174 students bag first class in UNIUYO combined convocation 

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

No fewer than 174 students from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, will be awarded first-class degrees during the institution’s combined convocation ceremony on Saturday.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, revealed this to newsmen during the 29th and 30th convocation press briefings on Tuesday at the university campus in Uyo.

Ndaeyo also disclosed that the total number of graduands for the forthcoming combined convocation would be 12,450 which consists of 1,167 postgraduates, 10, 835 Undergraduates, 411 diploma graduates and 37 certificate degrees.

He explained that the 2020/2021 session produced 56 First Class graduates while the 2021/2022 session produced 118 First Class graduates from the institution.

“This year’s convocation is yet another very significant milestone ceremony in the life of this administration. 

“It is significant in that it is a combined ceremony of the 29th and 30th convocation in the series of this great citadel of learning.

“It may interest you to note that this university is one of the fastest growing and highly preferred second-generation universities in the country.

“The University of Uyo has historical records of academic excellence and service delivery, so this administration is striving to uphold and even improve upon the already established standard,” Ndaeyo said.

The vice chancellor said that the university was running a total of 100 programmes in 117 departments under 19 facilities, adding that 90 per cent of the programmes have received full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Ndaeyo said that the university management considers the welfare of the students paramount as without students there could be no university.

“In view of this, the present University administration is taking proactive steps to enhance the welfare of students.

“Faculties such as lecture halls and hostel accommodation are being expanded to cater for increased number of students on campus.

“The university has entered into a Public-Private Partnership agreement for the building and equipping of more hostels for University students,” he said.

He added that the university management attached a high premium to staff welfare and ensured promotions were as when due.

Ndaeyo also disclosed that honorary degrees of the university would be conferred on three eminent Nigerians during the convocations.

According to him, the eminent Nigerians are; Chief Effiong Afiakurue, Mrs Halima Zakari and Dr Itanwan James.

Ndaeyo added that the Honorary Professor Emeritus Degree of the university would be conferred on Prof. Akpan Ekpo, Professor of Public Finance/Policy and former vice chancellor of the institution.

The vice chancellor listed some of the challenges confronting Uniuyo including; serious security threats, inadequate funding, encroachment on the university land and shortage of manpower as a result of an embargo on employment by the Federal Government.