BY IFEANYI UWAGWU
At least 10 students bagged First Class Degrees as the Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN), Ibusa, held its fourth convocation ceremony, yesterday.
The ceremony, which was held at the University campus along the Ibusa-Ogwashi-Uku expressway, saw the graduation of 72 students, with 43 students graduating with second class (upper division); 17 other students finished with second class degrees (lower division), while two ended their academic journeys with third class honours.
Congratulating the graduands, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Christopher Ogbogbo, charged them to carry forward the knowledge, compassion, and drive they have cultivated in the institution and transition into higher heights of greater responsibilities in various spheres of engagement.
“Like glittering gold, you have passed through the furnace and are now declared fit for purpose in their various disciplines. Remember, this is not just an end, but a transition into higher heights of greater responsibilities at various spheres of engagement.
‘’We expect that the names and achievements of our luminary leaders will resonate globally. Your dedication has turned challenges into triumphs. You have shown that perseverance and passion can reshape possibilities. Carry forward the knowledge, compassion, and drive you have cultivated here”, he said.
Reeling out some of the achievements the institution has recorded under his stewardship, Ogbogbo stated that the institution has commenced academic programmes at the Postgraduate School of the University with the pioneer set of admitted students, which he said would broaden the institution’s academic frontiers beyond undergraduate training to advanced scholarship and research.
Despite the plethora of achievements by the institution, Ogbogbo mentioned that it still faced a critical challenge in the area of infrastructure, as existing structures remain inadequate, owing to the growing number of the student population, following the transition of the university from a private citadel of learning to a public one.
He, however, mentioned that while some interventionist efforts have been received by the university, especially from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), gaps remain to be filled.
The Convocation lecture, delivered by the Group Managing Director, Rainoil Limited, Dr Gabriel Ogbechie, titled Developing an Institution in an Economically Challenging Environment, gave insight into creative ways to administer the affairs of an institution with scarce resources, such as establishing endowment and professorial chairs, strengthening alumni networks for funding and growth, positioning for regional thought leadership, amongst other notable points.
The best graduating student, Divine Ikede, of Software Engineering Department, with a cumulative grade point average of 4.99, carted home a total cash prize of N470,000; while the best female graduating student, Miss Ugwashi Aya, of the Economics Department, with a cumulative grade point average of 4.96, went home with a total cash prize of N120,000.
There was also a conferment of honorary degrees on Emeritus Prof Augustine Esogbue and Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (Rtd).
