The Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, on Saturday held its 3rd convocation ceremony where 10,212 graduands received Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in various fields.
The ceremony was held at the university’s permanent site Ezzamgbo,?on Enugu-Abakaliki Express Road.
Prof. Francis Idike, Vice Chancellor of the university said the award of the degrees was for 2009, 2010 and 2011 graduands while three distinguished Nigerians got honourary Doctorate Degrees.
“The profile of graduands convocating today consists of 237 Diploma certificates, 9,603 Bachelors, 72 Post Graduate Studies (PGD), 212 Masters, and 88 Doctorate (Ph.D) certificates.
“The three distinguished Nigerians are Prof.Chinua Achebe (Doctor of Literature); Dr Olawale Babalakin (Doctor of Law) and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (Doctor of Public Administration).”?
The Vice Chancellor said?the 60 programmes offered by the 11 faculties of the university had been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“We are happy that our College of Medicine has overcome the problem of?the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and we are awaiting the professional accreditation scheduled for this month.”
He said?the institution was, however,?yet to attain the NUC’s stipulated staff strength ratio, while its?current numerical staff strength?? was a great burden.
“We are caught in the dilemma of considering increment of school fees in the midst of prevalent poverty among students and meeting the minimum standard to avoid losing valued academics and accreditation status.”
Gov. Martin Elechi who is the University’s Visitor, urged the institution to develop agricultural and vocational courses to enable graduating students to meet employment demands of?the society.
“The non attainment of the required standard in these courses have made the state government to send some youths for overseas training in agriculture and other technical vocations.”
He announced the donation of three additional luxury buses to ease students’ transportation problems.
The Governor also announced that?the four campuses of the institution had been merged.
Babalakin who spoke on behalf of other awardees, expressed gratitude?to the?institution and called on the graduands to be good ambassadors of the institution. (NAN)