112 students bag first-class as Unijos graduates 20,532

The University of Jos has disclosed that a total of 20,532 students will graduate from the institution this Saturday.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Tanko Ishaya disclosed this at the pre-convocation press conference at the Senate Chamber of the university.

Prof Ishaya stated that 112 will graduate with first-class honors in the forthcoming 33rd and 34th convocations of the institution slated for Saturday.

He said the men and women to be presented for the award of various certificates during the convocation represent the best of the academic environment.

According to him, they comprise 159 PhDs, 3,669 Masters, 281 postgraduate diplomas, 11, 281 Bachelors, and 5,142 from affiliate institutions, adding that in the classifications, First Class 112, Second Class Honors (Upper Division) 3093, Second Class (Lower Division) 6325, Third Class 1361, Pass Division 281 while Pass Qualified for Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine Program 109

He further pointed out that the high point of the programme on Saturday will be the investiture of His Highness Mallam Nuhu Bamali, Emir of Zauzau, as the new Chancellor of the University of Jos, adding that the Chancellor will also be conferred with the Doctor of Laws Degree (LL.D.) Honorris Causa in company with two other eminent Nigerians: Professor Elias Bogoro with an Engineering degree as well as the former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, who will receive Doctors of Letters.

On the achievements of the university, the vice chancellor said one of the strategies employed by his administration to improve the university’s academic standards is by being active in attracting donor grants and other funding support.

“In this regard, the University of Jos has secured a 250 million Naira grant from the Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR) Africa Initiative under the auspices of the foundation’s Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme. The scheme is part of ASR Africa’s intervention towards undertaking infrastructure projects in universities and institutions of learning across Nigeria.

“To fulfill this requirement, the university management and other relevant stakeholders considered our different areas of needs and agreed that due to the fact that Unijos is hosting the next edition of NUGA Games in 2024, the grant should be utilized to develop outdoor courts and spectator stands as part of the designed sports complex,” he said.

Ishaya further added that despite the instability recently experienced in the nation’s tertiary educational system, the university has been able to cultivate several collaborations, partnerships, and networks with external bodies, institutions, and agencies that are yielding tangible results.