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Tag: convocation

  • Honour for Okebukola, others at LASU convocation

    When former National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary Prof Peter Okebukola, stepped forward to receive the Lagos State University (LASU) Distinguished Professor’s Award at the insitution’s 21st convocation last week, he was not only making history as the first to be so honoured, he was simply fulfilling destiny.

    Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos who called him out also revealed that   Okebukola is the son of a police officer.

    Oba Akiolu said Okebukola’s father  was a cadet officer under him. This was when the monarch was a police officer, before providence made him a first class monarch. The award was first of its kind in the history of the 34-year-old institution and Okebukola was the first to be honoured with it.

    Eulogising Okebukola, Oba Akiolu said he would have turned down the invitation to attend the event, but when he realised that Okebukola was to be honoured, he got more interested in it. According to him,  he was invited by one of his chiefs.

    ”When one of my chiefs in Lagos invited me (to LASU), I was initially glad to be here, but when he mentioned that Peter Okebukola was to be honoured, I became more interested,” he said.

    The monarch recalled his relationship with Okebukola’s father: “And this is food for thought for us all, that prayer and dedication pay. His (Okebukola’s) father worked under me as a cadet officer. He was very prayerful and highly disciplined.

    “He was an elderly person and older than me; yet he was very humble. He descended so low in his relationship with me. He would say to me every morning: ‘Oga, let us pray’

    “He always believed in prayers and thought good of everybody. I remember he once told me that I would be the Inspector-General, but I rejected it because I do not want anybody to start dictating to me on what to do. And this is why I usually say that every nation gets the police it deserves.

    “Who would have known that the son of a common police officer would rise to become a distinguished professor today?”

    Looking straight into Okebukola’s eyes, the monarch said: “It’s about 20 years last that I set my eyes on you . That is why I chose to be here to see you. It’s unfortunate that your father is now late. I wish he were still alive to see the results of those prayers then.”

    Okebukola, a former LASU Acting VC and a professor of Science Education, was honoured with two other philanthropists – Chairman, Premier Lotto, Chief Kessington Adebutu (a.k.a Baba Ijebu) and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija.

    Earlier, both the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor of the university, Justice Adesola Oguntade (rtd) and Prof Adebayo Ninalowo, lauded Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for remaining committed to his promise of improving infrastructure in LASU.

    “Your Excellency, we want to especially thank you for matching your words with action. It would be recalled that at the 20th Convocation last year, you gave us your word to invest massively in our university, with a proviso of sustenance of peace and stability,” Ninalowo said.

    Ambode recalled that the only connection he had with Okebukola  was that the professor once taught his (Ambode’s) wife as an undergraduate in LASU.

    Earlier, Governor Ambode thanked LASU’s management for changing the negative impression people have about the school to fascinating stories.

    He said he was in the university for the second time, after its 20th Convocation last year, to do an assessment of works done so far.

    He particularly thanked members of staff and the  unions for engaging in dialogue to ensure peace.

    According to him, his administration would not relent in attracting more facilities and innovations to the school.

    He challenged the management to move beyond its status as the best state university in Nigeria by the NUC’s assessment to be one of the best three in the country by 2020, and the preferred university of choice by 2023.

    Ambode said one of his government’s ongoing project is the public-private partnership to deliver 6000 bed-space hostel to the school.

    ‘It’s worthy to mention that Lagos State University effectively hosted and provided necessary facilities for the training of final year students across our tertiary institutions in the state during the 13-week intensive training tagged: “Ready, set, work”

    “This initiative is targeted at raising future world-class entrepreneurs and captains of industries from our students. Since this is a continuous programme, I want our students to take this seriously because it is not an opportunity that is available elsewhere,” he said.

  • Graduates’ inventions stun guests at convocation

    Graduates’ inventions stun guests at convocation

    The innovative projects of some graduands attracted guests at the 26th convocation the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State. MAHMUD ABDULSALAM reports.

    At convocations, the best graduating students are the cynosure of all eyes. However, this was not the case at last week’s graduation of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State.

    The procession of the best graduating students did not attract guests, who focused more on projects and machines displayed to mark the ceremony.

    At the exhibition, held at the Suleiman Kumo Convocation Arena on the Gidan Kwano campus, some graduating Mechanical Engineering students stunned the guests with their creativity. They exhibited a solar-powered car designed as their final year project. Camera lenses and students’ mobile phones jostled for perfect angles to get the best shots of the solar car.

    Johnson Jimbo, leader of the four-member team which built the car, said the invention was achieved through rigorous research and mentorship by the project supervisor. He said the aim of the invention was to address the country’s technological deficit and showcase students’ innovation in engineering.

    He said: “We have successfully completed a project worthy of commendation and applause. We are happy we designed a solar-powered automobile at the end of our undergraduate programme in engineering field. Despite that, we encountered physical and mental stress, and financial challenges, which are naturally associated with designing of such projects. We, nevertheless, achieved our aim through rigorous research, commitment and hard work. We hope this great innovation would give the nation a technological boost.”

    Johnson described the project as one that “has the potential to revolutionise Nigeria’s automobile industry”, urging the university to always support students, who wish to embark on similar innovative projects with equipment and logistics.

    An Industrial Technology Education graduate, Uchechukwu Ekwueme-Duru, said the students’ innovation would help in the development of science and technology. He advised the Federal Government and corporate organisations to accord priority to financing such “problem-addressing projects”.

    The project supervisor, Ore Olugbode, an Associate Professor, noted that harnessing solar energy to power automobiles would greatly reduce the challenges of pollution and promote the use of eco-friendly devices to reduce toxic effluents and hazardous gases in the atmosphere.

    Olugbode said Nigeria’s vast solar power from the sun remained untapped, noting that there has been no effort to convert the solar energy into usable output to drive industrial growth.

    Other projects displayed by the graduates included an Automated Fish Feeder, a fuel-less generator and a surveillance drone.

    The convocation witnessed a large crowd. More than 3,733 students received their first and second degrees’ certificates. The school also conferred honorary Doctoral Degrees in Technology on Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Emir of Gombe Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar (III)  and Prof Akinlawon Mabogunje.

    President Muhammadu Buhari,  represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Rasheed Abubakar, said the Federal Government was driving revolution in the agricultural sector to harness the country’s potential and create jobs to boost the economy. He said the programme could be fast-tracked through the application of technology to impart qualitative knowledge in the youth.

    The President said: “To say that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a veritable asset to this generation is to restate an obvious fact. Through judicious applications of the ICT, many nations have found themselves at the summit of technological advancement. Many countries have used the ICT to enhance their citizens’ living standards. They were able to make their youths innovative and enterprising as a result of ICT to impart qualitative knowledge in schools.

    “Nigerian universities, just like the FUT Minna, should intensify efforts towards ensuring that they immensely exploit the rich potentials inherent in the ICT world for national growth and youth development. This, in my perception, is the solution to tackling economic recession and arresting the tide of mass unemployment in the country.”

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Musbau Akanji, said 34 graduates bagged a First Class degrees, while 35 others bagged PhD degrees.

    Although 70 graduates had Pass degree, the VC said the university would no longer award such degrees to students.

  • The Nation shines at UNILAG convocation

    The Nation shines at UNILAG convocation

    The Nation newspaper’s Group Political Editor, Dr Emmanuel Oladesu, was among the 95 graduates conferred with Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) last week.

    Oladesu, who has bagged his PhD in Educational Psychology, worked on the thesis: ‘Impact of Pre-retirement training on anxiety and attitude to retirement among public primary school teachers in Ekiti State, Nigeria.’

    He said completing the programme was fulfilling his destiny.

    “I feel wonderful. It is a fulfillment of destiny for me. I am happy to join the league of those who have been given the licence by the Ivory Tower to intellectually rule the world henceforth. I thank God for the long journey that has ended well,” he said.

    Dr Oladesu said he hoped to make a difference in the world by carrying out researches that will develop the nation and add meaning to the lives of Nigerians.

    Also at the event, Assistant Editor, Mr Muyiwa Lucas, stood proudly by his wife, Olufunke, who got her PhD in Measurement and Evaluation.

    Mrs Lucas, who graduated with a distinction at Masters level in Measurement and Evaluation in the Faculty of Education of the university, teaches Mathematics and Further Mathematics at New Era Senior Girls High School, Surulere.

    She said she was blessed to have a husband who supported her dream wholeheartedly.

    “My doctorate degree is dedicated to my husband. He has been there for me financially, academically, among others. We practically did the entire work together. I am very blessed to have him. Nigerian women should step up to the occasion. They should not limit themselves, because we are the heart of the marriage. They should be humble and respect their husbands and carry them along so that they will give them full support to achieve their dreams,” Dr Lucas said.

    Her thesis was titled: ‘Mode of Entry as predictor of Academic performance among undergraduate students in selected public universities in South-West Nigeria.’

  • 457 take oath at Crawford convocation

    Crawford University Igbesa Ogun State has held its 12th matriculation on Friday last week.

    The event which commenced shortly before noon, had in attendance parents, guests, and university workers led by its vice chancellor Prof Isaac Rotimi Ajayi.

    Ajayi, in his address, said the event was had opened up countless opportunities for training, re-training as well as  the new School of Part-Time Studies, SPTS.

    Said Ajayi: “Our School of Part-time Studies is training and re-training strategy for a strong, virile, sustainable and balanced economy. It is the hub of life-long learning which in the present age has become a pre-requisite for remaining competitive in the labour market.”

    On the relevance of the PTS, Ajayi said it would help develop workers’ skill-sets and prepare them for new job opportunities, minimise or avert joblessness, as well as increase their productivity.

    Of the total of 457 students that took oath of matriculation,  the university’s College of Business and Social Sciences, (CBSS), presented 235, the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, (CONAS) presented 105, SPTC had 90, while the Postgraduates School presented 27 students.

     

  • Fountain varsity honours two at convocation

    Two eminent Nigerians, Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola and Malam Olaolu Yusuf Ali were honoured at the 6th Convocation of the Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State.

    Babalola (OON), bagged the Doctor of Science (honoris causa), while Malam Ali bagged Doctor of Letters (Honoris causa).

    The awardees were recognised for their contributions to the development of the university and the country at large.

    Babalola donated the Senate building to the university, while Ali donated a 20-room hostel block.

    In the society, Babalola is credited to have founded a company Tele mobile Nigeria Limited, which became the first indigenous telecommunication company to deploy satellite communication in Nigeria.  Babalola, who is the deputy President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and President, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, was honoured for this feat by the Federal Government.

    Legal luminary Ali on the other hand, was a winner of the prestigious Federal merit award for undergraduates as a student of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of law degree with Second Class Upper grade and also earned a Masters in Law of the same university. He was appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1989, as a notary public.  He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1997.

    Yusuf Olaolu Ali has been in active legal practice for over three decades. He is the principal partner and founder of the law firm, Yusuf O. Ali & Co, Ghalib Chambers.

    A total of 153 graduates were graduated at the event – with 17 of them coming out with first class, 78 in second class upper division, 84 in second class lower division and 19 with third class category.

    Several prizes were awarded to the graduands who distinguished themselves in various categories. Miss Oni Omobukola Azizat won the most outstanding student of the year award for getting six awards –  including highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.83; the most outstanding student of the year in the sciences; most outstanding student in the college of natural sciences; best graduating student in the department of chemical sciences (Biochemistry and Nutrition); Alumni Prize for overall best graduating student; as well as Prof. Nurudeen Nimbe Adedipe Prize award for the best graduating student.

    The well-attended and colourful convocation which held at the University Auditorium had in attendance dignitaries including the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, members of the University Board of trustees led by Alhaji Abdulwaheed Adeyinka Adeola as Chairman, members of the University Council led by the Pro-chancellor and Chairman, Prof Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, traditional rulers among others.

    In his speech, Aregbesola said that a university does not need large land mass or many programmes to become great, arguing that it could win with a single faculty, good course content and concerted character moulding of the students.

    In his lecturer, Prof Rasheed decried the inability of many private universities in the country, including Fountain, to fill their admission quota as allotted by the NUC.

  • Photo: 2017 UNILAG convocation lecture

    Photo: 2017 UNILAG convocation lecture

    Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG, Prof. Rahaman Bello, Chairman of the event, General Ike Nwachukwu (RTD), Convocation Lecturer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management services, UNILAG, Prof. Diro Oni at the University of Lagos 2017 Convocation Lecture in Lagos.
    Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG, Prof. Rahaman Bello, Chairman of the event, General Ike Nwachukwu (RTD), Convocation Lecturer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management services, UNILAG, Prof. Diro Oni at the University of Lagos 2017 Convocation Lecture in Lagos.
  • Varsity honours Sunny Ade, others at convocation

    Varsity honours Sunny Ade, others at convocation

    Juju maestro Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (aka King Sunny Ade), Prof. Ladino Adamolekun and others will receive honorary doctorate degrees from the Lead City University (LCU), Ibadan this week.

    They will be honoured on Thursday during the week-long ninth convocation along with graduands who will be conferred with diploma and degrees.

    A statement by the school’s Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Dr Ayobami Owolabi, said Adamolekun will deliver the convocation lecture on Wednesday. The topic is: “The Idea of Nigeria: Two Challenges – Unity in Diversity and Prosperity.”

    The statement said the launch of Enterprise Graduate Class of 2016 provides an avenue for the university to release a high caliber of graduates who are poised to prove their mettle in corporate Nigeria and more importantly, make positive impacts in their generation.

  • Federal University Lokoja graduates 200, to immotalize Ocholi

    Federal University Lokoja graduates 200, to immotalize Ocholi

    The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) said it will on Saturday honour the late Minister of State for Labour, Barr. James Ocholi (SAN), during it’s convocation ceremony, where 200 of the pioneer students will be awarded degrees.

    Briefing reporters at the mini campus in Adankolo, ahead of the convocation ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Angela F. Miri, said that the school took the decision to immotalize the late federal minister who hailed from Kogi State, to serve as motivation in the pursuit of excellence and dedication to service.

    She announced the naming of the school’s proposed School of Post Graduate Studies, after Ocholi, a decision she said had been communicated to the authorities at the Federal Ministry of Education.

    “We want to do this, to immotalize him and to immotalize his memory. He was a good servant of the state, and a good servant and illustrious son of this country. The Federal Ministry of Education has already given the go-ahead for this, and our School of Post Graduate Studies will be named after him”, she said.

    Others to be honoured include Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idriss, the first Chancellor of the university and Emir of Fika and Senator Tunde Ogbeha.

    She explained that the N5 billion endowment fund launched August this year is a continuous thing, to be channelled for the development of the university.

  • Caleb varsity to hold convocation

    Caleb varsity to hold convocation

    caleb University, Imota, Lagos State will hold its sixth convocation on Friday.

    The institution will be sending forth 15 first class students from 355 students across its four colleges.

    The convocation lecture, which will hold tomorrow, will be presented by the Access Bank Managing Director Herbert Wigwe.

    The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayandiji Daniel Aina, said this to reporters at the institution’s main auditorium.

    Ayandiji said despite the ongoing recession, the institution would not be increasing its school fees “so that the future of Nigeria can still be secured through education and enlightenment”.

    He said: “Presently, we do not owe any worker any salary or allowance. We have not increased our fees either and we do not intend to do that so that the future of Nigeria will not be truncated.”

    Ayandiji vowed that those graduating would set the pace in their different fields as well as enter into new areas successfully.

    “We are a faith-based institution. Our graduates are distinguished and therefore they will always stand out. They are not backed up; so they will deliver”.

    He disagreed with the popular notion that private universities have been set up for monetary gains.

    Ayandiji said that was not true as most were more concerned with impacting functional and quality education to their students.

    According to the VC, the Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFUND) should spread its goodwill to all universities since any assistance given to them would be beneficial to Nigerians.

     

     

    “We are not asking them to sponsor convocation but to improve education, thereby helping Nigerians to grow,” he added.

    The institution got government’s approval on May 17 and started operation on January 21, 2008.

    According to the VC, it has graduated many students, “who are both certified in learning as well as in character. It has all its programmes accredited by the Nigeria University Commission (NUC).”

     

     

     

  • Caleb varsity produces 15 first class graduates

    Caleb varsity produces 15 first class graduates

    Fifteen first class graduates of Caleb University Imota Lagos will lead 340 others at the university’s sixth convocation on Friday.

    This was announced by institution’s Vice Chancellor Prof Ayandiji Daniel Aina.

    Speaking with reporters at the pre-convocation briefing held at the university premises at the weekend, Prof Ayandiji said the institution has come to set the pace for higher education in Lagos.

    Despite the on-going economic recession, Ayandiji said management would not be increasing its tuition.

    The move, he said, is to secure the future through education and enlightenment- “Our graduates are distinguished therefore they will always stand out. They are not backed up so they will deliver,” he said.

    “Presently we do not owe any worker salary or allowance and we have not increased our fees either and we do not intend to do that so that the future of Nigeria will not be truncated,” he added.

    The school started operation in January 21 2008, and has churned out graduates at five different convocations.