UNILAG to honour Okonjo-Iweala, Adeola, Adesina at 55th convocation

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) will confer Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc) on the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at its 55th convocation.

The institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, during a Pre-Convocation news briefing on Wednesday, said former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State will be the Chairman of the occasion.

The Vice-Chancellor said that the Convocation lecture with the theme: “Universities as Hubs for Development and Wealth Creation” will be delivered by Dr. Tayo Aduloju, the CEO of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) at J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium.

Ogunsola said the conferment of Honorary Degrees was in recognition to three personalities who had distinguished themselves in scholarship, made ground-breaking discoveries, or contributed significantly to academic and societal development.

She listed other awardees as Mr. Fola Adeola, Co-Founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank Plc), as well as Group Managing Director (GMD) of Sahara Power Group, Kolawole Adesina.

A total of 16,409 students will be graduating during the week-long activities scheduled to commence with a Juma’at service at the institution’s Central Mosque on January 10 and end on January 17.

The Vice Chancellor said the ceremony will feature award of first degrees, diplomas, certificates, and prizes to graduating students of the Faculties of Arts, Education, Environmental Sciences, Science, and Social Sciences.

“Conferment of degrees will be for graduands from the College of Medicine in the Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, and Dental Sciences.

Others were Faculties of Engineering, Law, Management Sciences, Pharmacy, and the Distance Learning Institute (DLI).

He said that the conferment of degrees would come up on January 14 and 15.

“Out of the 16,409, 9,684 students will receive first degrees and diplomas, 6,659 will be awarded postgraduate degrees while 66 will graduate from the UNILAG Business School,” she said.

She gave the breakdown of the award results as 561 first class degrees and distinctions; 3,916 second class upper degrees (2.1) and 763 second class lower (2.2) degrees.

The Vice Chancellor also said results also showed that 1,143 third class (3rd class) degrees, 78 degrees as well as 223 unclassified degrees would be conferred.

Ogunsola said that two students of the Faculty of Science, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Mr. Damilare Adebakin and Samuel Badekale set another record.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that Olamide Emida, the best graduating student from Humanities, Faculty of Management Sciences in the department of Accounting had CGPA of 4.95.

Ogunsola said that the overall best Ph.D. thesis award for 2025 will go to Adetoun Alaba Akitoye, who obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry while the best Ph.D. thesis (Humanities) will be awarded to Eniola Ladipo.

Other activities in the forthcoming convocation include exhibition of Innovations and works of staff and students at the Senate Car Park, commissioning of three projects by the Pro-Chancellor, Wole Olanipekun, SAN billed for January 13.

“These are the Centre for Herbal Medicine, Drug recovery and Development, Biomedical Toxicology, Regulatory science and Pharmacovigilance analytical laboratory (ACEDHARS Building).

“We are also commissioning the new 120-bed space in Moremi Hall extension and finally the new ultra-modern Learning Commons, an extension of our library services which speaks to our student-centered services and provides an environment for teamwork, creative engagement, research-collaboration and knowledge co-creation.

“A groundbreaking ceremony for the School of Postgraduate Studies building donated by Chief Tunde Fanimokun in commemoration of his 80th Birthday, will be done same day,” she added.

According to her, the highlight of the day will be the recognition of the achievement of various individuals for their contributions to scholarship and humanity.

“We will recognise two distinguished professors who have retired but continue to contribute to scholarship and academia by awarding them as Professors emeriti of the University of Lagos.

“These are Prof. Babajide Alo of the Department of Chemistry and Prof. Olukayode Amund (Department of Microbiology).

She added that the convocation will also be used to award Prof. Victor Ariole, (Department of European Languages) a gold medal for his ongoing contributions to the University and the nation

Poly graduates protest proposed exclusion from NYSC

HND graduates with part-time National Diploma backgrounds staged a protest on Monday at the Lagos NYSC secretariat, decrying a proposed policy barring them from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The demonstrators, holding placards with messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” called for an immediate reversal of the policy as Batch C Stream II registration commenced.

Majaro Temitope, an HND graduate from Yaba College of Technology, described the policy as discriminatory, noting it unfairly penalises those who switched from part-time National Diploma (ND) programmes to full-time HND studies.

“Many of us struggled through our ND on part-time, only to face exclusion now. We hope our peaceful protest sparks a dialogue,” Temitope said. He urged the NYSC Director-General and the Minister of Education to intervene.

READ ALSO:

• Bode George rejects Old Students move to take over King’s College
• Russia claims capture of Ukrainian frontline town
• Obi alleges threat to life over comments on Tinubu

The protesters claimed to have written to relevant authorities, including the NYSC and JAMB, without receiving a response.

Adebola Osunfunrewa, from the Education Rights Campaign, criticised the proposed exclusion, calling it a setback for Nigeria’s educational system.

“How can over 3,000 graduates eager to serve be denied in a country facing teacher shortages?” he queried.

Responding to the protest, the Lagos NYSC Coordinator, Christiana Salwang, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the graduates their concerns had been forwarded to the NYSC Director-General.

“The director general is reviewing the matter and is committed to addressing your grievances within policy guidelines,” Itohan stated, urging protesters to remain calm.

The outcome of the deliberations remains awaited as the mobilisation process continues.

Poly graduates protest proposed exclusion from NYSC

Bode George rejects Old Students move to take over King’s College

FORMER Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  Bode George, yesterday, faulted the decision of some alumni of King’s College in Lagos State to take over the school’s administration.

Last week, some notable elders from Lagos State visited President Bola Tinubu to discuss their intention to take over the school.

Bode George, however, countered the move, saying the elders failed to use the opportunity to draw the President’s attention to the plights of Nigerians.

According to him, the elders also failed to draw the President’s attention to the worsening socio-economic conditions in Lagos State.

His words: “The visiting elders from Lagos also missed the golden opportunity to demonstrate to the president the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the teeming youth population in the state, who are unemployed and economically stranded in their hundreds of thousands. They should have advocated for programmes aimed at lifting these individuals out of poverty through skills acquisition, to curtail the nefarious activities associated with social vices that have become prevalent across the state.

READ ALSO:

• Russia claims capture of Ukrainian frontline town
• Obi alleges threat to life over comments on Tinubu
• Sacked CBN workers head to court, demand N30bn compensation

“Additionally, issues concerning the rehabilitation of roads in the outskirts of Lagos, such as the Lagos-Abeokuta Express Road and Mile 2-Badagry Road, should have been a matter of urgent concern for the elders. To say the truth, the general state of infrastructure in Lagos is appalling, with an attendant lack of social amenities like public toilets.

“Instead of discussing these urgent state and national issues, I was told some of these elders, who are old students of the prestigious King’s College in Lagos, told the President they wanted to take over the school. They even made the President an Honorary member of their Old Students’ Association, somebody who did not attend the school.

“Nigerians know the story and history behind King’s College, a Federal Government school.” How do these elders even think the government will hand over the school to them to run as a private enterprise? How do they intend to run the school?

What is the blueprint? What are their education plans? Will old students of Queen’s College also ask for a similar favour from the president? What of old students of AIONIAN Schools? Will they make the same request? Is this distraction what we need now?

“What I believe they should do is to ask the Federal Ministry of Education and the management of the school where they can intervene to continue to project the image of the school and help the students.