News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi, will on Saturday, graduate 17,925 students at 22nd, 23rd and 24th Combined Convocation Ceremonies of the University.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, who disclosed this on Thursday at the the Pre-Convocation press briefing said 44 out of the 17,925 graduated with First Class.
He stated that the University will be conferring a total of 17,925 degrees and diplomas on graduands of the university in the categories including 15101 Bachelor’s Degrees, 72 Postgraduate Diplomas, 2,196 Master’s Degrees and 556 PhD Degrees.
The VC said prizes will be awarded to deserving students during the convocation while Honorary Doctorate Degrees of the University will be conferred on distinguished Nigerians, two of whom are post-humus.
They include Professor Toyin Falola (Doctor of Letters, D.Litt), Honoris Causa, Engr. Sylvanus Ghasarah (Doctor of Science, D.SC) Honoris Causa, Chief, Barr. Paul Edeh (Doctor of Law), Sen. Gabriel Torwua Suswam, (Doctor of Laws, D. LL), Honoris Causa Wanteregh Paul Iyorpuu Unongo, (Posthumous: Doctor of Letters, D.Litt), Honoris Causa, Lt. Colonel Joseph Akaahan (Former Chief of Army Staff- May 1967 to May 1968) Posthumous (Doctor of Law, D.LL) Honoris Causa.
Iorapuu disclosed that the event would be the last combined convocation the university will be having ), especially during the administration of the current Visitor to the University, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia as the Governor has directed that, “going forward, the tradition of Convocation as a yearly event must return.”
He said the Convocation event would provide them opportunity not only to celebrate their achievements or graduate their students that have pushed themselves through tough learning conditions, but an opportunity to thank those that have supported and helped them as they grow as an institution.
The VC thanked the Government of Benue State led by Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia for helping to stabilize the University through regular and timely payment of salaries.
He said “The Government had established the university to provide higher education to the increasing population of Benue citizens and beyond. Thirty-two years after, the university has not just produced degree holders, but citizens with skills, acquired knowledge that are serving the society in different spheres of life.
He also appreciated diverse groups and individuals as well as the National Universities Commission (NUC) for being a critical stakeholders saying the Commission has not failed in its obligations to monitor and ensure quality, conduct necessary resource verification, accredit and approve programmes for the university.
“With the support of NUC, BSU has added new programmes and created four new faculties. The quality of direction and support BSU has enjoyed cannot be taken for granted.”
The VC also thanked the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for being a major collaborator and stakeholder in the sustenance of higher education in Nigeria praising the government agency for facilitating the construction of more than half of the structures on our university.
According to him, “In the last 18 months, TETFund has expended over N4 billion, (4, 240,299,427.13) only on infrastructure, procurement and maintenance of existing TETFund facilities while a total of 306, 203, 349.15 only was expended on staff training, conference attendance, funding of research and publications in the last 18 months.”
He further appreciated the leadership of TETFund over years which is now, under the leadership of the Arc. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary adding that in the last one year alone, over six projects of TETFund have been completed, some commissioned, some are ongoing in the school .
He noted that the school will be Commissioning the Food Lab and the Centre for Food Technology and Innovation Centre (CEFTIC) while the Convocation Lecture will hold Friday 6th December 2024, with the Lecture to be delivered by one of Nigeria’s most prolific and finest scholars of history, Professor Toyin Falola.
Falola is the Chair of Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker in the Humanities, at the University of Texas at Austin, USA and has proposed to speak about “Power, Politics and Policies.”
He however noted that despite the successes, the university has faced challenges including disruption of academic calendar, volatile market uncertainties leading to the high cost of diesel and other running costs especially with increase of energy tariff, continuing agitations of staff over welfare issues, finding alternative sources of income for the University, accessing grants in a competitive environment, aligning employees around the vision, strategy, and values of the University.
While commending Governor Alia for keeping faith with the University, and for ensuring better welfare for staff, Iorapuu called on individuals and organizations to partner with the school to aid it in solving some of it challenges.
He appreciated the former Chancellor, King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel II Owukori IX, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, for his sterling leadership and contributions to the growth of the school, and also welcomed the new Chancellor, HRH Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu, the Emir of Kazaure.
