256 Bag First Class as FUTA graduates 4,212

.Laments japa syndrome, secures N6bn interventions

.YABATECH graduates 10,886 Students, confer fellowship awards on Alausa, Oyedele

Funmi Ogundare in Lagos and Fidelis David in Akure

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Adenike Oladiji, yesterday disclosed that the institution is set to graduate 4,212 students at its 37th convocation ceremony, with 256 of the 3,039 first-degree graduands making First Class honours.

Also, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) is set to graduate a total of 10,886 students at its 38th convocation ceremonies, which will feature the awards of diplomas, certificates and prizes to deserving students of the 2024/2025 academic session across its full- time, part-time and Centred for Open, Distance and Flexible e-Learning (CODFeL).

Prof. Oladiji disclosed that the figure comprises 3,039 first-degree graduates and 1,173 postgraduate graduands, including 641 master’s degree holders, 225 Postgraduate Diploma recipients, 173 PhD graduates, 131 graduates of professional master’s programmes and three Master of Philosophy recipients.

Giving the breakdown during a press briefing heralding the convocation, Oladiji said 1,717 first-degree graduands obtained Second Class Upper Division, 964 secured Second Class Lower Division, while 102 graduated with Third Class honours.

She disclosed that male graduates accounted for 2,152 of the first-degree recipients, while females numbered 887. The School of Agricultural and Agricultural Technology recorded the highest number of graduates with 553, followed by the School of Management Technology with 422 and the School of Environmental Technology with 371.

Oladiji also announced Daniel Victor Akintola of the Department of Computer Science as the best graduating student for the 2025/2026 academic session, having recorded a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.94.

Describing the convocation as more than a ceremonial milestone, the Vice-Chancellor said the university remained committed to producing graduates capable of responding to rapid technological changes, emerging industries and complex economic and social challenges.

“Today’s graduates must be prepared for a world shaped by rapid technological change, emerging industries, digital transformation and increasingly complex economic and social challenges,” she said, adding that FUTA was strengthening entrepreneurship education, practical training, research exposure and innovation-driven learning to produce creative thinkers and potential employers of labour.

In a major boost to its medical education programme, she said the university secured full accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for its Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme, with its admission quota increased from 50 to 100 students. It also commenced a Nursing programme, further expanding its healthcare education portfolio.

The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the university introduced new undergraduate programmes, including Landscape Architecture and Design, Interior Architecture and Design, Industrial and Technology Education, Information and Communication Engineering, Science Laboratory Technology, and Economics and Strategic Analytics.

She said 10 undergraduate programmes underwent the 2025 National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation exercise, with none denied accreditation, while additional postgraduate programmes were approved or processed in areas including Urban and Regional Planning, Digital Humanities, Communication Studies, Biotechnology and Climate Action.

On infrastructure and institutional development, Oladiji disclosed that FUTA was being considered for a N4bn TETFund intervention to upgrade its engineering and technology laboratories, workshops and facilities. The university also secured a N1bn special intervention for its Nursing building and a N1bn agricultural grant to boost its agricultural activities.

The Vice-Chancellor further revealed that the university recorded 6,202 new undergraduate admissions during the session, bringing its total undergraduate enrolment to 22,491, while postgraduate enrolment stood at 1,456. She added that 187 academic and non-academic staff members were recommended for TETFund conference attendance sponsorship.

On student welfare, Oladiji disclosed that about 7,000 FUTA students had benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing the initiative as a programme that had enabled students from less privileged backgrounds to access funding for their education.

Addressing concerns over the Japa syndrome, she acknowledged that the university had lost lecturers, technologists and experienced administrators to foreign countries but said measures were being taken to retain staff through improved welfare, research opportunities, sabbatical leave and other educational opportunities. “Another factor that I believe will help us retain our workforce is improved funding and improved welfare of staff,” she said.

She, however, argued that the ability of Nigerian-trained professionals to secure gainful employment abroad should also provoke reflection on the global relevance of the country’s educational system, noting that the training provided by Nigerian universities was recognised internationally.

She said the university will confer the title of Professor Emeritus on two retired academics, Professors Thomas Inomisan Ofuya and Felix Akinsola Akinyosoye, in recognition of their contributions to scholarship and institutional development during the ceremony.

She added that the convocation lecture will be delivered by the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Innocent Ike, under the theme, ‘From Akure to the World: The Next Chapter is Yours to Write’.

Meanwhile, YABATECH graduating students comprised 361 students graduating with distinction, 3,160 with upper credit, 5,696 with lower credit and 1,669 with pass grades.

The college will also confer its prestigious Fellowship honours on the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele; and distinguished alumna, Mrs. Itunu Omotayo, in recognition of their contributions to education, public administration, economic development, professional excellence and national advancement

The Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, who disclosed this at a pre-convocation press conference, which kicked-off with a Jumat Service on November 13, described the figures as a reflection of the institution’s sustained commitment to expanding access to quality technological and vocational education while maintaining academic standards.

He congratulated the graduands, particularly the 361 students who achieved distinction, and commended lecturers, technologists, administrators, parents and other stakeholders for their contributions to the students’ academic success.

The rector also disclosed that the overall best graduating student at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level emerged from the Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.96, while the best National Diploma (ND) student came from the Department of Mechatronics, also in the School of Engineering, with the same CGPA of 3.86.

Emphasising on the three distinguished Nigerians to be honoured as Fellows of the College, Abdul said Omotayo, an alumna of the Accountancy Department, School of Management and Business Studies, who graduated in 1986, had demonstrated exceptional commitment to her alma mater.

According to him, “members of her graduating class, under her leadership as president, recently committed over N100 million towards the renovation of the School of Management and Business Studies building.

He described the intervention as an inspiring demonstration of alumni loyalty, institutional partnership and the importance of giving back to society.

On Alausa, Abdul stated, “the honour recognised his contributions to the development of Nigeria’s education sector, particularly efforts to strengthen educational institutions, improve access to quality education and advance reforms aimed at human capital development.”

The rector said the grand convocation ceremony would hold on November 19 at the Dr. Phillip Adegbile Sports Complex where diplomas, certificates and prizes would be presented to the graduands, alongside the conferment of the Fellowship honours.

He disclosed that the college had invited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Visitor to the institution, to grace the occasion.

The convocation activities will also feature a lecture on November 17, to be delivered by the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, themed, ‘From Silos to Synergy: Reimagining Nigeria’s Tertiary Education System for National Transformation’.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, is expected to chair the lecture.

Abdul said the theme was intended to stimulate conversations on the need for stronger collaboration among universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, research institutions, government agencies and the private sector to address national challenges, promote innovation and produce graduates equipped for the changing world of work.

Speaking on the institution’s achievements, the Rector described the federal government’s approval for the conversion of YABATECH into the Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, as a historic milestone in the institution’s development.

He said the new status would provide opportunities to deepen applied research, technological innovation, advanced skills acquisition and industry-responsive education.