Photo: A section of OAU’s central campus, Ile-Ife.
158 bag first class among 7,986 graduates as OAU holds 47th convocation
The Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, one of Nigeria’s first generation universities and a leading African university, will churn out 158 first class graduates out of 7,986 graduates of the institution during its 47th convocation ceremony slated to commence on Thursday, ending on Saturday.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Simeon Bamire, disclosed this in Ile-Ife, while addressing a news conference at the Council Chamber of the University.
Giving a breakdown, Bamire said that the institution will be awarding 6,710 Bachelor’s Degrees and 1,276 Postgraduate Diplomas and Degrees.
According to him, 158 made first class; 1,970 made Second Class Honours (Upper Division); 2,906 made Second Class Honours (Lower Division); 942 graduated with Third Class (Honours); and 65 others would graduate with a Pass.
The VC further said that the University will be awarding bachelors degrees for graduands in the Faculties of Administration (806), Arts (1,103), Education (687), Law (379), and Social Sciences (709), on Thursday.
He said that on Friday the awards will be for the Faculties of Agriculture (383), Basic Medical Sciences (392), Clinical Sciences(113), Dentistry (29), Environmental Design and Management (343), Pharmacy (115), Science (908) and Technology (652).
The VC said that the grand finale of the convocation will come up on Saturday for the award of postgraduate diplomas and degrees, in which the Postgraduate Diplomas category has 56, Professional Masters has 444, Masters of Science 415, Masters Degree has 92, Masters of Philosophy has 22, while Doctors of Philosophy has 247.
Prof Bamire said the University will also award honorary degrees to two distinguished personalities, whose contributions to society and humanity have been exceptional.
Among them are: Chief (Dr.) Anastasios Paul LEVENTIS, who will be given the Doctor of Science (DSc, Honoris Causa) and Prof Toyin FALOLA, who is to receive the Doctor of Letters (D. Litt, Honoris Causa).
The VC also expressed appreciation to the alumni of the University for their continuous support towards the growth and entire activities of the University ever since it was created over 60 years ago.
Some of OAU’s prominent alumni are the President, African Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adesina; Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; former President, International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda from Gambia; First Lady, Remi Tinubu; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; Senate Majority Leader, Bamidele Opeyemi; former First Lady, Justice Fati Abubakar; former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo; former minister of women affairs, Josephine Anenih; actress Omotola Ekeinde; billionaires Femi Otedola; Jimoh Ibrahim; Wole Arisekola; Sen. Babafemi Ojudu; and renowned lawyers, Femi Falana; Wole Olanipekun and Mike Ozekhome.
Others include the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi; Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Ekiti State Governors, Olusegun Oni and Kayode Fayemi and wife, Bisi; former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko; former Information Minister, Lai Mohammed; former presidential spokesmen, Olusegun Adeniyi and Femi Adesina; NIDCOM DG, Abike Dabiri; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services, Zacheus Adedeji; Ovation Magazine Publisher, Dele Momodu; Premium Times Publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi; former Plateau State Governor’s spokesman, Mark Longyen, among many others.
