UNILAG to graduate over 16,000 at 56th convocation

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is set to graduate no fewer than 16,000 students at its 56th convocation ceremony.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, made this known to journalists on Wednesday at the convocation news conference.

“We will be graduating 16,506 students; 10,584 students will receive first degree and diplomas, while 5,782 will be awarded post-graduate degrees, and 140 will graduate from UNILAG’s Business School.

“The total number of students with first-class and distinction is 1,211, which constitutes 7.3 per cent. The total number of students with second-class upper division is 4,543.

Ogunsola said that the total number of those with second-class lower division stood at 3,910 while 1, 025 students made third-class grade.

According to the vice-chancellor, the total number of students with unclassified degrees is 249.

. “In postgraduate diploma, we have 41 distinctions from a total of 479 students,” she said.

She added that the university recorded 429 distinctions from a total of 5,184 students in the master’s category.

She also said that 69 undergraduates came out with pass grade.

“In the Master of Philosophy, there are 119 distinctions. In Master’s in Business Administrations (MBA), we have 32 distinctions from a total of 412 students.

“For Doctors of Business Administrations (DBA), we have 28 distinctions,” she said.

Ogunsola said that Mr Benedict Umeozo from the Department of Business Administration in the Faculty of Management Sciences emerged the overall best student in the Humanities.

“He has a perfect score of 5.0.

“The best graduating student from Science is Deborah Onotun from the Faculty of Architecture with a CGPA of 4.91.

“The Overall Best Ph.D Thesis Award for this year goes to Paruno Egbuno, who obtained his Ph.D in Civil and Environmental Engineering,” she said.

She said that the convocation activities would begin on Friday (Jan. 16) with a Juma’at service at the university’s Central Mosque.

“Events will continue on Monday, Jan. 19, with the unveiling of the UNILAG Multimedia Library Studio, a state-of-the-art facility funded through a World Bank Centre of Excellence Project.

“This is to empower students and researchers to document Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage on digital media.

“This will be followed by an exhibition showcasing innovations and creative works by our staff and students at the Senate Car Park.

“At noon, the convocation lecture entitled ‘Maximising Nigeria’s Demographic Dividend through Urgent Education Reform for Global Competitiveness in the 21st Century’ will be delivered by Mr Orondaam Otto at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium,” she said.

According to the vice-chancellor, Mr Otto is the Founder of Slum to School Africa and pioneer of the first virtual learning classroom in sub-saharan Africa.

“We anticipate a thought-provoking lecture on rethinking education so as to actualise and optimise the human capital that is critical to our national development.

“The lecture will be chaired by Prof. Rahman Bello, the 11th Vice-Chancellor of the university and the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.

“He will bring his wealth of experience to bear on highlighting and summarising the key points of the lecture,” Ogunsola said.

She added that the university, on Jan. 20, would confer first degrees, diplomas, certificates and prizes on graduates from the faculties of Arts, Architecture, and Communication and Media Studies.

“Others are Creative Arts, Education, Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical and Earth Sciences, Computing and Informatics, and Social Sciences.

“This will be followed on Jan. 21 by degree-awards to graduates from the College of Medicine, covering Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dental Sciences, and Health Professions.

“Others are the faculties of Engineering, Law, Management Sciences, Pharmacy, and the Distance Learning Institute.

“Jan. 22 will be dedicated to the conferment of postgraduate diplomas, master’s, and doctoral degrees, including the DBA and the Executive MBA on graduates of the School of Postgraduate Studies and the UNILAG Business School,” she said.

She added that a major highlight of the day would be recognition of some individuals who made outstanding contributions to Nigeria, scholarship and humanity.

“Two retired academics will be honoured as emeritus professors.

“In addition, Prof. Akinsanya Oshibogun, a Distinguished Scholar of Medicine, will be conferred with the title of Distinguished Professor.

“Gold medals will also be awarded to two persons, Prof. Ayoka Olushakin, a Professor of Counselling Psychology, and Dr Taiwo Ipaye, the Director of the Office of Advancement.

“Ipaye is the President of the UNILAG Women’s Society and a former Registrar of UNILAG,” she said.

Ogunsola said that the medals would be in recognition of their sustained service to the institution and the nation,” she said.