UNIUYO To Graduate 174 First Class At Convocation

University of Uyo (UNIUYO) in Akwa Ibom State has concluded arrangements for the 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremonies billed for Thursday and Saturday November 9, respectively.

A total of 12,450 graduates are expected to receive certificates, diplomas, Bachelor Degrees, Masters and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) certifications in various disciplines.

Some eminent Nigerians will be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees during the ceremonies billed for the 1,000 – capacity TETFund Auditorium, Main Campus, Nwaniba, Uyo, the state capital.

The vice chancellor of the university, Prof Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, who disclosed this when he gave a breakdown of the graduands at the pre-convocation press briefing at the  University’s Council Chambers, recalled that this would be his second convocation under his watch as VC.

He said: “This year’s convocation is yet another very significant milestone ceremony in the life of this administration. It is significant in that it’s a combined ceremony of 29th and 30th convocation in the series of this great citadel of learning.

“The combined convocation has a total of 12,450 graduands. Breakdown shows thus: PhDs 303, Masters Degree 608, Post graduate Diploma 246 bringing the total to 1,167. The Bachelor’s degree in the 2020/2021 session is 4,823. First Class 56, second class (upper division) 1,737, second class (lower division) 2,336; third class 412 and pass degree 282, bringing the sum total to 4,823 while diploma is 176 and certificate five, giving a total of 5,004.

“Bachelor degree in the 2021/2022 season 6,012. First Class 118; second class (upper division),2,306, second class (Lower division) 2,895 third class 481, pass 212, subtotal 6,012; diploma 235; certificate 32 bringing the total 6,279.’’

According to the VC, “Total postgraduate  is 1,167, total undergraduate is 10, 835, total diploma graduands is 411 and total certificate graduands is 37, giving a total of 12, 450.”

The VC also announced that three eminent Nigerians, Chief Effiong Afiakure, Mrs Halima Zakaria, and Dr Itanwan James, would be conferred with honorary degrees of the institution.

He added that the honorary Professor Emeritus Degree of the University would be awarded to a Professor of Public Finance Policy, and former VC of the institution, Akpan Ekpo, while honorary distinguished Professors’ Degree would be conferred on three outstanding academics of the university.

They include a former VC, Professor Enefiok Essien, SAN, of the faculty of law; Professor Godfrey Udoh, Department of Estate Management and Professor Essien Urua, of the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages.

The VC who used the occasion to highlight achievements recorded by the university since the inception of his administration, also listed the challenges to include theft of equipment and facilities, inadequate funding, encroachment on the university land and shortage of manpower in critical fields of studies occasioned by the embargo on employment by the federal government.