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A total of Twelve thousand and forty two students of the University of Ilorin will be graduating for the 39th Convocation with Two hundred and fifty -six bagging First Class honours.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole, at a news conference in speech titled ‘Coping with Change’, explained that Three thousand, eight hundred and forty- two others will be graduating with Second Class Upper Division.
The rest include Six thousand, one hundred and seventy-eight with Second Class Lower Division, One thousand, two hundred and ninety nine, Third Class while Sixty two will be graduating with Pass Category.
Professor, Egbewole, while making reference to the recent ranking of Nigeria Universities by the Times Higher Education which placed Unilorin among the top ten, stressed that the desire of the institution to be number one in the country remained on course.
Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN addressing the press
He enumerated areas where the University has made remarkable progress to include, digital transformation, research and collaboration, students awards, alumni strides, sports and community development among others.
The University has also prioritized training for staff and students on the new systems and deployments, ensuring that the digital transformation is inclusive and user-friendly. To support its ICT infrastructure, the University has improved its ICT facilities and developed standard operational procedures for its Network Operation Centre and other units. Furthermore, the University has enhanced the visibility of its scholars by registering the institution on relevant global ranking databases.
“The University procured Operating Theatre lamp with Combo light, Camera and WiFi enabled for internationalization of training of Medical and allied Health students easy and more effective with which surgical procedures would be projected to both near and far seminar rooms to medical students in a more comfortable setting and to share surgical procedures with collaborators thousands of kilometres away,” he said.
Professor Egbewole explained that the 39th convocation ceremony of the University is more than just a celebration of the academic achievements of the graduating students, but a testament to the resilience, hard work and dedication of both students and faculty.
The University of Ilorin Vice Chancellor added that the institution will do more than just imparting knowledge but to molding leaders who will shape the future of the society.
He lamented multiplier effect of removal of petroleum subsidy, particularly with its implications on prices of goods and services.
Other challenges according to him, included astronomical increase in electricity tariff, galloping inflation and infrastructural needs, to the evolving demands of higher education .
Professor Egbewole, however, expressed enthusiasm that the university has braced the challenges but not without a price.
He said total sum of N1.6 billion was allocated to the university as intervention fund from TETFund in the year under review.
“An intervention fund of One billion, six hundred and fifty-six million, nine hundred and forty-four thousand, nine hundred and thirty Naira only (₦1,656,944,930.00) was allocated to the University by TETFUND for year 2024 and this covers eleven (11) areas including physical infrastructure/programme upgrade, Academic Staff Training, ICT support among others. The University equally received the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (₦250,000,000.00) only for Zonal Interventions to execute different projects.”
Drama interlude by the Department of the Performing Arts and Film Studies
Harmony FM reports that the press briefing heralds activities lined up for the 39th convocation ceremony which includes inauguration of various projects by President Bola Tinubu and a lecture entitled ‘Nurturing Democratic Values and Education for the Future of Nigeria’ to be delivered by the Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
By Sola Rotimi
