6,500 Fresh Job Seekers Sets To Join Labour Market

By Joseph Sunday 

A total of 6,500 fresh job seekers are now set to join the labour market as the Federal University of Technology, Akure will be holding its 34th and 35th Convocation Ceremonies for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions, scheduled for Friday, November 29th and Saturday, November 30th, 2024.

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Being expected to preside over the convocation ceremony is the Chancellor, the Emir of Katagum, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Umar Farouk II, where he would have the privilege to convocate a total of 519 graduands with first class Degree Honours.

Briefing Journalists on Friday, 22nd November, 2024 on the details and activities for the Convocation, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, said, “This year’s convocation is a combination of the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions and will have three valedictorians emerging as overall best students. 

She named the trio to be FAROMIKA, Ifeoluwa Faith of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE/17/3175) and VITOWANU, Johnbull Anuoluwapo of the Department of Industrial and Production Engineering (IPE/17/3299) as best Graduating Students for the 2022/2023 Academic Session with a CGP of 4.96 each, while AJAKAYE, Oluwasegun Joshua of the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (MME/18/7019) is best Graduating Student for the 2023/2024 Academic Session with a CGP of 4.95”.

Professor Oladiji said that the week-long ceremony which begins on Friday, 22nd  November, 2024 will climax with the Award of first Degrees, Post graduate diplomas, Masters Degrees and Doctorate Degrees on the 29th and 30th of November 2024. 

Giving a breakdown of the class of degrees, she said 519 finished in the First-Class Division, 3,408 with Second Class Upper, 2,139 with Second Class Lower, and 339 in the Third-Class  Division. 

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According to her, the University will be conferring Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, and Doctoral degrees on 1,280 graduands: PGD, 344, Masters, 756,  and Ph.D. 180.

Oladiji disclosed that the Convocation lecture titled “Technological Innovations: A Panacea for Food Insecurity” will be delivered by the Honourable Minister of Interior, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Honourable (Dr) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on Friday November 29th, 2024. 

The Vice-Chancellor stated that the institution would also bestow honorary doctorates degrees on three Nigerians for their outstanding contributions to the society and FUTA. They are, the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Professor Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, Doctor of Management Science (Honoris Causa), an International IT Expert and alumnus of FUTA, Mr. Joel Ogunsola, Doctor of Information and Communication Technology (Honoris Causa) and foremost University administrator and former Registrar of Obafemi Awolowo University,  Mr Ayorinde Olurinde Ogunruku, Doctor of Management Science (Honoris Causa).

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Professor Oladiji also disclosed that in appreciation of numerous selfless and dedicated contributions to the University and academia, as well as in order to continue to tap from their wealth of knowledge, three professors will  be conferred with Professor Emeriti, namely Professor Adebisi Balogun, Emeritus Professor of Fish Nutrition and Agricultural Biochemistry, Professor (Venerable) Akin Laseinde, Emeritus Professor of Animal Production and Health and Professor Labunmi Lajide, Emeritus Professor of Organic and Medical Chemistry.

Highlighting some of the achievements of the academic session, she said “a team of students of the Federal University Technology, Akure (FUTA) emerged one of the best in a global international space competition organized by the American Astronautical Society based in Virginia, United States of America. The Can Size Satellite, CanSat FUTA team successfully emerged among the top five in the world and the first and only African University to partake in such competition. 

Adding she said, the project was executed at the University Sports Centre on Monday, October 7, 2024. In addition, the position of the Federal University of Technology, Akure as a leading research-intensive institution with global relevance and recognition was confirmed, as a number of its faculty members and alumni earned pride of place in the ranking of the Top 2% scientists in the world”.

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She also said the National Universities Commission (NUC) has given full accreditation status to eighteen programmes it assessed at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA.

The result is hinged on the accreditation exercise conducted by the Commission between October and November 2023. The accreditation is valid for five years commencing from the 2023/2024 academic session in accordance with the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS).

In all the university has fifty-nine (59) programs and none has been denied accreditation.

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The Vice Chancellor said, the University under her watch has continued to make giant strides in teaching, research and community service saying FUTA has retained her position as the country’s Best University of Technology. She said, “I am very optimistic that with a very stable and convivial industrial ambience we shall take FUTA to higher heights”.

The Chairman, Ceremonials Committee, Professor Eunice Adeparusi, said the university has put adequate measures in place to ensure that the ceremony is successful. 

She added, that security and transport personnel would be on ground for effective traffic control, commuter movement and safety of lives and property. She expressed optimism that the convocation ceremony will run without any hitch.

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