The University of Ilorin, Ilorin, and seven other universities in Kwara state have formed ‘ The KU8 Initiative’ to collaboratively facilitate the delivery of learning opportunities, Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, has said.
Professor Egbewole, who disclosed this during the press conference he presided over at the Main Auditorium of the university on Wednesday, added that ‘The KU8 Initiative’ is designed to serve as a platform to promote functional academic linkages and institutional collaboration for the attainment of effective delivery of the core mandate of teaching, research and community service among the member universities.
While noting that the University of Ilorin played an important role in the formation of the ‘KU8’ in January 2023, Egbewole added that this was done in a bid to be more responsible and responsive to the challenges, yearnings and aspirations of residents of the towns where the institutions in question are located.
The press conference which was attended by journalists including Team@orientactualmags.com was held as part of the activities and programmes for the institution’s 37th and 38th convocation ceremonies.
Members of ‘The KU8 Initiative’ are according to him the University of Ilorin , Al-Hikmah University , Ilorin, Kwara state University, Malete , Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Summit University Offa , Crown-Hill University, Ilorin , Ahman Pategi University, Patigi ; and Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese.
He also talked about his Vision 1:10:500 and SMART agenda noting that they are all about University of Ilorin attaining global reckoning as a 21st Century university and the best in Africa through well- planned and coordinated strategies.
‘We have taken steps to reinvent the university culture in Senate, we have reintroduced the Vice- Chancellor’s In-House Committee to provide robust engagement to decision making, while also redirecting our inaugural lecture series to meet its goals to mention but a few’ he said.
The Vice-Chancellor, who announced the full schedule for the 37th and 38th convocation ceremonies., also asserted that ‘our graduates have been equipped with the knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world’ while urging them to imbibe the values and ideals of the University of Ilorin as they embark on their future endeavours.
He also disclosed that a total of 25,234 students would be graduating from the university while noting that 450 among them would be graduating with first class honours.
‘We have 14,477 graduands for the 37th Convocation Ceremonies in the 2020/2021 Academic Session. We shall also be graduating 10,757 students for the 38th Convocation Ceremonies who are for the 2021/2022 Academic Session.
In the First Degree/Diploma category of the 37th Convocation Ceremonies, we have 211 First Class, 4,143 Second Class (Upper Division), 6,570 Second Class (Lower Division), 1,742 Third Class and 30 Pass.
The 37th Convocation Ceremonies also include 151 MBBS graduands, 73 Nursing graduands, 18 Optometry graduands, 43 Veterinary Medicine graduands, and 12 graduands with Distinction and 27 graduands with Pass in Pharmacy.
In summary, the University will be graduating 13,020 for First Degrees/Diplomas Furthermore, the total number of Higher Degrees to be awarded at the 37th Convocation Ceremonies is 1,457. Out of this figure, there are 75 Postgraduate Diplomas, 976 Masters from various Faculties, 88 MBA/MPA/MILR/MGIS/MPH/MHPMs, and 318 PhDs Students Graduating from the University of Ilorin in the 2021/2022 Academic Session.
In the First Degree/Diploma category of the 38th Convocation Ceremonies, we have 239 First Class, 3,406 Second Class (Upper Division), 4,691 Second Class (Lower Division), 961 Third Class and 21 Pass. The 38th Convocation Ceremonies also include 160 MBBS graduands, 87 Nursing graduands, 15 Optometry graduands, 35 Veterinary Medicine graduands, and 26 graduands with Distinction and 43 graduands with Pass in Pharmacy. Thus, we have 9,684 graduands in the First Degrees/Diplomas category. Furthermore, the total number of Higher Degrees to be awarded at the 38th Convocation Ceremonies is 1,073. Out of this figure, there are 60 Postgraduate Diplomas, 605 Masters from various Faculties, 211 MBA/MPA/MILR/MGIS/MPH/MHPMs, and 197 PhDs’ he said.
The upcoming convocation ceremonies would not be limited to award of degrees as the university has taken sixteen different projects to completion which would be inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu.
‘Projects ready for inauguration during this year’s convocation ceremonies are Faculty of Basic Clinical Science building, Advancement centre building, Department of anatomy building, Extension of student affairs office, Extension of university clinic, Department of chemical engineering building, Faculty of engineering 400-seater capacity studio, Faculty of engineering 500-seater capacity lecture theatre i , Faculty of engineering 500-seater capacity lecture theatre ii, Construction of four(4) bedroom apartment for (cobes) & perimeter block wall fence, Asphalt overlay on existing road from university gate to senate building (phases i & ii ) ,Asphalt overlay on the existing road from university main campus to University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH (phase v), Asphalt overlay on the road at UNILORIN GRA Staff Quarters, Construction of road from NOC to Faculty of Art and Law, Construction of road to the university primary school’ the Vice-Chancellor said.
Egbewole also listed ongoing projects initiated on his watch to include construction and furnishing of 4 -bedroom bungalow at Aran-Orin, Completion and furnishing of Abuja Liaison Office, Construction and furnishing of building for Department Home Economics and Food Science Construction and furnishing of English Drama Studio, Construction and furnishing of Faculty of Social Sciences Building, Construction and furnishing of Professorial suites for the Faculty of Law, Construction and furnishing of Moot court for the Faculty of Law, and Construction and furnishing of Library for the Faculty of Law.
He also said the university has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Intramodal System Consortium on the provision of tramline on Public Private Partnership basis in demonstration of his commitment to ensuring that the transportation challenges facing staff and students at the institution get addressed.
Egbewole noted that settling for MoA instead of MoU ‘is our conviction that the project is doable and our unwavering dedication to making the vision a reality’.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the university has re-activated the Institute for Legislative Studies and established the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts, Centre for Cyber Security and Sustainable Development and the Centre for Management and Leadership to advance the frontiers of knowledge in ‘our culture, values, sustainable development, democratic governance and leadership’.
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has also according to him taken delivery of the equipment needed for setting up a standard molecular epidemiology laboratory while adding that the equipment in question was donated by the International Foundation of Science, Sweden at the instance of the grant awarded to Dr. Nusirat Elelu, a Reader at the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine-Team@orientactualmags.com
Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
