The Osun State University (UNIOSUN) says 88 of its graduating students will be admitted into the First Class division at its upcoming 16th convocation.

Vice Chancellor of the institution, Odunayo Adebooye, disclosed this at a pre-convocation news conference on Saturday in Osogbo.

The news conference is part of activities lined up for the week-long ceremonies, holding from September 18 to September 24.

Giving a breakdown of the various categories of the other graduating students, the vice chancellor said a total of 1,509 would be admitted into the Second Class Upper Division.

He noted that 1,946 others would be honoured with the Second Class Lower Division.

Speaking further, he stated that, in all, a total of 4,357 students would graduate with first and higher degrees, as well as postgraduate diplomas, at the ceremony.

Mr Adebooye said the graduating students comprised 3,845 first-degree students, nine Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) graduates, 400 Master’s (MA) graduates, and 103 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduates.

According to him, 220 other graduating students obtained Third Class, while three earned Pass degrees.

“The university will also graduate its pioneer set of medical doctors, with 90 students completing the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.

“The pioneer medical graduates were inducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria on Aug. 12 and would be presented with their degrees on September 23.

“Several programmes introduced during my tenure as vice chancellor would also produce their pioneer graduates at the convocation,” he said.

He listed Cyber Security, Information Systems, Information Technology, Software Engineering, and Criminology and Security Studies as programmes undertaken by the graduating students.

Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, International Relations and Diplomacy, as well as Psychology and Social Work also made the list.

Speaking further, the vice chancellor also listed Demography and Social Statistics, Cooperative and Rural Development, and Public Administration as part of the programmes undertaken by the graduating students.

“Also among them are Library and Information Science, Biotechnology, Business Education, Environmental Education, as well as Adult Education,” he stated.

He noted that the university had also recorded significant infrastructural development, which included the completion and commissioning of a FIFA-standard sports complex.

The vice chancellor also said a three-in-one science laboratory complex, Governor Ademola Adeleke Lecture Theatre, and a 900-capacity lecture theatre were among the achievements.

He further noted that other completed projects included academic office complexes, a pit theatre, and auditoriums of various capacities across the university’s campuses.

Mr Adebooye said construction had also commenced on an ICT Resource Centre, Computer and Information Technology laboratories, academic office complexes, and lecture auditoriums across some campuses.

According to him, UNIOSUN has strengthened its academic programmes, research, and partnerships while expanding its infrastructure and leveraging technology to respond to the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

He commended the media for its continued partnership with the university and urged journalists to always hold the institution accountable through constructive engagement.

The vice chancellor said the university would also hold a special dinner for its first-class graduates to provide an opportunity for interaction with employers of labour and industrialists.

He added that the initiative aimed to celebrate outstanding students and expose them to employment opportunities and the realities of the labour market.

Mr Adebooye reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, community development, and responsible citizenship. 

(NAN)