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Tag: graduates

  • Anglican College graduates 145

    From the Anglican Bible College (LABICO) 145 students have graduated. They were awarded their certificates and diplomas yesterday at the Cathedral of St. Jude, Ebute-Metta. NNEKA NWANERI writes.

    The graduating students stood tall. They wore blue graduation garments as they converged on the headquaters of the Lagos Anglican Churches, the Church of St. Jude Anglican Communion, Ebute- Meta, Lagos.

    The 145 graduates gathered to be celebrated and receive their certificates of merit and diplomas in Bible Studies.

    The event coincided with the second day of the Eid-el-Firtri celebrations. There were as many family members, friends and well-wishers of the graduates who were there to celebrate with them. The ceremony did not start with a normal church service, as expected in such a Christian gathering.

    Hymns were sung and the graduates ushered into a corner of the hall.

    They had been trained by the college in evangelism, having acquired biblical knowledge for two years.

    The Lagos Anglican Bible College (LABICO) was founded by a former Primate of the the Anglican Communion, the late Rev. Abiodun Adetiloye, who passed on last year.

    In quick succession, the business of the day began with the Rector of the college, Ven. Bamidele Okunuga, addressing the gathering.

    He noted that the college, since inception, had trained 2,000 students, many of who had become ministers of the gospel, lay readers and Sunday school teachers in various Dioceses of Lagos.

    Giving the account of his stewardship, the Rector appealed to the graduates to give back to the college what had been imparted to them.

    Okunuga said the graduates needed to provide some of the needs of the college.

    He certified the graduates as they stood.

    Okunuga advised them, like Jesus Christ did: therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.

    The graduates were asked to wear their caps as their shoulders were decorated with hoods.

    The graduates-turned-apostles were called out one after the other and presented with their certificates.

    Besides the presentation, those who distinguished themselves during the two-year programme were given plaques.

    Mrs Grace Odukomaiya was the Best Behaved Student and Sir Jasper Nwachukwu was the Most Punctual Student.

    A representative of the graduating students and a lawyer, Mrs Joyce Oduah, thanked the principal and other officers for imparting biblical knowledge to them.

    She urged her fellow ‘brothers and sisters’ to use all they had been taught to win souls for Christ.

  • 35 percent okada riders are graduates, says chair

    The National President, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Alhaji Babangida Maiura, yesterday stated that at least 35 percent of commercial motorcycle operators are graduates.

    Most of the operators, he said, were lured to the business by economic exigency, adding that none of them is planning to hand over the trade to their sons.

    He pleaded with all tiers of government, especially those that have banned motorcycle operation in their states to provide alternative employments for their disengaged members.

    He spoke during the 15th national convention of the association where he was re-elected as president at Abuja.

    Muaira said: “We want governments to make provision for alternative measures.

    “You see if there are alternatives to the business of okada, we wouldn’t have engaged ourselves in it. Nobody wants his son to inherit him as an okada rider.”

    Maiura regretted that 35 per cent of the operators are graduates but were only lured into the business by the nation’s unemployment challenge.

    Speaking, the ACOMORAN South West Chairman, Alhaji Adebayo Akinpelogun, noted that the association was not comfortable with the proscription of commercial motorcycle, in some states.

    He explained that since state governments started accusing their members of connivance in crimes, the association has been organising seminars on how they can collaborate with security agencies.

    He argued that state governments that proscribed their operation did so because the riders constitute the less privileged in the society.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Graduates to take employability test soon

    •’JAMB CBT success crucial

    A  generalised test may soon be in place that graduating students of universities will take that would remove the need for the aptitude tests conducted by employers for recruitment purposes.

    The test, called Graduate Standardisation Examination, which would be some form of employability screening, would assess work-based skills including aptitude, ICT skills and integrity of the graduates.

    Mr Robert Ikazoboh, Managing Director of Dragnet Solutions, an IT company that provides technology solutions for e-testing, scholarship administration, e-recruitment, promotions and other services, said the test has enjoyed the endorsement of some key agencies and stakeholders and would soon become the standard. He added that Dragnet has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)

    “The National Universities Commission (NUC) loves the idea. So, ultimately, it will be positioned such that after their final exams, graduates do their employability test. It would serve for both full-time jobs and leave cover.

    “The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has said this multiple testing (conduct of aptitude tests by various employers) has to stop. The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has come in to provide facilities. Let us have one centralized testing platform for all graduate recruitment. What employers need is that they get profiled candidates, pre-tested to know their aptitude, level of ICT proficiency, integrity. What this test has done is to save them money spent conducting aptitude tests to screen candidates, and time, which can be as much as six months.

    “It also saves graduates a lot of stress. They do not need to travel up and down to take aptitude tests. The most they have to do is to go the NDE centres in the state capitals to take the test. We have this technology and the expertise; the MOU has been signed. As we speak, NDE is carrying out renovations of their centres so we can move in and deploy our CBT application,” he said.

    Commending the introduction of the Computer Based Testing (CBT) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ikazoboh said Dragnet had been advising the examining board to start e-testing since 2007. He said the success of the ongoing CBT option for the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) would enhance the successes and experiences of professionals in this line of business. He added that the advantages of the CBT make it expedient that Nigeria should adopt technology in deploying its exams.

    “It is important that the (UTME) CBT succeeds because if it does, it will be a plus for those who practice it. By now, this country should be adopting CBT in virtually all of our educational institutions especially the secondary and tertiary institutions. We simply can’t go on with the Paper and Pencil Test (PPT) mode of assessment in this country. Imagine the cumbersome task the teachers face especially when they have many students to attend to. With CBT, the results of tests are ready just as the candidate concludes the examination and there is no need to physically handle the scripts. That is why we applaud JAMB for taking the bold step by adopting CBT for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME),” he said.

    In deploying technology in the administration of examinations, scholarships, recruitment purposes, and the like, Ikazoboh said over the years, Dragnet has been able to come up with applications that are foolproof, like its Face of Testing (FOT) software which he said is in demand even outside Nigeria. He said the FOT, which manages the examination process including question creation, candidate scheduling, examination writing, marking and report generation, has been improved over the years so that it works for a variety of testing purposes and is easy to use.

     

     

     

  • Western Delta varsity graduates 198

    About 198 students have graduated from the Western Delta University, Oghara in Delta State.

    They were the first set to be awarded first degree at the school’s maiden convocation. Interestingly, no one made a First Class at the ceremony held last weekend.

    The two best graduating students- Efevberha Oghenevbaire and Emuobohwo Joy – were awarded N100,000 each by the institution and a scholarship by the Delta State government for post-graduate studies in any foreign university of their choice.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Peter Hugho, warned parents against sending their wards to neighbouring universities in Africa, especially those along the West African coast.

    Hugho said the web metric ranking of African universities showed that universities in Ghana, for instance, were not better than their Nigerian counterparts.

    Hugho stated that the instability in academic calendar, protests by various interest groups in Nigeria’s public universities, which are major factors adduced by parents for sending their children to foreign universities, are non-existent in private universities.

    He said: “It is my contention that private universities are on to rescue the education system from the decadence into which it is sliding. This is because the student will be getting good quality education free of minimal vices, and in a well-organised and regulated environment.”

    Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Andrew Onokehoraye, called for amendment of the laws establishing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to accommodate private universities in the areas of research and scholarships.

    The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin said private universities generate their own funding, and are expected to play by the same rules in terms of infrastructures, admissions, teaching and research as prescribed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and JAMB.

    Prof Onokehoraye insisted that the goals of universities whether federal, state or private are to produce educated workforce that will meet the nation’s needs in the 21st century.

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced the scholarships for the two best students, promised to support the university in actualising its dreams.

     

  • How to sharpen graduates’ skills for jobs

    How to sharpen graduates’ skills for jobs

    It is a problem that employers face. They employ graduates, with hope of getting the best out of them, only to be disappointed by their output. The graduates turn out to be lazy and incapable, despite having qualifications certifying them competent.

    Worried by this development, the employers commissioned a study whose findings are revealing, according to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie.

    The findings from the Labour Market Observatory Project (LMOP) study showed a mismatch of skills produced by the tertiary institutions with the requirements of the manufacturing industry.

    At a meeting of the National Project Steering Committee of the Labour Market Information System in Abuja, on Monday, Prof Okojie said the quality and focus of training by universities were not in tune with the needs of the society. This, he said, brought about the prevailing high rate of unemployment since many graduates are perceived to lack skills needed by employers.

    There is, he said, a glut of graduates in the labour market well above the demand for their skills, thereby reducing the value of their certificates.

    Okojie said: “There is no doubt that the nation has a glut in the supply of graduate labour as the situation on ground shows that the demand for graduate labour is far below the supply.

    “The excess supply of graduate labour in any economy has the tendency to force down the amount/ salaries that employers are willing to pay since they can recruit other idle but able, willing and ready hands that will take the job even with less pay. It could also lead to other social vices like robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, prostitution and other forms of youth restiveness.”

    Okojie blamed the problem on gap between tertiary institutions and the employers of labour, saying the observations of manufacturers involved in the study would be used to review the curricula of tertiary institutions.

    Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE) Dr Masa’ud Kazaure believes that emphasis on paper qualification has overdependence on paper qualifications and other causative factor may be exacerbated by the challenges of skills mis-match. NBTE is also working towards addressing the problem.

    At a workshop in Lagos, Kazaure said the problem started in the 70s when demand for paper qualifications led to overcrowded schools where focus was more on theory than practical.

    “The skills development challenges started immediately after the third National Development Plan, when emphasis was shifted from competency to paper qualifications – resulting to over-subscription of our institutions,” he said.

    He said the deviation of institutions focused on Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) from providing technical competencies for their products did not help matters as those expected to have technical skills also lacked the required competencies.

    There are many in the non-formal sector that have skills but no qualifications. Executive Secretary of Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) Mr Olawumi Gasper said these are artisans, craftsmen and others whose contribution to the economy outweighs those from the formal sector.

    He said despite their contributions, they have gained no recognition because of their lack of qualifications.

    “There is no system for those in the informal sector, which is very bad. I don’t want to use the word wicked but we have been unfair to those people because they have skills. Those skills must be given a quantity no matter how small those skills are,” he said.

    With Nigerians appreciating the need for competency, Kazaure said the Federal Government, through the NBTE, was working to establish a National Qualifications Framework (NVQF) so that those with non-formal training could have their skills measured and awarded certificates that would be equivalent to various levels of higher education; enable them to attract jobs, and pursue formal education if they wished.

    He said: “The development and institutionalisation of NVQF will: provide policy guidelines on organising skills training to improve product quality, productivity and competitiveness in the formal and informal sector; provide a coherent structure for vocational qualifications, which are based on employment-led standard of competence.”

    To be able to measure the skills and competencies of people in various fields, Kazaure said the NBTE was collaborating with LASTVEB, United Nations Education and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and industry to create a National Occupational Standard (NOS) that would detail the expected competency for each occupation.

    Kazaure said the board was developing standards for 15 occupations in the pilot stage after which assessors will be trained to verify the claims of skill owners. After being verified competent, they would be awarded certificates according to the level of their competencies.

    On how it will work, Gasper said: “The first step is occupational standard which is the way, procedurally, of carrying out activities. From there to the curriculum, assessors and, finally, to examination. You now find the person fit to carry out an activity. For instance, the camera man, what does it take to be a cameraman? You now set questions and assessments and if the guy can answer all your questions and can operate your machine the way you want him to, you give him a level and that level opens him to other formal education system. So, it is a radical reform that is why the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) technicians of those days are known for nothing but how to repair a transformer. They cannot get promoted because they cannot get certificates, so what this system is saying now is that if you can repair a transformer and you are known for a transformer, you can get your NVQ level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 which is equivalent to a B.Sc holder and then you can now move to become a director of transformer. That is why you see all of us smiling, so we hope it works because these are the key stakeholders. So, I must say congratulations to all of us.”

    Another champion of skills competencies, is Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Anthony, Lagos, said unlike other Christian missions, TREM was not going to establish a university but a Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) institution in Aba, Abia State. He said the school would train technicians to deliver quality services comparable with those in other parts of the world.

    Underscoring the importance of TVE institutions, he said Nigeria needed places where youths would learn skills and entrepreneurship, which universities have not been able to provide.

    He said: “I don’t have a dream to build a university. I noticed that with the number of universities that we have, and there is still more coming, our people are stranded; after leaving school, there is no job. Can you imagine a doctor finishing from the university after how many years and is struggling to get a job of N10,000? It is frustrating. What informed vocational institution? Nigeria is a developing country. We have not even scratched the resources that are in this country. We will train people who can use the gift they have and become entrepreneurs, become employers of labour; you employ yourself and start to develop certain things that are lacking. Every problem in this country is an opportunity. But somebody has to make you see it so that is one of the things that my mind is going to.

    “It is understanding that our people need. The first thing God gave to us is our individual gift and when that is brought out, it can be useful to better the society. So, this is happening because of lack of understanding.

    Bishop Okonkwo said another was that institutions do not train people to give their best, adding that this, is robbing local professionals of jobs with multinational companies.

    He said: “I was discussing with somebody of recent and he said I would be shocked to know that some of the multinationals like Julius Berger and other construction companies do not employ our labourers because we don’t shoot for excellence. Look at this tiling now, we had to look for people from Cotonou because the ones that Nigerians did, after finishing it we broke it. I want to be able to tell our people that: look, you don’t lose by doing a nice job. If you notice, our people are in a hurry because everyone wants to make millions overnight and so they do shoddy jobs. A tailor would sew a dress for you and before you know it the zip is off. Can’t we do things right?

    “We will teach you how to be a good plumber and you will do it thoroughly that when you finish people will want to come to you. These are areas I am looking at. The whole vision is not to start just another school. The whole essence is to improve the quality of services we render. We render any thing to people and expect them to pay for it. It doesn’t work that way. We can also do things in an excellent way. We travel abroad, we see what others do, so why will we come into this country and just stuff things down the throat of people and expect them to pay for it?”

  • Islamic school graduates 24

    No fewer than new 24 graduands were on Saturday, let off by the Madarasatul Nurul Islam, Arabic School, Marafa Estate Kaduna after series of successful recitations from chapters of the Holy Quran and sections of the Hadith, the sayings and teachings of the Prophet Muhammed, (PBUH).

    At the school’s second graduation, its Chairman Governing Board and former Commissioner in Kaduna State Alhaji Zakari Isa Chawai said the school was established to inculcate religious Islamic knowledge, moral and intellectual discipline as well fear of God in both conduct and character in relation to human endeavour.

    However, 21 of those graduated young male and female children while 3 were women.

    According to Chawai, the school which was established and registered with the Kaduna State Bureau for Islamic Affairs in June, 2005, took off in 2007.

    He explained that the school has increased in enrolment with current population of 226 comprising 191 children and 35 women respectively.

    He said the school has seven classes which comprises of Rauda to the sixth level managed by 10 teachers with a headmaster.

    Chawai, noted that the school faces the challenge of inadequate furniture and other basic requirements.

    “We have two sections for children and women. The population is fast increasing and we are in need of support to meet our teaching needs as furniture as well as possible expansion and upgrade of existing facilities.”

    The Chairman, Kaduna North local Government, Alhaji Samaila Suleiman represented by Muhammad Bashir Tukur, a Councillor representing Kabala/Marafa Estate ward, said knowledge Islamic or Western was essential and the basic ingredient for the development of humanity.

    “I hope the knowledge you acquire will be useful to Islam and humanity in the spirit of fear of God”

    Also, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Permanent Secretary Islamic Religious Affairs in Kaduna State, admonishedthe graduating students to apply the knowledge acquired in exhibiting good conduct and fear of God.

    Speaking, CPC governorship candidate in 2011, Alhaji Haruna Sa’I’d called on parents to encourage their wards to acquire religious education as a veritable asset and key to shaping character and conduct in the spirit of fear of God for the advancement of humanity.

    “It (Islamic Education) will serve as a great weapon against ignorance and other vices capable of affecting our coexistence and peaceful conducts”

    Meanwhile, Hassanatu Aliyu Baba emerged 1st among the graduated women while Shaawanatu Usman and Halima Usman came second and third with prizes and certificates.

    However, the overall best graduating student, Abdulhafizu Umar Dabo also received a prize and certificate with Nafisa Ibrahim and Muhammad Abubakar taking the second and third positions respectively.

     

  • Islamic school graduates 24

    NO fewer than 24 students were yesterday graduated by the Madarasatul Nurul Islam, Arabic School, Marafa Estate, Kaduna, after series of recitations from chapters of the Holy Quran and sections of the Hadith, the sayings and teachings of the Prophet, PBUH.

    Chairman, Governing Board of the School and former Commissioner in Kaduna State, Alhaji Zakari Isa Chawai, disclosed at the 2nd graduation ceremony of the school which was established to inculcate religious islamic knowledge, moral and intellectual discipline as well as fear of God in both conduct and character in relation to human endeavour.

    However, 21 of those graduated were male children, while three were women.

    Speaking, Chairman Kaduna North Local Government , Alhaji Samaila Suleiman, represented by Muhammad Bashir Tukur , Counsillor representing Kabala/Marafa Estate ward, said knowledge, islamic or western, was essential and basic ingredient for the development of humanity.

    “ I hope the knowledge you acquire will be useful to islam and humanity in the spirit of fear of God.”

    Similarly, District Head of Gabasawa and the Dan Kaden Zazzau, Alhaji Jibrin said true leadership was founded in the spirit of fear of God.

    Also, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi,  Permanent Secretary Islamic Religious Affairs in Kaduna State said the state government was working round the clock to ensure the smooth conduct of islamic activities as well as promote peaceful co-existence across the state through various committees inaugurated by the state government.

  • Getting graduates to be self-employed

    Getting graduates to be self-employed

    Graduates with little or no skills need not lose sleep. Reason: Microsoft Corporation plans to develop their skills to make them employable. The scheme is designed to train millions of graduates in Nigeria and other countries in the next three years. This initiative is expected to reduce unemployment, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE

     

    The questions come tumbling out of their mouths. In most cases, their questions stem from their frustrations with the situation in which they find themselves. “How can we overcome unemployment?” “Who will employ us since we do not have the prerequisite skills?” What prospect does the future hold for us given the soaring rate of unemployment in Nigeria?” These are some of the questions being asked by unemployed graduates in their despirate search for jobs.

    Soon, their questions may be answered through Microsoft Corporation, which is planning to develop the skills of graduates. The software giant has unveiled some initiatives to unearth, develop, and boost the skills of graduates. The initiatives, which include Microsoft YouthSpark, Business Spark, among others, are meant to equip graduates with relevant skills and make them employable. The development, which followed the skills-gap among graduates, compelled Microsoft to visit Iyana Ipaja camp to teach graduates how to develop their skills and get jobs.

    Speaking at the unveiling of Microsoft Youth Spark in Lagos, Head, Citizenship, Microsoft Anglophone Countries, Mr Ugochukwu Nwosu, said the initiative will help in creating new opportunities for over 30 million youths in 100 countries by 2015. Nwosu said the scheme would empower the youths and enable them aim for new possibilities.

    Microsoft, he said, has created the Nigerian Employability Portal, adding that the portal will enable graduates have access free courses, build their skills and careers. He said there are over 70 courses on the portal, adding that each of the courses has the potentials to create jobs.

    Nwosu said there were courses on software development, education, counselling, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) products/services, among others. Nwosu said training centres have been established across the country, adding that Microsoft has approved 15 partners to train the applicants.

    He said: “Fifteen partners have been approved to train the graduates when the portal is ready for use. Graduates would be attached to a partner, who will improve their skills on various issues. YouthSpark is for graduates, undergraduates, and youths. The reason you go to school is to learn how to do something for yourself and earn a living. You need to discover your potential and develop them through the initiatives rolled out by Microsoft. After the training, graduates must have acquired some skills that would help them to be self-reliant.”

    He said undergraduates who enroll for the courses would be able to create job ideas during or after the national service programme.

    According to him, Microsoft partners would by 2015 travel to all the universities to train undergraduates and let them know that they don’t need to look for jobs after leaving schools.

    The National Technology Officer, Microsoft Francophone Countries, Mr Olayinka Oni, said an Information and Technology (IT) Academy had been established to train people on various courses and help them in creating jobs for themselves.

    “The academy would enable people to access all kinds of IT courses on-line. Most of us want to get different kinds of certifications to get jobs. Through this, unemployed can get jobs or work on their own in order to make use of the unfolding opportunities in the rapidly growing Information Communication and Technology (ICT) industry, he added.

    He said Business Spark is another idea initiated to develop a future workforce in Nigeria and Africa. The idea is woven around three pillars-innovation, access and world class. The innovative pillar ensures that people come out with proven business ideas before they can get funding from Microsoft, while the access pillar ensures that SMEs’owners are connected on-line. The world class pillar ensures that 200 Africans acquire skills that would make them employable.

    He said graduates should be able to set up their own businesses after the Youth Service and become employers.

    Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig-General, Nnamdi Okore-Affia, said graduates who develop their skills stand a better chance of getting jobs. Represented by an official of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department of NYSC, Mr Isaac Obioma, Affia advised graduates to think of life after school. He said when graduates get enough skills, they would be able to see and explore job opportunities. He said YouthSpark is a tool for job creation, urging youths to make good use of it.

    “After leaving the school, graduates should ask themselves this question: What next? That is why people must key into Microsoft programmes and avail themselves of the opportunities there. Once graduates are able to create jobs for themselves, they are reducing the burden on government. This is going to have a multiplier effect on the economy,” he said.

    NYSC Coordinator in Lagos State Mrs Adenike Adeyemi said the Service is partnering with Microsoft to reduce unemployment among school leavers. NYSC partnered with Microsoft, following the discovery that many graduates are not employable in Nigeria.

    “Many graduates go about with their resumes and applications without being able to get jobs. The reason is because they lack the necessary skills, coupled with other socio-economic problems. This made us partner with Microsoft Corporation through Mind The Gap, a Non-Governmental Organisation, committed to tackle unemployment in the country. We want graduates to acquire skills and translate it to success by having their own businesses. We want them to become employers of labour, and not job’ seekers,” she said.

    Managing Director, Mind The Gap, Mr Tayo Olosunde, said YouthSpark is an initiative that would help in preparing graduates for the future, Olosunde said many students are not discerning by not knowing that they have a lot of job opportunities to tap from. He added that they would get ideas when they get to camp through the Microsoft’ programmes. He said there is huge gap between what the schools offered and the requirements of the labour market, advising students to acquire the necessary skills to overcome unemployment. He said graduates need to think of what they can do for themselves, and stop looking for jobs that do not exit.

    Mr Olosunde said YouthSpark and other ideas have created several job’opportunities, arguing that it is left for graduates to look for areas that best suited them.

  • Graduates meet again

    Graduates of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences Association (SOMASSA), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, (AAUA), have held their maiden re-union event. The programme with the theme Unity in Diversity was aimed at fostering friendship among the 2010 graduates. The event was held at the Havannah Suite, Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Lagos.

    The convener of the occasion, Opeyemi Akinfaderin, who is the president of the Economics department, said: “There are several reasons why we think there must be a re-union for the SOMASSA Class of 2010. And here are some of the reasons: to provide opportunity for personal growth and development, to develop professional and leadership skills, to unite, support and assist members in achieving their individual goals by attending and contributing to the programme organised by the members, among others.”

    Opeyemi added: “Membership of the class shall be automatic for all 2010 graduates of the Faculty of Social and Management Science, which comprise Accounting, Business Administration, Banking and Finance, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Public Administration and Geography departments.”

    Omowumi Orowale, an Economics graduate, said she was happy to be in the midst of her mates after two years of their graduation from the university. She appealed to other colleagues to show interest in the re-union programme, stressing that it would benefit them in future.

    Tolulope Disu, Political Science graduate, could not hide her joy, when she sighted her colleagues. She said: “I am so happy to see many old faces here; it could not have been possible if not for the reunion programme.”

  • UNN graduates 17,000 at 42nd convocation

    The 42nd convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) will hold on January 25 and 26 at the Margaret Ekpo convocation Arena, at the Nsukka Campus of the university.

    Over 17,000 graduands are expected to receive various classes of degrees, diplomas, and certificates on the occasion.

    According to the programme of activities released by the Registrar, Mr Anthony Izuka Okonta, first degrees and certificates will be awarded on January 25, while Post-Graduate Diplomas, higher degrees and honorary degrees will be awarded on Saturday, January 26.

    The ceremonies will be preceded by four-day activities beginning on January 21, with a press briefing by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo, at the Enugu campus of the university.

    A convocation lecture themed:The Wealth and Poverty of a Nation: Who shall restore the Dignity of Nigeria? by immediate past Vice-President of the World Bank, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, is scheduled for January 24 at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium and Unity Hall (PAA) at the Nsukka campus.

    The lecture will be chaired by Dr. Kalu Uka Kalu, former Chairman of Union Bank Plc.