The Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) has conferred degrees on 32,884 graduates during its 8th combined convocation.
At the combined ceremony held on Saturday for the 2022/2023, 2023/2024, and 2024/2025 academic sessions, the Visitor to the University and Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, charged the graduands to uphold the integrity of their alma mater by focusing on societal impact.
“You must go and build communities, the nation, and humanity as a whole”.
“As graduates of this university, you are expected to give back in equal measure and even much more in return to the society,” he said.
Governor Sule emphasised his administration’s unwavering commitment to funding education, asserting that quality learning is the primary engine for socio-economic development.
He also lauded the leadership style of the Governing Council Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman, which, he noted has positioned NSUK as a world-class institution.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman presented a detailed breakdown of the graduating students with notable percentage of postgraduate achievers.
The VC noted that among the undergraduate class, 82 students earned First-Class Honours, with a split 50:50 percentage between male and female students.
“In the first degree category of regular students, 82 students are graduating with First class Honours across all faculties with a ratio of 50:50 between males and females.
“The award of Honorary degrees, Honoris Causa are to three personalities namely: Dr Samia Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Alhaji Abdul Samad-Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group and Dr Mahmoud Ahmadu, President of the Nigerian-Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce, Dubai, UAE,” she said.
She appealed to the State Government to consider employing the First Class graduates who are indigenes in the services of the university to incentivise excellence and expand the academic staff manpower base needed to develop the state.
“The university on it’s part is awarding a cash prize of N50,000 to each of the 82 graduands and another N50,000 to the best three graduands in each of the academic sessions totalling four million, two hundred and fifty thousand naira only,” she said.
In an interview, Dr Tope Oyeleke, a PhD graduate, encouraged women to pursue their academic dreams regardless of their marital statuses.
”I am using this opportunity to encourage my fellow women, don’t wait for anybody. If you are a married woman, discuss with your spouse and strive to get some of the resources. I am also telling single ladies to go for it,” she said.
