducing compulsory hostel accommodation at universities, stressing that the system in the past contributed to a better and quality students.

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, who disclosed this while representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the 21st convocation ceremony of University of Uyo (UNIUYO) at the weekend, said this has become expedient, as it would address the dwindling quality of graduates being produced from these tertiary institutions.

Also, the NUC boss explained that government was also taking seriously the issue of reducing the lecturer/student ratio and reinventing the universities to become centres of inventions.

He, therefore, challenged lecturers in the country’s institutions of higher learning to do more in the area of researches that would be of great benefit to Nigerians, adding that a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree would soon become the least qualification for all academic members of staff of the country’s universities.

He tasked managements of universities on accountability and prudence in the applications of funds, urging them to endeavour to build synergies with state governments, public and private institutions and organisations to address some of their challenges.

According to Prof. Okojie, universities in the country did not fare well in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but assured that shortcomings of the country’s tertiary institutions would be carried over to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Addressing the Visitor and graduands of the university, the Vice Chancellor of UNIUYO, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the university during her tenure, noting that the university has become the 10th most preferred university in the country with more than 40,000 applicants selecting it in the 2015 UME examinations while it was given an admission quota of 6,659 during the period.

The university, she also stated, is currently ranked as the 55th best in Africa in 2015 with 98 per cent of its programmes having full accreditation.

“All these progress was made possible because we have maintained a high academic standard. Ninety-eight per cent of our academic programmes have been accredited by the National Universities Commission, including Pharmacy, which always had problems in the past having full accreditation status while we are working on getting accreditation for Efik/Ibibio.

“The university had had full accreditation for seven years with seven programmes presented for accreditation recently found worthy to be accredited. We have also played host to international conferences and lectures attracting resource persons from across the globe.

“Eighty per cent of our academic members of staff have at least Masters degrees while we have also strengthened our student support programme with 41 indigent but brilliant students benefitting from the programme since 2013”, she said.

She commended the university Senate and the two management teams during her tenure for the complementary role they played, saying that she would be leaving the institution better than she met it.

Three eminent Nigerians, including Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang; an industrialist, Mrs. Folurunsho Alakija and a music maestro, Chief Uko Akpan Umana, bagged honorary doctorate degree in Law, Humanities and Music respectively.

The occasion also witnessed the installation of Alhaji Abubakar Maje, the Emir of Hadejia and chairman, Jigawa State Council of Chiefs, as the university’s Fourth Chancellor.

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SUG accuse police of shielding OAU student killer

The Students Union of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has accused the Osun State Police Command of hiding the driver of a private school bus which crushed a 200 level law student of the university to death.
Mary Ibitolu was knocked down from a motorcycle and crushed to death on May 6 by the driver of a school bus whose vehicle was faulty.

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LASU students want school reopened

(Vanguard) - Worried by the continued closure of their school, students of the Lagos State University, Ojo, yesterday appealed to Governor Babatunde Fashola to reopen the institution.

The students’ position came one month and six days after the management of the institution, in a statement titled ”Election recess,” asked the students and workers to vacate the university premises

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Kogi varsity resumes lecture after strike

The Academic staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kogi state University chapter, has agreed to put to an end a 2-month strike.

The strike was reportedly embarked upon following a demand for the state government to reach an agreement with the union in 2009.

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Unilag student graduates with 4.96 CGPA

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello, on Friday said that 125 of its 10,600 graduating students for the 2014 session had finished in the First Class Division.

Prof. Bello said at the convocation media briefing in Lagos that the event for the award of degrees, higher degrees, Diploma, certificates and prizes, would hold from April 27 to April 30.

He said that 1,664 of the students bagged the Second Class Upper Division while 2,827 were in the Second Class Lower Division.

Prof. Bello said that 963 others would be graduating in the Third Class Division; 90 with Pass degrees while 167 others would be under the unclassified degrees in Medicine and Pharmacy.

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Ahead of the 2015 general election, LASU announces compulsory break for staffand students

Below is the press statement released by the management of Lagos State University (LASU).

In view of the forthcoming national and state elections scheduled for March 28th and April 11th respectively, the university management of Lagos State University has declared a recess for both staff and students with effect from Monday March 23rd. Students and staff are therefore advised to vacate the campus immediately. The date of resumption will be announced later. 

Signed management.

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Gunmen Attack Nigerian Student Leader In Ondo State

Saharareporters:
The source, who is also a member of the association, said that Mr. Awodola was seriously assaulted in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. “They used a cutlass to cut Awodola on the forehead after he tried to fight back,” the source said.

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