99 bag first class as LAUTECH holds 16th convocation 

The acting Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Professor Rasaq Kalilu, has said about 99 students of the institution will be graduating with first-class honours during the upcoming 16th convocation ceremony of the institution.

He made this known during a press conference, held at the Senate Building of the institution in Ogbomoso on Wednesday.

Kalilu said, “A total of 4,749 first degrees will be awarded to students next week Monday, out of this figure, 99 students are graduating with first-class degrees.

“During this convocation ceremony, 1,363 students will be graduating with second class upper category, 2,580 students in the second class lower category, and 597 students in the third class category.

“It is noteworthy that Olagoke Olopade, who is graduating with a GCPA of 4.86 from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, is the overall best-graduating student and he will be so awarded the prize during this convocation,” he said.

The VC acknowledged the commitment of the Visitor to the university, who is also the state governor, Seyi Makinde, to the development of the institution.

He said through Makinde’s unalloyed support, the institution was able to weather storms and continue to grow.

The expansion of our academic vista and rapid growth of the university has imposed the need for infrastructural upgrade and expansion. Consequently, four of our large lecture theatres were renovated to make the learning environment more conducive.

“A TETFund-sponsored Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences Building Complex that was started in 2015 and left uncompleted since 2019 has been completed to complement the ones currently in use. Similarly, two high-impact student hostels started in 2019 were completed and will soon be released for use.

“There is also ongoing construction of three large capacity multi-media lecture theatres and ICT facilities at Ogbomoso and Iseyin campuses. They were donated to the university by five stakeholders.”

He also attributed the feat of winning N203,081,810.99 national and international grants by LAUTECH’s researchers to hard work and the provision of an enabling environment by the management for its lecturers and students.

Kalilu, however, said part of the activities commemorating the convocation include the award of the degree of Doctor of Business Administration (honoris causa) to the university’s sixth and current Chancellor, who is also the paramount ruler of Emuoha Kingdom, Rivers State, Sir Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse.

Other personalities that will be conferred with a Doctor of Civil Law (honoris causa) include Ahmed Raji (SAN) and Adeyinka Ajao, who will be awarded a Doctor of Technology (Honoris causa).