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From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, Benue State, has produced 44 first class graduates out of 17,925 students graduating with Bachelors’ degrees and diplomas.
At the pre-convocation press briefing of the 22nd, 23rd and 24th combined ceremonies, yesterday, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, stated that at the combined convocation tomorrow, the university will confer 15,101 Bachelor’s degrees, 72 postgraduate diplomas, 2,196 Master’s degrees and 556 Ph.Ds while Honorary Doctorate Degrees will be conferred on distinguished Nigerians, two of whom are posthumus.
They include Professor Toyin Falola (Doctor of Letters, D.Litt), Honoris Causa, Sylvanus Ghasarah (Doctor of Science, D.SC) Honoris Causa, Chief Paul Edeh (Doctor of Law), Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam (Doctor of Laws, D. LL), Wanteregh Paul Iyorpuu Unongo (posthumous: Doctor of Letters, D.Litt), Lt. Colonel Joseph Akaahan (former Chief of Army Staff – May 1967 to May 1968 (Doctor of Law, D.LL, Posthumous).
Iorapuu disclosed that the event would be the last combined convocation the university will be having, especially during the administration of the current Visitor to the University, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia as the governor has directed that going forward, the tradition of convocation as a yearly event must return.
He said the convocation would provide them an opportunity not only to celebrate their achievements or graduate their students that have pushed themselves through tough learning conditions, but an opportunity to thank those that have supported and helped them as they grow as an institution.
The VC thanked the state government for helping to stabilise the university through regular and timely payment of salaries.
He also appreciated diverse groups and individuals as well as the National Universities Commission (NUC) for being critical stakeholders saying the Commission has not failed in its obligations to monitor and ensure quality, conduct necessary resource verification, accredit and approve programmes for the university.
“With the support of NUC, BSU has added new programmes and created four new faculties. The quality of direction and support BSU has enjoyed cannot be taken for granted.” The VC also thanked the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for being a major collaborator and stakeholder in the sustenance of higher education in Nigeria praising the government agency for facilitating the construction of more than half of the structures on our university.
“In the last 18 months, TETFund has expended over N4 billion, (4, 240,299,427.13) only on infrastructure, procurement and maintenance of existing TETFund facilities while a total of 306, 203, 349.15 only was expended on staff training, conference attendance, funding of research and publications in the last 18 months.”
He noted that the school will be Commissioning the Food Lab and the Centre for Food Technology and Innovation Centre (CEFTIC) while the Convocation Lecture will hold Friday 6th December 2024, with the Lecture to be delivered by one of Nigeria’s most prolific and finest scholars of history, Professor Toyin Falola.
Falola is the Chair of Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker in the Humanities, at the University of Texas at Austin, USA and has proposed to speak about “Power, Politics and Policies.”
