UNILAG Can Solve Apapa Gridlock, Says VC

Funmi Ogundare

The Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, yesterday expressed the institution’s readiness to act on the perennial problem posed by trucks and tankers packing on the roads leading to Apapa, through evidence-based research and forward its contribution to the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

Ogundipe who made this known, while briefing journalists on its 2016/2017 convocation ceremonies scheduled to kick-off with his investiture as the 12th vice-chancellor of the institution and a lecture titled, ‘Inclusion: The Path to a New Nation’ to be delivered by Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on May 8, at the J.F Adel Ajayi Auditorium, expressed concern about the gridlock on Western Avenue and Apapa-Oshodi express way, saying that this has been a growing concern.

He said the institution’s intervention on the issue is to put a scientific dimension to it, adding, “We are ready to provide the lead in attending to urgent national issues through evidence-based research and we have challenged our staff to make good use of their ingenuity and resourcefulness. They have written their proposals and the cost will be sent to the Lagos state government. We need to make our impact known.”

On the convocation ceremony, Ogundipe said a total of 12,638 of the graduating students would be awarded their degrees, diplomas and certificates, adding that out of this number, 6, 816 representing 53.9 per cent are first degrees or diplomas, while 5,822 representing 46.1 per cent are postgraduate degrees.

“The figures again demonstrate the university’s drive to enhance postgraduate education in Nigeria through research, ” he said, adding that out of the students graduating with first degrees, 245 are in the first class division, with the faculty of Engineering topping the 62 first class.

“A total of 1,892 are in the second class upper division, 2,959 are in the second class lower division, 1,227 in third class, 93 with pass degrees, while 400 have degrees or diplomas that are not classified,” the vc said
He listed those who emerged as the best graduating students to include; Mathew Jeffery Jude of the department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science; Roy-Layinde and Boson Abbas of the department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, as well as Emmanuel Babawale Oludare of the department of Chemistry , faculty of Science, all with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97.

He noted that out of the 5,822 graduating postgraduate students, 123 would be awarded Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in various disciplines; 5,190 Master’s degrees in the various fields across the university, and 509 postgraduate diplomas.

The graduation ceremonies, the vc noted, will span three days ; May 9 to 11, 2018, and feature graduating students of the faculties of Arts, Education, Environmental Science, Science and Social Sciences on the first day, while the second and third days will feature graduation of students from the faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical and Dental Sciences, Management Sciences; School of Postgraduate Studies, as well as the conferment of titles of distinguished Emeritus Professorship.

“As part of our culture of celebrating academics who have rendered meritorious services to this community and the nation by making a positive impact in their various fields and areas of expertise, we shall be conferring a well deserved honor of Emeritus Professorship on Professor Mabel Modupe Ogunlesi , formerly of the department of Chemistry and the former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics and Research) between 2007 to 2012. In addition, four other professors will also be honoured with distinguished professorship.

“They are Professor Herbert Coker pf the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Professor Ayodeji Olukoju of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, Professor Takao Osipitan of the Department of Public Law and Professor Onatolu Odukoya of the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology/Biology”, Ogundipe stressed.

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