44 bag First Class as Benue varsity holds Convocation
MAKURDI (Sundiata Scholar) – The Vice Chancellor, Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, Prof. Tor Iorapuu, says the institution would convocate 17,925 on Saturday with 44 of them first class.
Iorapuu made the disclosure Thursday at a pre-convocation press briefing for the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th combined convocation ceremonies.
The VC said that out of the figure, 15,101 would be conferred with bachelor’s degrees, 72 postgraduate diplomas, 2,196 master’s degrees, and 556 doctorates.
“Forty-four of them earned first class, and prizes will be awarded to deserving students.
“Honorary doctorate degrees of the University would be conferred on distinguished Nigerians, including Prof. Toyin Falola (Doctor of Letters, D.Litt.), Honoris Causa.
“Others are Mr Sylvanus Ghasarah (Doctor of Science, D.Sc.) Honoris Causa, Mr Paul Edeh (Doctor of Law, D.LL), and Sen. Gabriel Suswam (Doctor of Laws, D.LL).
“Posthumous honorary doctorate degrees would be conferred on the late Paul Unongo (Posthumous: Doctor of Letters, D.Litt), Honoris Causa, and the late Lt. Col. Joseph Akaahan (Former Chief of Army Staff) (Posthumous Doctor of Law, D.LL) Honoris Causa,” he stated.
The VC explained that the number of the awardees was beyond three because the event was a combined convocation.
He stressed that the institution was not unmindful of the Keffi Declaration, which stated that the awardees should not exceed three per convocation.
Iorpuu appreciated Gov. Hyacinth Alia for stabilising the university through regular and timely payment of salaries.
The VC pointed out that with the support of the National Universities Commission (NUC), BSU had added new programmes and created four new faculties, thereby increasing the number of faculties to 14.
He described NUC as a critical stakeholder in the development of education and lauded the commission for its unflinching support.
Iorpuu noted that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was another major collaborator and stakeholder in the sustenance of higher education in Nigeria.
The VC stated that more than half of the structures on the university campuses were of TETFund.
He further said that in the last 18 months, TETFund had expended 4,240,299,427 on infrastructure, procurement, and maintenance of existing TETFund facilities in BSU.
He added that in the last year alone, over six projects of TETFund had been completed, some commissioned, with some ongoing.
Iorpuu attributed the feat to the support of Mr Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund. (NAN)
