No fewer than 519 graduands bagged First Class Honours as the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) holds its combined 34th and 35th Convocation in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions.

The Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, stated this on Friday in Akure during a news conference heralding the convocation on Nov.

29 and Nov. 30 at the university’s campus.

Oladiji explained that a total of 6,405 students would graduate from the certified 59 academic programmes run by the institution.

She added that 3,408 students had Second Class (Upper Division) while 2,139 students had Second Class (Lower Division) while 339 students got Third Class from the two academic sessions.

The vice chancellor said that the university would also confer postgraduate diploma, Masters and Doctoral degrees on 960 graduands.

Oladiji noted that two overall graduating best students, Faith Faromika and Aanuoluwapo Vitowanu, were recorded in the 2022/2023 academic session with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.96 each.

She stressed that the overall best graduating best student in the 2023/2024 academic session, Joshua Ajakaye, had a CGPA of 4.95.

Oladiji said that the three overall best students were from the School of Engineering of the university.

The vice chancellor stated that the university would confer honorary doctoral degrees on Pastor Daniel Olukoya, the Founder of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries; Mr Ayorinde Ogunruku and Mr Joel Ogunsola.

She added that the three personalities had contributed meaningfully to the standard of education in the university.

Oladiji said that one of the highlights of the convocation would be the convocation lecture titled: “Technological Innovation: A Panacea to Food Insecurity”.

The vice chancellr explained that the lecture would be delivered by Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior.

She enumerated series of achievements and feats recorded by the university’s staff and graduates in the country, and in the international sphere.

Oladiji said that the institution had been nominated the best University of Technology in Nigeria for three consecutive times.

According to her, the university will not relent on its oars by churning out self-reliant graduates that will be of immense benefit to the nation.

“‘Our students are trained to be self-reliant and they are employable. We have entrepreneurial skills that our students have to undergo.

“Despite challenges, our collective efforts have paved way for successful milestones recorded as an institution,” she said. (NAN)

President Bola Tinubu has dissolved the Governing Council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.

Tinubu also approved the removal of Prof. Bernard Odoh, the new Vice Chancellor, and Mrs Rosemary Nwokike, the registrar of the university.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Onanuga explained that council was led by Amb.

Greg Mbadiwe, included five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, and Mr Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.

He said that the sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.

He also said that after the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the 33-year-old institution.

The presidential aide said that the government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process.

Similarly, Onanuga said Tinubu also approved the removal of Mr Ohieku Muhammed Salami as the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue state.

He stated that the decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures.

Onanuga said that despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s call for the unlawful suspension to be revoked Salami refused to comply.

” Instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the Ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary.

” The Federal Government reiterated that the primary responsibility of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of university activities in accordance with the act establishing each university.

” Tinubu warned the councils not to create distractions in their universities as his government is focused on improving the country’s education standards,” Onanuga said. (NAN)

The University of Benin says 385 undergraduates are to earn First Class Honours during its 49th/50th convocation scheduled for between Nov. 20 and 23.Prof. Lilian Salami, Vice-Chancelleor of the university, announced this on Monday in Benin during a news conference to herald the convocation ceremony .

According to Salami, a total of 20,630 are graduating for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 sessions. She said the award of first degrees would hold on Nov. 22 while that of higher degrees would come up on Nov. 23.The vice-chancellor said out of numbers, 10,609 graduated for 2021/2022 session while 10,021 graduated for 2022/2023 session.Salami also announced conferment of professors Emeritus on seven distinguished academics as well on the university’s honourary degrees on three Nigerian personalities.“It is gratifying to state that the university of Benin continues to beam its searchlight internally and nationwide to identify and honour distinguished personalities found worthy to be conferred with the recognition as Professors Emeritus and Honorary Doctorate Degrees.“Seven distinguished Professors have been approved by the Senate of the University to be recipients of the honour of Professors Emeritus at this year’s convocation,” she said.The recipients of honourary degrees, according to her, include Chief Leemon Ikpea, an Oil, Gas and construction company magnate, who would be conferred with Doctor of Business Administration.She said Dr Kingsley Momodu; an alumnus and renowned dentist would be conferred with Doctor of Science and a foremost entrepreneur and Chairman, VESA Fisheries, Mrs Veronica Igbe, would tbe honoured with Doctor of Business Administration.Salami, who said the convocation ceremony would be her last as the vice-chancellor of the school, recounted her achievements throughout the five year tenure at the ivory tower.She said the milestone achievements included establishment of Information Communications Technology/Central Research Processing Unit (ICT/CRPU) and Centre For Educational Technology (CET)“Management of the University has not relented in the efforts to re-position the Institution in the top hierarchy of Institutions of global reckoning.“In this regard, the University has acquired over 100 additional desktop computers for computer-based examinations for the ICT Centre and 200 Desk-tops and lap-top computers distributed across departments and units to facilitate cutting-edge technology-driven assignments.“These are aided by the provision of internet services, some of which are undertaken directly by many of the faculties.“The ICT Unit, in the Vice Chancellor’s Office, now successfully deploys electronic voting in any election for which such mode is required,” she said.She also claimed that automation of the registry and bursary departments sponsored by Latter Day Saints was on-going.She counted various infrastructure development the university had been able to attract under her watch.She said that the infrastructure included ultra-modern office buildings, lecture theatres, multimedia gadgets and faculty buildings, among others . (NAN)