By Felix Khanoba
No fewer than 41 graduating students will smile home with First Class degree from the 28th convocation ceremony of University of Abuja (UniAbuja) scheduled for 17th February, 2024.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, who disclosed this during a pre-convocation briefing at the main campus of UniAbuja on Thursday, said a total of 9,172 undergraduate and postgraduate students
would be graduating at the event.
Professor Na’Allah, who gave a further breakdown of the number of graduands, said 7,896 undergraduate students will bow out of the University during the convocation while postgraduate students account for 1,276 of the new graduands.
His words : “The total number of graduands is 9,172. As you know, we have different kinds of programmes, we are dual mode University , the regular programmes are producing 6,297, the Centre for Distance Learning and Continuous Education is producing 971.
“Our Institute of Education also has 688. So the total undergraduate students come to 7,896.
” Postgraduate students – Masters and PhDs, we are graduating 1,276.
“Out of all the undergraduate students that we are producing that are going to be convocating, First Class is 41.
” Second Class degree upper is 1,845. Second class honours lower division – 4, 842. Third Class – 1,075, Pass degree – 50.
” We also have certain degree that is not classified in terms of first, second or third class. The MBBS, we are graduating 43 students.
“PhDs : We are graduating 151. Masters degree including professional masters, they are graduating 742 and Postgraduate diploma – 383.”
Asked on the relative low number of First Class graduands being churned out by the University when compared to others, the VC said the University’s portal system has been so meticulous in determining the actual class of degree that students earn, adding that some Second Class upper graduates from UniAbuja could rank as First Class in some universities.
“It is hard work, we are not saying universities doing that don’t do hard work, but we have a portal system that is very efficient and the portal calculate what you earn, it is not done manually in the department.
” Once courses are loaded into the portal, the portal calculates and brings out the classes of degrees that everybody is, so we are very thorough. We encourage our students, we respect our First Class graduates, we respect our 2:1. We know our 2:1 could be First Class in some places.
“Our First Class – they are like angels in some places in terms of their perfection. We are happy with that, and the students are also happy with that, but again we are not questioning any university,” the VC said.
Professor Na’Allah, who will be bowing out as Vice Chancellor of the University on 30th June, 2024, expressed delight on the massive transformation witnessed in the institution since assumption of office, vowing not to relent till the last day.
“I have to say I have been privileged to lead this University for the last few years, and by the grace of God on 30th of June this year will be my last day as Vice Chancellor. I am going to work all my best, every day, every second, every hour until that very last time,” he said.
Professor Na’Allah, who listed recent feats achieved in the institution to include securing approval for University of Abuja Microfinance Bank, ongoing construction of new clinic, soon to commence construction of houses in the campus for staff, establishment of innovation hub and creative technology centre, among others, said UniAbuja will soon launch its policy on sexual harassment.
Also speaking at the briefing, Registrar of the University, Mallam Yahya Mohammed, revealed the 28th convocation would also witness a pre-convocation lecture on Friday.
Mohammed, who lavished praise on Professor Na’Allah for transforming UniAbuja to a world-class University, said the pre-convocation lecture would be delivered by Dr Arabo Ibrahim Bayo, a Senior Consultant at Hamad Medical Cooperation, Doha, Qatar.
