Igbinedion Varsity Has Produced Over 16, 000 Graduates Since Establishment — VC

Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), said that the university had graduated no fewer than 16, 000 undergraduate and postgraduate students since its establishment.

Ezemonye revealed this on Friday at the 20th convocation ceremony of the institution’s 2021/2022 academic session in Okada, Benin.

According to the university's VC, the convocation ceremony commemorated 23 years of academic excellence, two decades of timely graduations, and two decades of continuous convocations.

As it produced its latest group of 691 graduates, Ezemonye noted that the institution was trailblazing in terms of quality education delivery. Of these, he said, 13 students graduated with a first-class honours degree.

“Today, 557 undergraduate and 134 postgraduate students will be added to the list of distinguished graduands spread across seven colleges.

“The breakdown of undergraduate students shows that 13 graduated with first class, 248 second class upper, 215 second class lower and unclassified (pharmacy) 81.

“For the postgraduate school, 82 students would receive master degrees, 40 will receive PhD while 12 will receive Postgraduate diplomas,” he said.

He added that the chancellor's fee rebates have led to the award of 40 PhDs, 80 MScs and over 200 First Degrees to staff and their dependents.

According to Ezemonye, all programmes run by the university were fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant professional bodies.

Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Chancellor of the institution, said the university was still committed to providing world-class education in a highly conducive global environment.

Dr Lucky Igbinedion, a former governor of Edo State who represented the Chancellor noted the efforts to maintain the institution as the premier private university in Nigeria.

He added that the drive towards academic excellence continued to receive great goodwill and support from many.

The Chancellor appreciated the management for providing strategic leadership for the institution.

Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah expressed the institution's pride in celebrating 20 years of steady graduation in its 23 years of existence.

During his talk, David Smith, Chairman of the British Africa Business Alliance, United Kingdom, urged Nigerians to develop business plans to utilize the 25 billion pounds held in bank accounts by African savers in the UK. He looked for opportunities to invest those funds.

He noted that in the UK, 99 per cent of the businesses are MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises).

“That is where our employment is, that is where our wealth is but in Nigeria, MSMEs account for only three per cent.

"University is not just about graduating students but applying the knowledge to advance society in terms of development,” he added.