Federal varsity Lafia holds first Convocation, six graduate with first class

 Prof. Ekanem Braide, the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Lafia said six students out of 119 that graduated from the institution had First Class Degree. Braide made this known at the maiden convocation of the school which held at its auditorium in Lafia on Saturday.

The vice chancellor said that 26 out of the 119 pioneer students were from the Faculty of Arts, 28 from the Faculty of Sciences and 65 from Faculty of Social Sciences. According to him, 66 of the students are indigenes of the state. She gave the names of those that had first-class as Mercy Udaga-Udaga (B.A English), Bashayi Eya-Sani (B.Sc Microbiology), and Abdullaziz Glabe-Zakari (B.Sc Mathematics). Others are Ibrahim Abdullahi-Saleh (B.Sc Mathematics), Sheyi Clement-Adediwura (B.Sc Physics), and Willams Nyijma-Yaji (B.Sc Economics). Braide said that 33 students graduated with Second-Class Upper Division, 60 with Second-Class Lower Division, while 20 graduated with Third Class Degrees. She said that 35 of the students are females, 84 males, with one visually impaired. She urged the graduates to always be good ambassadors of the university by demonstrating the courage to move on no matter the challenges they might face in the future. The vice chancellor commended the state government, host community, members of staff of the institution as well as parents and teachers for their support toward the success of the convocation. Meanwhile, Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State offered automatic scholarship and employment to the four persons that had first-class, including the visually impaired graduate. Al-Makura asked them to report to his office on Monday to collect their appointment letters. The governor also urged the management of the university to establish the Faculty of Medical Sciences with a promise to convert the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia to the Federal University Lafia Teaching Hospital. Visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari commended management of the school for moulding the character of the students. Represented at the occasion by Hindatu Abdullahi, the Director, Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education assured that the Federal Government would continue to give priority attention to staff welfare. According to the president, it will also improve facilities in all universities in the country. He added that the government would invest more in research in order to adequately address the challenges facing the country. Buhari, however, urged the management of the institution to be prudent in handling the resources of the university as the Federal Government’s war against corruption would not spare tertiary institutions. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the occasion was the installation of His Royal Highness, Joshua Igbugburu as the Chancellor and presentation of awards to best graduating students from each department. (NAN)