Wednesday, 4 June 2014

UNILAG KICKS-OFF 2012/13 CONVOCATION CEREMONIES WITH WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE!!!

The 2012/2013 Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Lagos has kicked off with a World Press Conference on Wednesday, June 4, 2014.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rahamon A. Bello, FAEng addressed the World Press Conference which was held in the Senate Chamber, 2nd Floor, Senate House, Main Campus, Akoka. The event was attended by Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, staff and students of the University. Below is the full text of the Vice-Chancellor’s address at the event:
Introduction: It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the most preferred University - the University of First Choice and the Nation’s Pride, University of Lagos. Today’s media briefing which is principally designed to kick- start our 2012/2013 Convocation Ceremonies gives us the opportunity of a face- to- face interaction, which we expect should assist to give better insight into the activities of the University and particularly the 2012/2013 Convocation Ceremonies.
I am happy to inform you today that the University of Lagos which was established by the 1962 Act of Parliament has lived up to the aspiration of the founding fathers. The University has produced over 100,000 graduates, many of whom are captains of industry and a large compliment of who can be found at the helm of affairs in both the public and private sectors, locally and internationally. I want to assure you that our University will continue to march along the path of excellence and with the help of the Almighty; we are already on course to become the number one and best University in Africa.
2012/2013 Convocation Ceremonies: Gentlemen of the fourth estate of the realm, I am happy to announce through you to the world that the climax of the 2012/2013 Convocation Ceremonies which is the Congregation for the Award of First and Higher Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Prizes will take place in the Multi-Purpose Halls of the University on Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11, 2014. The programme of all events
scheduled for the Ceremonies are:
  • UNILAG ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EDUTAINMENT FIESTA
Date: Thursday, June 5, 2014                 Time: 4.30 p.m.            Venue:  Main Auditorium, UNILAG, Akoka
  • CONVOCATION LECTURE:         Monday, June 9, 2014    
Title:  “Learned Academies and Social Responsibility”
Guest Lecturer: Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo, CON, NNOM, FNAL Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Ibadan
Chairman:     Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje, CON, NNOM, HLR
Venue:  University of Lagos Main Auditorium, Main Campus, Akoka            Time: 2. 00 p.m.
  • CONVOCATION DAY ONE: Tuesday, June 10, 2014                      Time: 10:00 a.m. prompt
Event A: Congregation for the Award of First Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Prizes of the Faculty of Arts; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Environmental Sciences; Faculty of Science; Faculty of Social Sciences and the Distance Learning Institute (DLI). Venue: Multipurpose Hall Complex, UNILAG,  Akoka, Lagos 
Event B: Alumni Reception          Time: 6. 00 p.m.            Venue:  Quadrangle Guest Houses, UNILAG, Akoka
  • CONVOCATION DAY TWO: Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Event A: Commissioning of the following projects:
  1. Central Research Laboratory Building donated by Dr. Daniel K. Olukoya.
  2. The Alumni Jubilee House.
  3. Biodun Shobanjo Mass Communication Multimedia Building.
Time: 9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. Venue:  Usman dan Fodio Boulevard & Oduduwa Drive
Event B:  Congregation for the Award of First and Higher Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Prizes of the College of Medicine, Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dental Sciences, Bus. Administration, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy and School of Postgraduate Studies.
Venue: Multipurpose Hall Complex, UNILAG          Time: 10:00 a.m. prompt.
Statistics of Graduating Students: Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen, a total of nine thousand, seven hundred and twenty nine (9, 729) students who have successfully completed their studies will be awarded various Diplomas, Certificates and Degrees in the College of Medicine, Distance Learning Institute, School of Postgraduate Studies and Faculties of Arts, Business Administration, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dental Sciences, Education, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Law, Pharmacy, Social Sciences and Science.
The breakdown of the statistics of our graduating students is as follows:
  • Faculty of Arts                                        482      
  • Faculty of Business Administration            535      
  • Faculty of Education                                420      
  • Faculty of Engineering                             344
  • Faculty of Environmental Sciences            246      
  • Faculty of Law                                        209      
  • Faculty of Pharmacy                               141      
  • Faculty of Social Sciences                        655      
  • Faculty of Sciences                                 493
  • School of Postgraduate Studies                4,821
  • College of Medicine:  Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences and Dental Sciences        415
  • Distance Learning Institute                      968      
The breakdown of those being admitted to higher degrees is as follows:
  • Masters Degree                          4,380
  • Postgraduate Diploma                 335
  • Master of Philosophy                   1
  • Doctor of Philosophy                   105
An overall total of eighty nine (89) graduating students finished in the First Class Division.  At this juncture, it is important to state that we are determined to continue our tradition of producing quality first class graduates that can compete favourably with their counterparts in any part of the world.
Commissioning of Projects: Gentlemen of the press, we will seize the opportunity of our Convocation to commission important projects crucial to effective teaching and conduct of research in this University. The projects include: the Central Research Laboratory Building donated by Dr. Daniel K. Olukoya, the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry and an alumnus of our University; The Alumni Jubilee House built by the University of Lagos Alumni Association in alliance with GTBank PLC and Biodun Shobanjo Mass Communication Multimedia Building donated by Chief Biodun Shobanjo, Chairman/CEO, Troyka Group.
Developments: The University of Lagos is continuing to witness appropriate growth and developments in all facets, particularly in infrastructure and academic leadership. Our students and staff are winning laurels, locally and internationally, depicting the academic excellence the University portrays. For example:
  1. A team of sixteen (16) students led by Obinna Agba, under the tutelage of Professor Ike Mowete, represented the University and participated successfully at the Shell Eco-Martathon at the Hague, Netherlands, just two weeks ago. The competition was geared towards challenging students from around the world to design, build and raise fuel-efficient vehicles. The University of Lagos car, Autonov II, passed through the technical inspection stage which some teams from Europe failed and was the only car from Sub-Sahara Africa that successfully raced on the track. A year ago, three universities participated as observers from Nigeria, University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University and University of Benin. It is pertinent to note that out of the three, only two fully participated in the recently concluded one and only the University of Lagos vehicle was on track for the race.
  2. Simultaneously, at the Hague, Netherlands, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos who won the 2013-2015 Prince Claus Chair of Development and Equity delivered her Inaugural Lecture to a very receptive respectable audience, during the same period of the Shell eco-Marathon.
Hence, University of Lagos was on display in Netherlands.
The University has also admitted the first set of students for the B.A. Chinese Studies programme, the first of its kind in Nigeria, if not in Africa. The program was commenced to take advantage of the growing influence of China and Chinese companies in our daily life today. There is hardly any state in Nigeria without a Chinese manufacturing or constructing company. Graduates of this program will enable Nigerians partake in Chinese influence and bridge the language and cultural gaps.
Conclusion: Gentlemen of the Press, let me, on behalf of staff and students of this University, thank you sincerely for the robust support which our University has enjoyed from you, in the area of coverage and publicity.
I also want to thank you, once again, for being here today. There is no doubt that this kind of meeting will lead to better cooperation between you, gentlemen of the press and the University of Lagos. Do feel free to move around the campus to see for yourself, the state of affairs. God bless the University of Lagos. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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