The University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) yesterday November 26th, 2018, held a press briefing as well as flag-off of her 48th convocation ceremony which happens to be the last celebration of convocation by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba and his last tenure as the number one person in the university. This was done to intimate the press and all present of the activities lined up for the convocation and how it is scheduled to hold.
The flag- off event was held in the main hall of UNN Enugu campus (UNEC) where the milestone achievements made so far in the Ozumba’s administration were mentioned in their numbers to the awe of all present and a rundown of a list of activities that will take place in the course of the convocation was also mentioned.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles Arinzechukwu Igwe; Prof. J.C Ogbonna: Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics; Barr. Chris Igbokwe: Registrar, Prof. Mrs. Chinwe Ezeani: Librarian; Prof. Uche Nwagha: Provost College of Medicine; Prof. Mrs. Edith Nwosu – Deputy Vice Chancellor Enugu campus, Prof. Charles A. Igwe: Deputy Vice Chancellor Admin; Prof. R.C Ezeokonkwo; Prof. Mrs. Uju Umo, Barr. Obayi: governing council members; members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and host of others were all present.
While addressing the press the VC Prof. Ozumba stated the importance of the event as the university have found it worthy to convoke her students who have been found worthy in character and learning to go into the world as worthy ambassadors to promote the ideals of the founding fathers’ of the university which is to “restore the dignity of mankind”.
Speaking further, he informed the press that he has kept to his promise during his first presentation in the year 2015 at the prelude of the 44th convocation of the university to promote reward and institutionalize academic excellence. Also in the same vain he gave more insight in the commissioning of ongoing projects and those near completion. Such projects include: UNECSO Category II Biotechnology building (phase1) at Nsukka campus, Faculty of Social Sciences Building, Nsukka campus, Faculty of Pharmacy Building (phase1) Nsukka campus, NLNG Engineering Laboratory Building Nsukka campus, Renovated Lady Ibiam Hostel Enugu campus, Arthur Mbanefor ICAN Lecture Theater Enugu campus, the university main gate Enugu campus, the commissioning of the access road as part of the municipal services at Enugu campus, a newly built hostel at the College of Medicine, Ituku Ozalla.
He said, the university has established more collaborations with international universities and agencies such as UNESCO, SIDA, Michigan State University, Lund Umir in Sweden, the university has also established Lion Science park which has been admitted as a member of International Agency for the study of pain (IASP), a new faculty for one year vocational training programme has been built to train students on any skill of their choice, innovations have also been introduced ranging from the development of ICT to the establishment of distance learning and academic departments are all accredited.
The university will convoke a total of 11,681 graduates, 9,702 will be conferred with 1st degrees, diploma and certificates. 173 1st class honours, 3,725 2nd class upper, 1,306; 2nd class lower, 76 pass, 253 unclassified and 46 diploma. 11 emeritus professors will also be awarded, 4 persons will be awarded honorary doctorate degrees and over 400 Ph.D degrees will also be awarded at the convocation making UNN the first Nigerian university to award such number of Ph.D’s in a single convocation. This sums the figure to 1,979 graduates who will receive postgraduate Diplomas, Master’s Degree and Doctor of philosophy degrees.
The VC welcomed everyone present to the convocation ceremony after responding to questions from journalists and thanked them especially the principal officers, management team and governing council of the University for their loyalty and support and promise that his administration will continue to uphold the ideals of the founding fathers “to restore the dignity of man”.
