No fewer than 83 students of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, will graduate with first-class honours among the 1,043 students expected to receive degrees at the institution’s convocation on Friday.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Olasebikan Fakolujo, disclosed this on Monday while speaking on activities lined up for the institution’s 17th convocation and 20th anniversary.

According to him, 146 students will also receive postgraduate degrees and qualifications.

Giving a breakdown of the graduating students, Fakolujo said, “At this year’s convocation, Joseph Ayo Babalola University will present 1,043 graduates. Of these, 897 are first-degree graduates, while 146 are postgraduate graduates.

“Among the 897 first-degree graduates, 83 will receive first-class honours, 429 will receive second-class honours (upper division), 301 will receive second-class honours (lower division), 74 will receive third-class honours, and 10 will receive pass degrees.

“At the postgraduate level, we have 146 students, including 22 PhDs, 94 academic master’s degrees, 27 MBAs and three postgraduate diplomas.”

The vice-chancellor also disclosed that the university, which began operations with 246 students in February 2007, had awarded more than 10,000 undergraduate degrees.

“From a pioneer matriculating class of just 246 students in February 2007, JABU has, over its 20 years of operation, awarded 10,448 undergraduate degrees. Of these, 426 graduated with first-class honours, 3,730 with second-class honours, upper division, 4,928 with second-class honours, lower division, 1,336 with third-class honours, and 28 with pass degrees.

“In addition, the university has awarded more than 800 postgraduate degrees and qualifications, contributing to the development of advanced professional expertise, scholarship, research and leadership. But these are not merely numbers in our academic records; they represent 10,448 undergraduate journeys,” the vice-chancellor stated.

Fakolujo said the university’s graduates were excelling in various fields, including business, research, academia, public service, technology and finance.

He cited the performance of the institution’s Medical Laboratory Science and Nursing Science students in professional examinations as evidence of their academic preparedness.

“Internal results matter, but an important test is what happens when students are assessed beyond the university. Our Medical Laboratory Science students recorded 100 per cent success in their 2026 professional examinations, for the third consecutive year.

“Our Nursing Science students also recorded 100 per cent success in their 2026 registered midwife professional examination. Our law graduates continue to distinguish themselves at the Nigerian Law School,” he said.

The University of Ilorin will confer degrees and other academic qualifications on 16,152 graduands at its 41st convocation ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic session, with 365 students graduating with first-class honours.

The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), announced the figures on Monday during a press briefing ahead of the ceremony, which will run from Wednesday, October 21, to Friday, October 23.

According to Egbewole, 11,213 students will receive first degrees, including 4,367 second-class upper division graduates, 5,102 second-class lower division graduates, 1,006 third-class graduates and 30 pass-degree recipients.

He said the graduating class also included students from several professional programmes, with 19 in Medicine and Surgery, 89 in Nursing, 73 in Pharmacy, 41 in Optometry, 89 in Physiotherapy and 32 in Veterinary Medicine.

The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that “4,939 graduands would receive higher degrees and diplomas, comprising 160 postgraduate diploma recipients, 901 master’s degree graduates, 114 professional master’s degree recipients, two Master of Philosophy graduates and 251 doctorate degree recipients”.

Another 3,511 students, he said, would graduate through the university’s Centre for Affiliated Institutions.

In a separate programme, Egbewole said 8,320 students had completed the university’s U-INSPIRE initiative, which equips participants with 21st-century skills in addition to their primary qualifications through partnerships with 10 industry partners.

He described the figures as evidence of the university’s commitment to academic excellence, professional training, research, innovation and the development of skilled graduates for national and global development.

Reflecting on his administration, Egbewole said the convocation provided an opportunity to assess the institution’s progress since he assumed office on October 16, 2022, and consider the legacy being prepared for the next vice-chancellor.

“When I assumed office as Vice-Chancellor on 16 October 2022, my first convocation ceremony was for both the 37th and 38th. I came into office with a clear commitment: to build on the strong foundations laid by my predecessors, preserve the University’s defining strengths, and move the institution forward with renewed ambition,” he said.

“Four years on, as we prepare for the 41st Convocation, I do so with gratitude to Almighty Allah and a deep sense of fulfilment. This is not simply a review of activities; it is an account of steady, substantial progress and of the institutional capacity, opportunities, and responsibilities we will bequeath to the next Vice-Chancellor, as a legacy,” he added.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university had maintained its tradition of stability, academic excellence and peace while making improvements in digital infrastructure, staff and student welfare, research, teaching and learning, campus facilities and external partnerships.

He added that the institution’s development strategy remained anchored on its Vision 1:10:500 ambition of becoming Nigeria’s number one university, ranking among Africa’s top 10 and securing a place among the world’s top 500 universities.

“The 41st Convocation is therefore both a celebration and a moment of reflection. It gives us an opportunity to recognise what we have accomplished, acknowledge the people whose work made it possible, and identify the foundations on which we can build the next phase of progress,” Egbewole said.

On the ceremony’s activities, the Vice-Chancellor announced that the convocation lecture, titled From Lecture Hall to Cabinet Room: The Journey from Academia to Public Leadership, would be delivered by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, on Friday, October 23, at 9am.

He disclosed that the university would stage its convocation opera, The Death of the Crown’s Escort, at the Performing and Film Arts Theatre on Tuesday, October 20, with performances scheduled for 4 pm and 6 pm.

According to him, graduands from four-year programmes would receive their degrees on Wednesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 22, while those from five-year and six-year programmes would be presented for their degrees on Friday, October 23.

Egbewole further disclosed that President Bola Tinubu, the university’s Visitor, was expected to commission completed projects on the campus at 2.30 pm on Friday.

The day’s programme would also include a convocation luncheon and merit awards for deserving members of staff at the university’s Multipurpose Hall at 4.30 pm.

The activities, which commenced with a special Jumat service on Friday, October 16, and an interdenominational church service on Sunday, October 18, will end with a thanksgiving service at St Thomas Aquinas Chaplaincy on Sunday, October 25.

Source: punchng.com

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The Catholic Diocese of Gboko has ordered the immediate closure of its institutions in Ihugh community, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, citing repeated attacks on church-owned properties.

The affected institutions include St Winifred Girls Secondary School, Ihugh; St Thomas Hospital, Ihugh; St Winifred Nursery and Primary School, Ihugh; and St Winifred Parish, Ihugh.

The directive also ordered the withdrawal of pastoral agents from the community.

Ihugh is the home community of Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.

The letter conveying the directive was signed by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Most Rev. William Avenya, and the diocesan chancellor, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Wende.

Titled “On the Temporary Closure of Catholic Institutions and the Withdrawal of Pastoral Agents from Ihugh,” the letter said the diocese decided this following repeated attacks on Catholic institutions in the community since 2024.

Parts of the letter read, “Over a considerable period, the Catholic institutions in Ihugh have suffered repeated disturbances, attacks and acts of destruction.

“Among these were the recent burning down of the students’ hostels of St Winifred Secondary School, Ihugh, on October 28, 2025, May 10, 2026, May 15, 2026, and October 11, 2026.

“These acts have destroyed the shelter of young people entrusted to our care, wiped out the labour and sacrifices of many years, and placed the lives and safety of students, teachers and staff in grave danger.

“The persistent burning down of St Winifred Secondary School students’ hostels was not an isolated event. The consistent burglary incidents at St Winifred Parish, Ihugh, the repeated criminal incidents at St Thomas Hospital, Ihugh, and the hooliganism witnessed during the reopening of St Thomas Hospital, Ihugh, on June 21, 2024, when people in Ihugh displayed placards and chanted slogans saying they no longer wanted the Reverend Sisters to work in the community, were also part of the problem.

“These acts are identified as part of a systemic pattern of hostility and destruction directed at church-owned properties, alongside arson and harassment. Each incident has left behind fear, loss and uncertainty among those who serve and are served by the church.”

The diocese said that before reaching the decision, it had met with members of the host community, engaged traditional rulers and community elders, and presented its grievances to the relevant civil and security authorities.

“Sadly, these sincere efforts have not yielded the peace, security and guarantees that the continued presence of our institutions requires.

“We have done all that depends on us. The attacks have continued, and no assurance of lasting safety has been secured,” the letter added.

The diocese said students of the secondary and primary schools would be assisted to continue their education in other Catholic schools within the diocese.

It added that patients of St Thomas Hospital would be referred to other health facilities, with every care taken to protect those requiring urgent medical attention.

“Staff affected by this decision will be treated with justice and charity, in accordance with Church teaching on the dignity of labour,” the letter concluded.

When contacted by telephone on Tuesday, Avenya confirmed the letter, saying, “Yes, we have suspended activities there.”

Source: punchng.com

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