Tinubu’s Minister, Others To Grace FUTA’s 33rd Convocation Ceremony

Speaking at a press conference to herald the activities of the 33rd Convocation Ceremony of the foremost Technologically driven Federal University in the Country on Friday, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, said the Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy in the Country, Dr Bosun Tijani will be on ground to deliver the Institution’s Convocation Lecture titled; “Foundation and Research: The Foundation Of Prosperous Economy which will take place on Thursday, the 16th of November, 2023 at the Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium by 3pm. 

Highlighting other activities for the Institution’s 33rd Convocation Ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji added , that, “on Sunday, 12th November, 2023, there would be an interdenominational service to take place at St. Albert Catholic Chaplaincy, Obanla by 8am.

“On Monday, 13th November, 2023, an event tagged ‘Excellence and Productivity Award Ceremony’ will hold at the Babatunde Afen Adebayo Multipurpose Hall by 3pm.

“By Tuesday, 14th November, 2023, there would be an Exhibition at the Institution’s Exhibition Ground Adjacent the Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium by 9am; by 10am, a Career Talk event will hold at T.I. Francis Auditorium; also, by 2pm in the afternoon of the same day, a Novelty Football Match will hold at the University Sports Complex. Before then, a Convocation Meeting will be held at the T.I. Francis Auditorium by 11am.

“On Wednesday, 15th of November, 2023, the Alumni Association of the Institution will have two events, firstly, the Alumni Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium by 2pm and secondly, there would be an Alumni Dinner by 5pm at the Babatunde Afen Adebayo Multipurpose Hall.

Similarly, on Thursday, November 16th, 2023, “there would be a Students Variety Show at the University’s Sports Complex by 4pm.

“Also, on Friday, 17th November, 2023, there would be commissioning of projects at the project sites on the campus by 8am and by 10am, there would be an Award of Certificates, Diplomas and First Degrees at Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium.

“On the final day, the grand finale on Saturday, 18th of November, 2023, more projects will be commissioned by 8am at the project sites. By 10am, the Award of Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters Degrees and Doctorate Degrees will hold at the Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium and after, the Convocation Luncheon will be hosted by the Vice Chancellor at the Lodge”.

Interacting with journalists at the press conference, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji recalled how the Institution was established in 1981 as one of the first sets of the six specialized universities put in place by Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s administration at the time. 

Professor Oladiji stated that the Institution which commenced operations in 1982 with three foundation schools has today grown so big, now having ten (10) schools namely School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, 

School of Basic Clinical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Computing, School of Earth and Mineral Sciences, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology as well as School of Environmental Technology.

Others are School of Life Sciences, School of Logistics and Innovation Technology and School of Physical Sciences.

She commended the Institution’s founding fathers who have been able to put in place other programmes like the College of Health Sciences and the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS), coordinating the postgraduate programmes of all the departments in the Institution.

She also used the opportunity to announce the commencement of the School of Professional Development, offering courses in many fields of Management.

She described the recent emergence of the Federal University of Technology, Akure among the top three universities in the Country as a well deserved success among the overall 1,904 total number of universities in the Country. 

Professor Oladiji added that, the University, through the Centre for Research and Development (CERAD), has attracted and managed over One Billion Naira (N1,000,000,000) national and international research grants between the year 2021 to year 2023, involving scholars and postgraduate students. 

According to her, she added, that a total of 3,476 graduands, across nine schools, have been found worthy in character and in learning, and would be admitted into the degrees of the Federal University of Technology, Akure on Friday, the 17th of November, 2023. 

“Out of the total number of 3,476 students to be graduated on Saturday; 18th of November, 2023; a total of 195 students graduated with First Class honours; 1,510 students with Second Class (Upper) Division; 1,515 students with Second Class (Lower) Division; 254 students with Third Class Division and 2 had Pass degree.

She acknowledged the excellent performance of Miss Oluwanifemi Favour OLAJUYIGBE of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering as the Best Graduating Student for the 2020/2021 Academic Session with a CGPA of 4.93.

She added, that the University will confer the awards of Postgraduate Diploma, Masters and Doctoral degrees on a total of 1,806 graduands and gave the breakdown as follows: Postgraduate Diploma – 490, Postgraduate Diploma in Management – 61, Master of Business Administration – 86, Masters – 940 and Phd – 229.