52nd convocation: UNILAG to churn out 12,217 graduates
…Gbajabiamila to deliver convocation lecture
By Racheal Oyelola
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is set to churn out 12,217 graduates during its forthcoming 52nd convocation ceremonies.
The Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, who expressed joy on the convocation, disclosed this on Tuesday.
Prof. Ogundipe equally revealed that the Convocation lecture titled: Building Back Better: Creating a New Framework for Tertiary Education in Nigeria in the 21st Century, will be delivered by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila.
He said, “On Monday, January 17, 2022, there will be the Opening of Exhibition at the Senate House Car Park, opposite the J. F. Ade. Ajayi Auditorium at 10.00am. This will then be followed with the Convocation Lecture slated for 12 noon.
“The Convocation lecture titled: Building Back Better: Creating a New Framework for Tertiary Education in Nigeria in the 21st Century, will be delivered by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria and a 1983 Law Graduate of this University, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, under the Chairmanship of Honourable Justice Amina Adamu Augie, CON, of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the J. F. Ade. Ajayi Auditorium.
“More so, the congregation for the Award of First Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Prizes to Graduating Students across all departments and faculties will span three days,Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 January, 2022 in the morning and afternoon sessions.
“On Tuesday, January 18 will feature graduating students of all departments in the Faculties of Education and Social Sciences for the morning session which will commence at 9:00 am while those from the Faculties of Arts, Environmental Sciences and Science will be held in the afternoon at 1:00 pm.
“However, on Wednesday, January 19, the convocation ceremony of graduating students of the Faculties of Management Sciences, Engineering and Law will commence at 9.00 a.m. while graduating students of Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dental Sciences, Pharmacy, and the Distance Learning Institute is scheduled for 3.00pm.
“Under progress, on Thursday, January 20, 2022, Postgraduate Students will be awarded Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters Degrees, Ph.D. Degrees and Best Ph.D. Award of the School of Postgraduate Studies at 10.00am. There will also be a luncheon with the Doyen later in the afternoon at the Senate Lounge, 1st Floor, Senate House.
“The activities will be wrapped up with a Long Service award ceremony slated for Friday, January 21, 2022 at the Jelili Adebisi Omotola Multipurpose Hall at 10.00am,” he added.
Meanwhile, a total of 12,217 graduating students will receive their degrees, diplomas and certificates; out of this number, 7,799 will receive first degrees or diplomas while 4,418 will receive postgraduate degrees.
According to Prof. Ogundipe, “In the first degree category, 238 obtained First Class honours,with the Faculty of Engineering leading with 63 first class graduating students.
“From the Faculties of Pharmacy, Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Sciences, 36 students graduated with Distinctions, 17 of these students are from the Faculty of Pharmacy.
“Furthermore, 2,454 students graduated in the Second-Class Upper Division, while 3,459 obtained Second-Class Lower Division. We also have 1,183 students graduating in the Third-Class Division while 85 students made the Pass degree. At this Convocation a total of 201 graduating students obtaineddegrees that are not classified. The pre-degree programmes are graduating a total of 143 Diplomas comprising 68 in Human Kinetics and Health Education (HKHE) and 75 in Social Development and Administration (SDA).”
The VC said further, “I am glad to also inform you that out of the 4,418 postgraduate students, 145 students will be awarded Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in various disciplines, while 3,863 will obtain Masters degrees in the various fields across the University,and 410 will receive Postgraduate Diplomas.
“In addition, we have 217 students from different Facilities of the University who shall be receiving certificates in Entrepreneurship from the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre of the University of Lagos.
“It is encapsulated in our six-dimensional ‘UNILAG’ Agenda, 2017-2022, where we decided to focus our resources and manpower on the following areas, Uncompromising Academic Standards and Excellent Research Output,Networking Globally, Strategising Locally and Consolidating Nationally, Improving University Finances by Innovative Fund-raising activities, infrastructural Development and Entrepreneurship Orientation, Leadership that is Transformational, Transparent and Transnational, Accountability in Academics, Administration, Finance, and all university policies; and Greater than the best.
“UNILAG has grown, and the results are visible for all to see. We do not take pride in our strength, rather, we return all glory to God from who cometh all good things.”
