Some of the first class students

The outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, UI, today splashed graduating students of the premier university who bagged first class honours in their first degrees for the 2013/2014 session with scholarships covering their master and doctoral degrees. The 102 affected graduands are expected to enroll for their higher degrees at the university.

Adewole, who was represented by the institution’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Emilolorun Aiyelari, announced the award today at the institution’s International Conference Centre as part of its 67th founders’ day anniversary and 2015 convocation ceremonies scheduled for 13th to 17th November 2015.

Principal officers

The 102 first class graduands are from different programmes of Arts, 28; Science, 32; Medicine, two; Agric and Forestry, seven; Social Sciences, 10; Education, five; Technology, 27 and Distance Learning Centre, one in person of Adegor Richard from Linguistics.

Adewole, who is the current Minister of Health in his speech said, “My great delight stems from the fact that this will be the first of my four-part valedictory address to convocation as vice chancellor of this university; as my tenure ends on November 30, 2015.”

The incoming VC Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka being presented to the university community by DVC Administration, Prof. Aiyelari.

Speaking on those that graduated today, he said, “A total 2,362 candidates are graduating from the faculties of Arts, Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dentistry, Public Health and Law made up of 53 First Class Honours, 494 Second Class Honours with Upper Division, 822 Second Class Honours with Lower Division, 185 Third Class Honours, 40 Passes, 177 Unclassified Degree and 48 Diplomas. A further breakdown shows that 14 out of the 53 first class graduands are from the Faculty of Arts, 32 are from the Faculty of Science, while one each came from faculties of Clinical Sciences and Public Health.”

He further said, “It should also be noted that the university provided access to university education for those who could study at home while on their jobs, through the Distance Learning platform. In this regard, our centre has been producing quality graduates to support the manpower need of the country. Therefore, a total of 544 candidates are graduating from our DLC programme, one of whom made a first class. Similarly, 241 candidates are graduating from our affiliated institutions, four of them in first class division.” Adewole, however, called on all the graduates to be good ambassadors of the premier
university.

DVC Admin, Prof. Aiyelar in an handshake with Gbolarunmi Hazeem Ola, former Oyo State Deputy Governor

Among the graduands was the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Gbolarunmi Hazeem Ola who graduated from the Faculty of Law and he is expected to proceed to Law school any moment from now.

Earlier, in what has become a usual occurrence, there was a mild drama when none of the diploma graduands refused to stand to be admitted to their various unclassified certificates. However, the vice chancellor said, “I receive you all even in absentia.”

At the programme, Professor Aiyelari presented the 12th Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka , who will resume office on 1 December 2015 to the audience.

The undergraduate graduation continues tomorrow. In all, the graduands comprise a total of 3,707 1st degree and 107 diplomas.