UI announces details of programmes for 70th foundation anniversary

The University of Ibadan will hold its graduation ceremony between November 12 and 13 as part of the activities to mark the 70th foundation anniversary of the school, it has been announced.

This was disclosed through a press statement, on Friday, from the office of the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Idowu Olayinka.

In the statement, a number of programmes were announced as part of the ceremonies. On 7 and 8 November, the third Annual Research, Development and Innovation Fair will hold, while the religious activities will hold on Friday, 9 November for Jumat Service at UI Central Mosque and Sunday, 11 November for Church Service at the Chapel of The Resurrection.

The convocation ceremony proper which is going to be a 2-day event will feature the conferment of the award of postgraduate and first degrees. It will commence with a Keynote address to be delivered by Funmi Olopade (Alumnus 1974) a University of Chicago, USA, professor, on 12 November, while the second-day Keynote Address will be delivered by Peter Okebukola (Alumnus 1970) of the Lagos State University, Ojo.

Mr Olayinka, the VC, revealed that the institution would be graduating 139 First Class graduands at this year’s convocation.

He said: “For 2016/2017 academic Session, a total of 139 of our final year students earned a First Class Honours degree. The Faculties of Science and Technology tied in the overall best position with 37 students in each of the Faculties finishing with First Class. Twenty-one of our students in the Faculty of Law earned First Class; this is the best ever result by the Faculty since its establishment 38 years ago.

“The number of the first class from other Faculties include Arts – 13, Agriculture – 8, The Social Sciences – 8, Education – 7, Renewable Natural Resources – 4, Public Health – 2, Basic Medical Sciences – 1 and Clinical Sciences – 1. Similarly, in the unclassified degree programmes, a number of students had a distinction in various courses. These include 13 students in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy, 13 in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and 18 with Bachelor of Pharmacy”.

According to Vice-chancellor, the graduating students of the 2016/2017 Class were admitted into the University of Ibadan between 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 academic sessions, depending on the specific course of study, through a very rigorous and highly competitive Post-UTME.

The university will also hold its Convocation Lecture to be delivered by Adams Habib, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa on 14 November.

The grand finale holds on November 17, featuring the award of honorary doctoral degrees and fellowship at the International Conference Centre, Ibadan.