THISDAY
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure ( FUTA), Prof. Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, yesterday said a total of 519 students of the institution would be graduating with First Class honours as the institution holds its combined 34th and 35th convocations.
Prof. Oladiji, who disclosed this at a press briefing held at the institution to herald the ceremony, said FUTA currently has about 20,000 students across 11 schools (faculties) and 59 accredited programmes as well Open Distance Learning.
She said the first class graduands are among the 6,405 graduating students who would be conferred with first degrees from the 11 faculties of the school.
The first female Vice Chancellor of the institution disclosed that out of the total number of 6,405 graduating students, 519 have first class, 3,408 have second class honours (Upper Division), 2,139 students have second class honours (lower division) while 339 are graduating with third class.
She further disclosed that the university will also confer Postgraduate Diploma, Master and Doctoral degrees on 960 graduands with the breakdown as: Postgraduate Diploma – 299, Master of Philosophy – 2, Master of Philosophy PhD -3, Masters – 536 and PhD – 120.
Her words: “The 34th and 35th Convocation ceremonies begin today and will peak on the 29th and 30th of November with award of first and postgraduate degrees.”
“At this convocation, we will welcome Our Visitor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. It will be an opportunity to physically express our gratitude for various interventions of the federal government in our university, especially, the approval for the establishment of FUTA Teaching Hospital.”
Oladiji said, “One of the highlights of the events will be the Convocation Lecture with the title: ‘Technological Innovations: A Panacea to For Insecurity’, and it will be delivered by Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tun Ojo, Minister of Interior, on Friday, November 29, 2024 at the Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium FUTA at 10:00a.m.”
Speaking on the achievements of the institution, she said FUTA is rated top 25 Best Universities in Nigeria based on the Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking of World Universities 2025.
“In the Times Higher Education Ranking of Universities for year 2025, FUTA ranked among the Top Ten (number 7) in Nigeria, and also maintained its enviable position as The Best University of Technology in Nigeria, a position she has maintained consistently for two decades.”
The VC stressed that FUTA scholars got 40 Citations in World’s Top 2 per cent Scientists List and the position of the school as a leading research-intensive institution with global relevance and recognition was confirmed, as a number of its faculty members and alumni earned pride of place in the ranking of the Top 2 per cent scientists in the world, according to the latest report released by Elsevier/Stanford University, USA on September 16, 2024.
“Ten academic staff of the University featured in the Career- long Impact Category and 30 in the Single Year Impact Category. During the concluded academic session, four researchers in the University won international grants worth GBP 135,420 and USD 882,000.
“Researchers in the University 17 in number – also won the TETFund’s National Research Fund worth NGN 427,000,000. Other National Research Grants worth NGN 2,600,000 were won by three researchers of the University.”
Oladiji also disclosed that Honorary Doctoral degrees will be conferred on three eminent Nigerians, Professor Daniel Olukoya – Doctor of Management Science; Mr. Ayorinde Ogunruku – Doctor of Management Science and Mr. Joel Ogunsola – Doctor of Information and Communica Technology.
THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THISDAY
