By Daud Adebayo
The Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Malete (KWASU), Prof. Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi SAN has disclosed that 98 graduands of the institution have bagged First class honour in various disciplines.
Prof. Akanbi made the disclosure on Monday during the press briefing for the combined 8th and 9th convocation ceremony of the University, the first since he assumed office as the second substantive Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University.
In total, we are graduating six thousand, six hundred and twenty (6,620) students at this convocation; three thousand, eight hundred and sixty four (3,864) for the 2019/2020 session and two thousand, seven hundred and fifty six (2,756) for the 2020/2021 session. In addition, we are graduating three hundred and twenty one (321) students for higher degrees in the 2019/2020 session and ninety six (96) in the 2020/2021 session. Among our first degree graduands, Ninety eight (98) made First Class.
On Friday, December 10, 2021. we have Convocation for the Investiture of the Chancellor and conferment of Honorary Degree on him. Shortly after this, there will be Convocation for the Award of First Degrees Saturday, December 11, 2021, is Convocation for the Award of Postgraduate degrees and conferment of Honorary Degrees on seven (7) distinguished Nigerians.
I am happy to inform you that the Council and Senate of Kwara State University has approved the conferment of honorary degrees of the University on seven distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to national development in various endeavours.
The Nigerians we are conferring with our Honorary Degrees are the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Buhari Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambart Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi OFR: Dr. Johnson Bamidele Adewumi; Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Alhaji Kamoru Yusuf, and, Dr. Babatunde Jolayemi Omotowa. This event is followed by the Convocation Luncheon at 2.30 pm
The year 2020 was an uncommonly tough one for most countries, Nigeria inclusive. The COVID-19 pandemic caused nation-wide lackdown for some months, disrupting the academic calendar of many universities in the country.
Due to the prevailing situation with respect to the COVID-19 and the need to observe non-pharmaceutical protocols in the prevention of the spread of the virus, all the ceremonies will be conducted in Hybrid Mode (Virtual and Physical) Therefore, ONLY FIRST Class graduands, a few Second Class Upper graduands and PRIZE WINNERS will be allowed into the University’s Mini Convocation Arena for the conferment of first degrees on Friday December 10, 2021. All other graduands will join virtually wherever they may be. Limited outside broadcast will be provided at venues some distance away from the Convocation Arena for parentsand visitors to the University.
On Saturday, 11th December, all Doctorates and a few Masters’ graduands will be allowed physical presence at the ceremony. Kwara State University continues to achieve significant milestones. The University recently inducted the first and second batches of Medical Laboratory Scientists who graduated from KWASU’s B. MLS in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic sessions respectively. This is a significant achievement because KWASU is the first tertiary institution in the whole of North Central Nigeria to mount the B.MLS programme and graduate sixty seven (67) Medical Lab. Scientists, thus contributing to solving the problem of shortage of qualified Medical Lab. Scientists in the country.
The dedication and determination of our staff in ensuring that the academic calendar was back on track after the lifting of the lockdown ensured that our University continued to remain a pacesetter in steady academic calendar. As I address you this morning, Kwara State University has already commenced the 2021/2022 academic session, and we remain one of the few universities in Nigeria that did not cancel an academic session due to the COVID-19 pandemic
