…As 20 Graduates Bag 1st Class
AE-FUNAI VC
The Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, has revealed that there would be a posthumous honourary award of former Biafran leader, late Philip Effiong, during their 4th convocation ceremony.
Professor Nwajiuba, revealed this on Thursday, December 12, during the 4th pre-convocation press conference of the institution.
The VC said the essence was to appreciate Effiong, who served as Deputy to the ex-Biafran Leader, late Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.
He described Effiong’s place in the nation’s history as critical which the country’s citizens needed to understand being that of reconciliation and unity.
Stating; “He marched into Dodan Baracks, Lagos on Jan.11, 1970 and officially ended any form of conflict in Nigeria which should be well appreciated.
“The charge for reconciliation and unity was re-iterated by President’s Muhammadu Buhari while receiving his Certification of Return upon re-election for a second term in office.
“The president on that day, reminded Nigerians on the need to foster brotherhood, stand on it being the core of the nation’s foundation.
He further stated that another prominent Nigerian, Hon. Victor Ochei, would be given honourary degree during the event.
Nwajiuba added that the theme of this year’s lecture which will be delivered by Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), is ” the role of university in national unity and reconciliation”
The VC further noted that 20 graduates of the institution bagged first class degrees in their various course of study.
205 bagged 2nd class upper, while 263 made 2nd class lower and 24 with a 3rd class.
He said that about 512 who graduated from the institution in the 2019 session would be awarded their various degrees on Tuesday December 17, 2019 during the convocation ceremony.
The VC maintained that there is warm relationship between the University and their host community, adding that such has been the reason behind the modest development recorded by the school.
He reiterated that stakeholders, staff and management of the school as well as the state government have contributed immensely to the success recorded in the institution so far.
He noted that the University has secured full accreditation of 26 courses, while two were giving interim accreditation.
Nwajiuba revealed that the school was working hard to get the Department of Architecture, as the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who the school was named after was a famous architect.
“The university is graduating a total of 512 students in its 4th convocation. 47 from the faculty of Medical Sciences, 95 from the faculty of Humanities, 220 from faculty of Management and Social Sciences, 150 from the faculty of Sciences. That is 512, and of these, 20 will be graduating with first class with a young lady emerging as the overall best graduand for the year from the department of Bio-chemistry, faculty of Sciences.
Then, we have 205, 2nd class upper, 263, 2nd class lower and 24 with a 3rd class.
“The current thing happening is that for the first time in the history of our University, we have people who would be awarded post graduate degrees. We have two persons to be awarded honorary degrees. One is the posthumous honorary degree to the late Philip Effiong. Philip Effiong as you know has a very prominent place in Nigerian history. The second person will be the former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Oche.
“…Our university is the most serious public university in our country, he stated.”
