…Holds 2020 convocation amidst ASUU Strike
The Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, has disclosed that the university will commence yearly convocation instead of combined ceremony which has been the practice in the institution.
Ogbu stated this on Thursday while fielding questions from one of the graudands during the pre-convocation press conference at the faculty of Law Auditorium, CAS Campus, Abakaliki.
There have been complains by some of the graduands that their results among other things were not yet ready two days to the ceremony, which may affect their convoking with others.
Some were even pleading with the VC to intervene by addressing these challenges so that they would be among those that will convoke, stating they were coming from different states and wouldn’t want to go back home disappointed.
The VC pleaded with them to be patient as their complains would be sorted out, adding that as far as he remains the Vice Chancellor of the university, the convocation would have to be a yearly event in other to avert some of the issues raised.
Meanwhile, the university will be holding it’s 7Th-11th convocation amidst Academic Staff Union of Universities strike.
The VC maintained that the strike will not adversely affect the convocation as the committee has put the necessary things in place to ensure a hitch-free ceremony.
The convocation ceremony has been slated for Saturday March 14, 2020.
He said a total of 90 Graduands came out with First Class Honour degrees in various disciplines covering 2015-2019 academic session and would be awarded at convocation ceremony.
While 3,169 Graduands bagged Second Class Upper Division , 9, 341 were awarded Second Class Lower Division, 4,606 bagged Third Class and 449 awarded Pass level.
He said: “Friday 13th March 2020 would be an Inter-Denominational Thanks giving at the School of Post graduate Studies, the climax on Saturday would be the Installation of the Chancellor of the institution Engr. Arthur Eze and the award of degrees.
“In this convocation the Graduands of 2015-2019, covering 7th to 11th Convocation comprised of 23 Diploma Graduands, 18,652 Bachelors Degree Graduands, 272 OGD/PGDE Graduands, 596 Master Degree Graduands, 423 Ph.D. Graduands, total number of Graduands 19, 966.”
He reiterated that plans have been concluded by the management to establish an Advanced Central Research Laboratory to provide scientific and social research facilities, and that some of the equipments for the laboratories were already available.
Ogbu enumerated the recent achievements by his administration to include, increasing its programmes from 60 to 67 and internationalizing its education in line with global best practices.
He also thanked Governor Umahi for facilitating the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering of the university, as well as the new College of Medicine and the Teaching Hospital complex.
Adding: “Through the support of TETFund, the university has been able to provide new laboratory equipment and classroom furniture for Departments of Geology, Applied Biology, Applied microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Home Economics, Food Science and Technology, Industrial Chemistry, Pharmacology, Psychology, Sociology and Clinical Medicine.
“The construction of the Faculty of Education complex and extension of Faculty of Sciences will soon commence, courtesy of TETFund support.
“The university plans to establish an Advanced Central Research Laboratory to provide scientific and social research facilities, some of the equipment for the laboratories are already available for envisaged infrastructure.
“These are only a few of the milestones covered by the University within a short span of its existence.”
