The Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Professor Jonathan Babalola, has disclosed that the 19th convocation of the institution has been slated for Saturday, at the main campus in Iwo town.
Professor Babalola made this known on Wednesday at a press conference organized in preparation for the event.
According to him, about 901 students will be presented with various university degree awards, ranging from first degrees to PGD, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees, having completed their academic and research programs in learning and character.
He explained further that, among the first-degree graduating students, 115 will receive First-Class honours, 323 Second-Class Upper Division degrees, 192 Second-Class Lower Division degrees, 62 Third-Class degrees, and 7 students will receive pass award certificates. Additionally, 12 scholars will be presented with the university’s Doctorate degrees.
He noted that all the successful students from MBBS, Nursing, and Physiotherapy studies will be presented for graduation. Professor Babalola added that with 901 graduating students at the 19th Convocation Ceremony, the total number of Bowen University graduates has increased to an impressive 17,686 since the first convocation in 2006, which produced 383 graduates.
The Vice-Chancellor declared that Bowen University would continue to advance in teaching, research, human resources, and infrastructural development, ensuring that all academic programs are fully accredited and signing a Memorandum of Understanding with renowned foreign institutions of learning to produce world-class, skilful, employable, and self-sufficient graduates for local and global markets.
Furthermore, he urged the government to review the age limit on admission, stating that while the Minister for Education, who initiated the idea, “might mean well, it is not good to change the rule of a game in the middle of a game.”
He added that the country needs to research the appropriate age limit for admission.
Professor Babalola also disagreed with the Federal Government’s decision to exempt private universities from benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). He stated that these funds could be used for research with findings that benefit the Nigerian society, not just the university alone.
“So, I think the government need to have a rethink about this; what is being practised now is just unfair.”
“I believe that anybody in a private university and in need of such a loan should be given since it is a loan that will be returned and paid back in the long run,” he said.
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