From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin
Some 118 of the 19,472 graduating students of the University of Benin will bag First a Class honours degrees at the institution’s Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony holding on Wednesday.
The outgoing vice chancellor of the University, Osayuki Godwin Oshodin, who disclosed this during a valedictory press briefing held at the Senate Chamber of the University, said that the graduands included those of the 2011/2012 academic session whose graduation was hampered by the long Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU strike and those of the 2012/2013 academic session.
“This year, we shall be awarding various Diplomas and Degrees of the University to Graduands who completed their academic programmes in 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 academic sessions. You can see that we are combining two sessions, the reason for this is that last year, we could not hold our convocation because of the nationwide strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities,” he said.
Giving further breakdown, he said for the 2011/2012 session, a total of 10, 735 students made up of 103 Doctorate Degrees; 1, 933 Masters; 8, 237 Undergraduate Degree and 462 Undergraduate Diploma, while a total of 8, 737 students would be graduated for the 2012/2013 session, made up of 27 Doctorate Degree; 449 Masters; 40 Post-graduate Diploma; 7, 839 Undergraduate Degree, and 382 Undergraduate Diploma.
Oshodin also announced that the university would be conferring honorary doctorate degrees on the Benin traditional Prime Minister, Sam Igbe; Matthew Okpebholo, a reverend; Tony Elumelu, chairman, UBA Plc and Daisy Ehanire Danjuma, a former senator.
In addition, two senior professors of the University, R. O. Ofoegbu and T. O. K. Audu, would be conferred with Professor Emeritus of the institution.
“This year’s convocation can be described as a valedictory one for me, since this is the last I will be presiding as Vice Chancellor. There is no doubt that the modest achievements of my administration since its inception in November, 2009 have been captured in various publications,” he said.
Oshodin also used the opportunity to introduce the in-coming vice chancellor, Faraday Osasere Orumwense.