34th Convocation: Unilorin produces 103 first class graduates, bulletproof vests
By Adebayo Olodan
University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has produced 103 First Class graduates out of a total number of 12,108 students that will graduate during the institution’s 34th graduation ceremony scheduled to take place tomorrow.
This is coming on the heels of the seven students of the institution out of the 16 that bagged First Class grade at the Law School on Thursday.
Speaking on Friday, during a press conference heralding activities for the convocation ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, said that the total number of graduating students is the highest number the university would be graduating in its 44 years of existence.
The VC, who said that 10,330 are First Degrees/Diploma graduates, added that 1,778 would graduate with Higher Degrees/Postgraduate Diplomas.
Age further stated that 2,553 bagged Second Class Upper Division, 5,750 graduated with Second Class Lower Division, 1,660 with Third Class and 36 secured Pass.
“We also have 104 MBBS graduates, 18 graduates in Pharmacy, 49 in Veterinary Medicine and 32 in Nursing. Furthermore, a total of 25 graduates are obtaining a diploma from the Faculties of Education and Management Science. The Higher degrees to be awarded this year comprise 99 Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,287 Masters from various faculties,” he said.
Meanwhile, the VC disclosed that in his stride to make Unilorin a world-class institution, researchers are now being encouraged more than ever before, to carry out investigation to patent-filling stage.
The professor of Chemical Engineering added that the institution has invented a bullet-proof vest which has been tested and accepted by the Nigerian Army. He added that both parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“With this, we are already improving our impact on the world and on our immediate society and this is a gratifying achievement that will ultimately propel the University to the Zenith of global recognition and reputation we desire. “
Speaking further, the VC said within a year of his leadership, a total of 26 projects have been completed, 17 of which will be commissioned this week.
He added that 1,019 of its workforce were also promoted across all cadres and faculties for better productivity. The figure is the highest ever in a single exercise since the establishment of the university 43 years ago.
Those promoted include 248 academic staff, 132 registry staff, 287 professional and technical staff, 26 staff of the University Staff School and 326 junior staff.
Of the 248 academic staff promoted, 49 were lifted to the Professorial cadre while 31 became Readers and Associate Professors.
41 were promoted from the rank of Lecturer I to Senior Lecturer; 61 of them advanced from Lecturer II to Lecturer I, while 66 were promoted from the rank of Assistant Lecturer to Lecturer II.
The faculties of Clinical Sciences and Communication and Information Sciences (CIS) took the lead in the number of new Senior Lecturers with seven each.
Also, staff of the Faculties of Life Science, Education and Arts dominated those that moved from Lecturer II to Lecturer I cadre with 14, 12 and eight respectively.
Other members of staff promoted were in the Administrative cadre, the Registry, Secretarial cadre, Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Senior Clerical Officers, Senior Craftsmen, Patrol Supervisors and Drivers, among others.
Prof Abdulkareem appreciated all the management staff and other workforce of the institution for their understanding and unalloyed support, adding that as the Vice Chancellor, he will continue to sacrifice self and collective interest in forging new frontiers for the university.
