FUNAI Turns Out 20 1st Class Graduates at 4th Convocation

lex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, on Tuesday, 17^th December, 2019 had its 4^th Convocation ceremony where it turned out 512 graduates out of which 20 made First Class Honours Degree in various fields. At the event the University also celebrated her first set of graduands from the School of Postgraduate Studies, numbering 18.

AE- FUNAI Graduands marching into the Convocation arena

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba made this known while delivering his Convocation speech, noting ‘’We are celebrating the first set of graduands from our School of Postgraduate Studies, with five (5) persons obtaining the Master of Science (M.Sc.) and thirteen (13) earning the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD). In addition, there are five hundred and twelve (512) graduands from various faculties, of which (20) graduands emerged with First Class Honours, 205 emerged with Second Class Honours (Upper Division), 263 with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) and 24 emerged with Third Class.” This, according to Prof. Nwajiuba, is a good performance and felicitated with them, their parents and guardians.

Meanwhile, the University also at the event conferred a posthumous Honorary Doctorate degree of Science (DS) on the Late Dr. Philip Asuquo Efiong in recognition of his sacrifice in promoting tolerance, harmony and unity in Nigeria.

Nwajiuba further commended the Federal Government for completing a 2.8MW Solar Hybrid Power Plant in the University, stressing that AE-FUNAI was the first public University in Nigeria to enjoy 24 hours power supply.  He also appreciated his Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi for his support and encouragement to the University, especially for donating an Engineering Workshop to the University. He however used the opportunity to remind the State Government of its responsibility of resettling the landowners who are still resident within the campus, as their activities have continued to distort the University’s developmental plans. The VC therefore appealed to the Ebonyi state Government to discharge her responsibility on the matter with the seriousness it deserved.

Speaking at the event, the Visitor of the University, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, noted that the University has been making steady progress since its establishment in February 2011. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to education, adding that the Federal Government has provided support and will continue to make efforts towards infrastructural development and renewal in our Universities. The President who was represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, also explained that the recently commissioned solar power plant in the University by the Rural Electrification Agency was part of his administration’s Energizing Education Programme geared towards improvement of teaching, learning and research through the provision of sustainable, uninterrupted and clean power supply to 37 Federal Universities and 7 University Teaching Hospitals across Nigeria. President Buhari further used the occasion to call on all Nigerians to join hand with his government to make Nigeria a better place.

The Chancellor of the University, HRM Oba Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo on his part appreciated the remarkable pace of development in the University, and appealed to the Federal Government for the completion of some abandoned projects in the institution that were started in 2012 and the rehabilitation of the buildings damaged by rainstorm.

The highlight of the 4^th Convocation ceremony was the presentation of academic prices to deserving graduands.  Miss Obasi Nancy Chiamaka of the Department of Biochemistry was the star of the event as she received the     Vice-Chancellor’s prize for the best overall graduand, the AE-FUNAI Women Association’s prize for the best female graduand and the Faculty of Science best graduand.