Ogun Varsity Produces 27 First Class, 67 Pioneer PhD Graduates at 16th Convocation

James Sowole in Abeokuta

As the first University of Education in Nigeria, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, yesterday, began activities for its 16th Convocation Ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Oluwole Banjo, said 27 students, would be graduating with First Class just as the university, would be graduating it’s first set of PhDs, totalling 67.

The 27 First Class graduands, were part of the 4,054, that would be admitted into First Degree, as the school will graduate four  M.Phil, 275 Master’s Degree, 28 Post Graduate Diploma and 27 Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).

The Vice Chancellor disclosed this figure at a news conference, to herald the convocation ceremony, which kicked off at the Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode campus of the institution.

Prof. Banjo said a star graduand of the convocation, is an 80 year old Bolaji Titilola Onafowokan, a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, who will be bagging his PhD.

Highlighting some activities lined up for the ceremony, Prof Banjo, who was flanked by other Principal officers of the university and other management officers, said necessary logistics arrangements, including security, had been put in place to ensure hitch free ceremony.

He said the university had been growing in leaps and bounds as programmes being run in the university, would soon rise to 59.

According to him, all the 49 programmes, being run at present, had been fully accredited by the National University Commission (NUC) while the commission, had visited the institution for resource assessment of 10 new programmes, expressing optimism that the new programmes, would be accredited.

A major highlight of the convocation ceremony, is the proposed  inauguration of new projects within the campus. 

The projects slated for commissioning include the 800kva Independent Power Project (IPP), the university medical centre built from Internally Generated Revenue of the institution and the school’s science laboratory complex.

The VC explained that the IPP, would safe the university from the current epileptic power supply, which had been forcing the institution, to spend about N20m monthly on purchase of diesel for two hours supply to the university community and slightly higher hours for the Academic Building.

He said with the IPP, which will cost the university N30m monthly for 24 hours on daily basis and maintenance free, the university would enjoy regular power supply when the project is inaugurated.

He disclosed that Honourary Doctorate Degree, would be conferred on four eminent Nigerian, who have monstrated remarkable achievements in their different professional careers.

The awardees, he said are Dr Taiwo Afolabi, Prince Oluyemisi Shillon, Otunba Jayeola Wasiu and Mr Jubril Sanusi.

The VC disclosed that the Convocation Lecture, would be delivered by the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy entitled “From Classroom to Cloud: Leveraging Digital Literacy for National Development.”

Prof Banjo said in line with the tradition of the university, graduands would be awarded two certificates on graduation. He said each graduand, would be awarded certificate in his or her Core Course and the second certificate, will be in the Vocational Study of his or her choice, which is a must for all students of the institution.