Nigerian Graduates Are Employable, Says FUTA VC

Contrary to the notion that the graduates from the country’s Universities were not employable, the ice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Ondo State, Professor Adenike Oladiji, on Friday, affirmed that graduates from Nigerian universities were employable.

Prof. Oladiji, who disclosed that graduates of the country’s Universities were doing well outside the country, wondering how they were doing well and also leading their counterparts from other countries of the world if they were not employable.

The VC made this known while speaking on Friday on the forthcoming combined 34th and 35th convocation ceremony of the institution.

According to the VC, “Nigerian graduates are employable. The problem we have is that somebody somewhere just sat down and said something and we all believe such a statement. It is a lie.

“Why are they leading other graduates from other countries when they get outside? Nigerian graduates are doing well and the best everywhere. Our graduates are employable. But the question is where are the jobs? In FUTA, all the graduates here are employable.”

On the forthcoming convocation ceremony of FUTA, Prof. Oladiji revealed that no fewer than 519 students of the institution have emerged as first-class graduates among the 6,405 students set to graduate from the institution for a combined 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions.

Among them, 4,591 are males, while 1,814 are females.

Giving the breakdown of the classes of the graduating students, the VC disclosed that “out of the total number, 519 students have first class, 3,408 have second class honours (upper division), 2,139 students finished with second class honours (lower division), 339 third class.”

The VC said they will also confer Post Graduate Diplomas, Master’s and Doctoral degrees on 960 graduates.

Prof. Oladiji further informed that the University after due consideration has decided to approve the appointment of three senior academics who had retired from the University as Professors Emeriti.

According to her, “distinguished academics are: Professor Adebisi Balogun, Professor Emmanuel Olusegun Laseinde and Professor Labunmi Lajide.”

The VC added that the convocation lecture titled ‘Technology Innovation: A Panacea to Food Insecurity’ will be delivered by the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.