240 STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH FIRST CLASS AS FUTA HOLDS 36TH CONVOCATION

The Federal University of Technology, Akure, will on Friday and Saturday graduate 2,747 students during its 36th Convocation Ceremony, with 240 earning First Class honours.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, disclosed this on Friday during a pre-convocation press briefing. She said 1,479 students will graduate with Second Class Upper, 912 with Second Class Lower, while 116 students fall into the Third Class category.

Akindunbi Aduragbemi Isaac from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering emerged as the overall best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.98. He will deliver the valedictory speech.

According to Oladiji, the university will also confer 867 postgraduate degrees—86 Postgraduate Diplomas, 627 Master’s degrees and 154 Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

The convocation lecture, titled “Strategies and Tactics for Solving Skills Challenges in Nigeria: The Roles of Government, Institutions and the Youth,” will be delivered by former Minister of Justice and Labour, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN).

Oladiji said FUTA has improved its global ranking and visibility through increased research collaboration and staff exchange programmes with institutions in the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. She added that the university has continued to receive awards, patents and recognition in innovation, research and sports.

Speaking on partnerships, the VC revealed that FUTA is working with Green Energy International Ltd and LekOil Joint Venture under the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on a five-year hydrocarbon research project in the Niger Delta.

She also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a teaching hospital for the university, a ₦1bn agricultural intervention fund and the implementation of the students’ loan scheme, which she said will boost training in medical sciences and food production while supporting indigent students.

Oladiji commended staff, students, alumni and the governing council for maintaining industrial peace, adding that FUTA is strengthening its position as a research-driven, globally competitive institution.

“FUTA is now a recognised player in the global academic space,” she said. “We are committed to research and innovation that address societal needs.”