He said a total of 11,010 graduates, who have been found worthy in character and in learning, would be awarded the first degrees and diplomas of the University.
Igwe said out of that number, 186 of them would be awarded the First Class (honours) degrees.
“Similarly, 4 048 would be awarded the Second Class Honours (Upper Division), while 5,118 will be awarded the Second Class Honours (Lower Division) degrees. The Third Class and Pass Degrees will be awarded to 1,101 and 79 persons, respectively, while 408 graduands will earn “unclassified” degrees. The diplomas are made up of one (1) distinction, 23 credits, 39 merits and 7 passes.
“Similarly, 3,497 graduands would earn the postgraduate degrees and diplomas of the University. A total of 859 graduands will earn the Doctorate degree, 2,385 graduands will earn the Masters’ degree, while 253 graduands will earn the Postgraduate diplomas of the University,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor said the climax of the convocation would be the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees of the University on four eminent Nigerians.
They include Alhaji (Dr) Mohammed Indimi, Chairman and CEO of Oriental Energy, Mrs Nnenna MaryAnn Obiejesi, the Group Executive Director, Administration and Corporate Services, Obijackson Group of Companies and Engineer Anthony Uzoma Oguike, the MD/CEO of The Future Concerns Group, Lagos. The Doctor of Letters (D. Litt) would be conferred on Professor Jacob Olupona, a Professor of African Studies at Harvard University.
On some of the achievements of his administration, he said that 95% of the programmes and departments of the university subjected to accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) were successfully accredited.
“In terms of staff welfare, a total of 127 academic staff have been promoted to the ranks of Reader/Professor, while as many as 41 non-teaching staff have been promoted to the ranks of Deputy Registrar or Deputy Director.
“Progress has continued to be made in the waste-to-wealth gasification project, which was started by my predecessor as a means of generating additional electricity in the university. We are currently building a 500 KVA gasification plant which is expected to mitigate energy challenges within the administrative block and its surroundings at the Nsukka campus of the university.”
He said the convocation activities would commence with a lecture to be delivered by Nigeria’s Transport Minister, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi on Thursday, with the theme: “Economic Justice and National Security: Conquering Insecurity through Combating Poverty.”
