By Dare Akogun
The Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), in Edo, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, on Friday said that the university has graduated over 16, 000 undergraduate and postgraduate students since inception.
Ezemonye spoke during the 20th convocation ceremony of the institution’s 2021/2022 academic session.
He said the convocation ceremony was particularly significant as the school was celebrating 23 years of academic excellence and two decades track record of timely graduation and unbroken convocation.
Ezemonye noted that the institution was blazing the trail in terms of quality education delivery as it churned out 691 graduands, out of which 13 students bag first class honours degree.
“Today, 557 undergraduate and 134 postgraduate students will be added to the list of distinguished graduands spread across seven colleges.
“The breakdown of undergraduate students show that 13 graduated with first class, 248 second class upper, 215 second class lower and unclassified (pharmacy) 81.
“For the postgraduate school 82 students would receive master degrees, 40 will receive PhD while 12 will receive Post graduate diploma,” he said.
Ezemonye said that the chancellor’s Fee Rebate for staff and staff dependents has produced not less than 40 PhD, 80 MSc and over 200 First Degree graduate staff in the institution.
According to him, all programmes run by the university are fully accredited by the NUC and relevant professional bodies.
The Chancellor of the institution, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion said the university has not relented in its commitment to deliver world class education in a highly conducive global environment.
He was represented by the deputy chancellor, Dr Lucky Igbinedion, the former governor of Edo.
Igbinedion noted that all efforts to maintain the institution as the premier private university in Nigeria and drive towards academic excellence have continued to receive tremendous goodwill and support from many.
The Chancellor thanked the management for providing strategic leadership to the institution.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the institution Governing Council, Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah said the university was proud to celebrate 20 years of unbroken graduation in its 23 years of existence.
The guest speaker, Mr David Smith, Chairman, British Africa Business Alliance, UK called on Nigerians to come up with business plans to utilise the 25 billion pounds held in banks accounts in the UK by low value Africa Savers looking for opportunity to invest the funds.
He disclosed that 99 percent of businesses in the UK are Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“That is where our employment is, that where our wealth is” but in Nigeria, MSMEs account for only three percent.
” University is not just about graduating students but applying the knowledge to advance society in terms of development,” he said.
