Buhari’s change mantra is our freedom -UNILAG VC

Outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Professor Rahamon Bello, has called on Nigerians to embrace President Buhari’s change mantra to free the nation from its ” current burden”.

The VC made the call at the on-going three-day 2015/2016 convocation ceremony of the institution on Wednesday.

According to him, President Buhari’s fight against insecurity and corruption is part of what Nigeria needs to get out of “the burden it currently carries as a result of long periods of not paying full attention to our infrastructure needs while developing high tastes for foreign goods”, he said.

Bello also commended Buhari for his efforts of changing the mindsets of Nigerians on corruption and corruption related issues, urging him to maintain the fight.

Altogether, the convocation ceremony will graduate a total of 12,617 students, comprising a total of 6,900, representing 54.7 percent obtaining first degrees and 5,717 representing 45.3 percent with postgraduate degrees.

Out of the graduating students, a total of 132 finished with Distinction for first class honours, 843 with Second Class Upper, 1,313 with second class lower division, 573 in third class, 34 with Pass degrees, and 426 passed with degrees not usually classified in Medical disciplines and Pharmacy.

Out of the 132 first class graduates, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and Chevron’s Joint Venture, Agbami scholarship, produced 32.

It is noteworthy that out of the two best graduating students for the session, a female System Engineering student, Miss Omotuyi Oyindamola Ajoke, is one of the beneficiaries of the NNPC/Chevron’s Agbami scholarship. Oyindamola graduated with a 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average, CGPA.

Speaking on her achievement, Oyindamola said it took the wisdom of God to make her goal.

“Achieving the feat was wisdom from God. I also had good friends with whom I read. Another thing is that I was interested in my course rather than making just good grades. I am grateful for the Agbami scholarship and I thank the JV for providing me with such great platform,”she said.

Another graduating student, Victor Chineke, a Chemical Engineering student with a 4.72 CGPA, said the scholarship helped him a lot.

“I was in my 200 level when I got the scholarship. My parents had no money to fund my education so I applied for the scholarship, wrote the exams, passed and I worked hard to maintain my grades,”he said.

Manager, Policy/Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Lagos, Sam Otunonye, said the Agbami scholarship is part of the company’s educational policies.

“I am very happy because we did not waste money. Our investment was worth it. The selected students went through rigorous exams because the scholarship is competitive. Overall, we have 320 first class students graduating all over Nigerian Universities but just 32 from UNILAG. Since the inception of the scholarship in 2009, we have spent 7 billion naira on the students,” he said.

Meanwhile, Professor Jerry Gana has announced his retirement from the university council.

He made the revelation during the convocation ceremony.

According to him, the 2015/2016 set will be his last session in the institution.

He was part of the school’s Senate Council.

He would be retiring alongside other members of the school’s Senate.

“I have been privileged to work with the best Vice Chancellor and I also thank members of the school’s Senate for their support in bringing out the best set of students in Nigeria today.

As I will be bowing out alongside other members of Senate, and even the VC, this will be my last convocation with the school, I thank everyone for their support,” he said.