Convocation: 206 Graduates Bag First Class In FUTA

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

No fewer than 206 graduates of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) have bagged first class degree in different programmes in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic sessions of the institution.

While addressing journalists ahead of the 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremonies at the weekend, the Chairman Ceremonies Committee, Prof. Philip Oguntunde revealed that the institution would be graduating over 6,000 students in diploma, First degree and Postgraduate degree programmes.

Prof. Oguntunde said 1,933 students bagged second class Upper, 1,875 with Second Class Lower, while 725 have Third class, adding that 138 finished their PhDs and would be awarded with Postgraduate degree.

He added that Master Adebodun Tope Samuel of the Department of Applied Geology is the Valedictorian for this convocation with a CGPA of 4.91 while the university would be conferring its honorary degree on Engr. Akinwumi Odumakinde, Dr. Lawrence Olusegun Aina and Oba Olufemi Olutoye, the Alani of Ido-Ani for their contributions to the development of the Society.

Oguntunde noted that FUTA has contributed to the development of the Society in different areas of the economy through critical research breakthroughs and production of graduates who are trailblazers in their endeavours.

His words: “One of FUTA’s major achievements is the recent launch of the Birds-1 Satellite, the first education satellite

“In terms of research , the university has carved a niche for itself. It won and is hosting the World Bank’s Centre of Excellence in Food security.

“Recently, its Teaching and Research Farm (TRF) became a commercial hub with a view this proffering solution to the insecurity posed by hunger,one of its major products is the F1 specie of tomatoes with a size three times the regular Nigerian specie and a storage capacity of about three weeks.”

He disclosed that during the convocation ceremony, projects such as male and female undergraduates hostel among other projects would be commissioned.