The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) will be graduating 8,369 students, in its 11th Convocation ceremony, out of which 121 of 6917 Bachelor Degree students bagged first class degrees.
Out of the entire graduating number, 159 would be Postgraduate students, while 802 would be Master’s Degree students and 491 would be awarded Doctorate degrees. 6,917 students would also be conferred with the Bachelor’s degree.
The 11th Convocation ceremony which would be held on the 25th of November,2023, at the University’s Convocation Pavilion, would be admitting 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 graduands into the Convocation.
In a Pre-convocation Press briefing, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, said the 11th convocation ceremony would be a demonstration of the University’s commitment to it’s culture and calender, adding that the ceremony would witness the awards of first Degrees and prizes and conferment of higher Degrees.
According to the Vice Chancellor the week long activity which commenced with a Pre-convocation Press briefing, would be climaxed with the Convocation ceremony proper and a post-convocation choral musical concert,in honour of the
legendary late Sir Ikoli Harcourt Whyte, having observed an
Inter-Denominational Convocation thanksgiving service, a football match at the University Mini Stadium, a Juma’at prayer session for muslim faithful at the MOUAU central mosque and the 11″ Convocation Lecture with the title “Mainstreaming Apprenticeship Modelled Learning in
Triple-Helix Fashion into Nigerian Universities-Reflections,Thoughts and Experiences”, by the 11th Convocation Lecturer, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State and a Professor of Chemical Pathology & Environmental Health,a renowned Scientist and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.
11th Convocation Lecturer presenting his lecture
As presented during the University’s Founders’ Day/30h Anniversary address, Prof Iwe disclosed that within
the 30 years of existence, MOUAU has cumulatively made a giant stride in academics, human
capital development, infrastructure, community service and administration.
Academically, he noted that the University is making steady progress,as the graduates are part of the manpower that have been
contributing immensely towards the socio-economic and political development of the nation,
Nigeria.
“In line with the vision of our founding fathers, many of our products have become established farmers, employers of labour and major contributors towards ensuring food security in Nigeria.
“On the other hand, many of our staff have carried out cutting edge researches, won national and international grants, price awards for community service and obtained fellowships from institutions, professional associations and organizations.
“The major problems, however, as I had noted in my previous interactions with the Press are inadequate physical facilities, poor funding, non-release of take-off grant from government,
high demand on provision of amenities and public utilities especially electricity and water, bad
roads. Others are access to and control of the land acquired for the University by the Federal
Government and constant disruptions in the academic calendars due to national industrial actions”.
He pointed out boldly that all Nigerian
Universities owned by government are yet to recover from the impact of both COVID-19/2020 pandemic and the eight months long industrial action by the staff unions.
The varsity Don further maintained that the school has, however, tried
as a University to navigate through these challenges by combining two academic sessions in the
last session to make sure that they meet up and graduate more students. “This was so demanding, especially in the area of funding but we thank the Almighty God that we were able to end the session successfully”.
While appreciating the school’s Management, Senate and lecturers for their
commitments, doggedness and for going extra miles to ensure that this was accomplished, despite the brick walls faced,the Vice Chancellor announced the vision of the University, stating that the school would continue to make
remarkable headway in various key areas, especially in making MOUAU
an entrepreneurial University in line with the dream of ensuring that it attains a level of
enterprise that would enhance its resources.
He said the bread, biscuit and water factories of the school are growing exponentially,as all the Colleges are also thriving,with the College of Animal
Science and Animal Production (CASAP) and the College of Crop and Soil Sciences (CCSS), vigorously driving a level of animal and crop production that is consistent with the University’s vision.
“Within the next two months, our feed mills will be functioning,as we will have
enough feed for our animals and excess to sell for profit”.
Additionally, the MOUAU Vice Chancellor disclosed that the school is working hard on getting feed internally for fishes reared in their farm, so as to boost fish production to generate more revenue.
Equally, Prof Iwe stated that the University is enhancing their laboratories with state-of-the-art equipments and would continue
to do so for sciences and engineering.
Ministers of God at the Inter Denominational Service
On the area of Information and Communication Technology (1CT), the Vice Chancellor also intimated that the school is increasing its bandwidth and will achieve full coverage by the end of 2024.
“We have embarked on the biometrics capturing of all our students to enhance security, strengthen examinations,
and facilitate the speedy preparation of transcripts. Before the end of the session, all our
students will be captured electronically.
“In addition, before the end of this month, our Bursary
Department will be fully computerized to enhance its operations. We are also engaging in
important linkages with like-minds across the globe, to ensure that we continue to grow and
make impact as a specialized University”,he stated.
The Vice Chancellor, however, thanked the press for their unrelenting effort in telling the world their stories and urged them to continue the good work.
Note that the school in its 11th Convocation ceremony would award First class to 121 students, second class honours upper division to
1,941 students, second class honours lower division to 3,063 students and 1,121 students would get third class, while only 6 students would be awarded a pass among the Bachelor’s Degree students.
