Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
A total number of 450 students of University of Ilorin (Unilorin) would bag First Class honours degrees in the 37th and 38th convocation of the institution on Friday, October 20, 2023.
Also, no fewer than 25,234 grandaunts would be convoking during the combined convocation ceremonies.
Speaking yesterday at a press conference in Ilorin to mark the commencement of the celebrations, the Vice Chancellor of Unilorin institution, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, said that “the brilliant academic performance of the students is due to the commitment of the lecturers to the academic excellence of the students during the period.”
Egbawole said that “in the first degree/diploma category of the 37th convocation ceremonies of year 2020/2021 academic session, we have 211 First Class, 4,143 second class(Upper Division), 6,570 second class(Lower Division), 1,742 third class and 30 Pass.
“The 37th convocation ceremony also included 151 MBBS grandaunts, 73 nursing grandaunts, 18 Optometry grandaunts, 43 Veterinary Medicine and 12 grandaunts with distinction and 27 grandaunts with pass in Pharmacy.
In the summary, the university will be graduating 13,020 for first degrees/diplomas. The total number of higher degrees to be awarded at the 37th convocation is 1,457. Out of this figure, there are 75 postgraduate diplomas, 976 masters from various faculties, 88 MBA/MPA/MILR/MGIS/MPH/MHPMs and 13 PhDs.”
Egbewole stated further that, “for the students graduating in the 38th convocation of 2021/2022 academic session, in the first degree/diplomas category, we have 239 first class; 3,406 second class (upper division), 4,691 second class (lower division), 961 third class and 21 pass.
“The 38th convocation ceremonies also included 160 MBBS grandaunts, 87 Nursing grandaunts, 15 Optometry, 35 Veterinary Medicine grandaunts and 26 grandaunts with distinction and 43 grandaunts with pass in Pharmacy.
“Thus, we have 9,684 grandaunts in the first degrees/diplomas category. Furthermore, the total number of higher degrees to be awarded at the 38th convocation ceremonies is 1,073 and out of this figure, there are 60 postgraduate diplomas, 605 masters from various faculties, 211 MBA/MPA/MILR/MGIS/MPH/MHPMs and 197 PhDs.”
He, however, said: “I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the personnel of Students Affairs unit, who within a few days have assiduously worked with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to mobilise 8,290 of the 9,684 grandaunts of the just concluded 2021/2022 academic session for the next batch of service.”
He also used the occasion to explain the recent increase in the charges and fees being paid by the grandaunts for the two combined convocation saying that “it is not meant to extort students and parents but remained a moderate one while comparing it with fees and charges being paid in another universities in the country and outside the country.”
On the journey so far, the vice chancellor said that the present administration in the institution has put up various infrastructures capable of boosting the academic excellence of the students and growth of the university community in the last one year.
He said that “the past year has been with its challenges especially the multiplier effects of the fuel subsidy removal which has tested our economic resilience and prudence.
“As the Chief Executive Officer of this university, I know that leadership is sacrifice. I applied for this job and I must deliver on the mandates given to me and the dreams of the founding fathers of this university.
“I know the essence of discipline in the social process and I always like to lead by example. I am not unmindful of inadequate resources, which are hindering the proper running of Nigerian universities and the danger of under staffing.”
