UNILAG graduates 77-year retiree, 3,794 others

The University of Lagos, Akoka at its 2017/2018 Convocation ceremonies on Tuesday graduated a total of 3, 795 among them a 77-year-old female retiree from Faculty of Education.

Bridget Okonji was among the 1,008 graduating students of the Faculty of Education in the University awarded a first degree in department of Educational Foundations under the university’s Sandwich programme.

Speaking to Journalists, Okonji said that the achievement was her dream come true adding that she studied guidance and counselling and is grateful to God Almighty who made it possible.

According to her, “I am a retired officer. I have worked in a lot of countries around the world and also in Nigeria, where I finally retired. You know when you retire like that, you will not want to stay at home and be dying slowly,”

She further said that as a retiree, no one should feel too old to go to school as learning remains a life-long adventure, stressing that Education has no limit. It is from cradle to death in order for one to add value to the society.

“Every woman who has an opportunity of having a child must strive to bring that child up properly through education so that he or she does not become a problem to the society in future, she said.

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, vice chancellor, University of Lagos in his address earlier said that a total of 3,795 students from the Faculties of Arts, Education and Environmental Sciences would be conferred with first degree on Tuesday.

Ogundipe said that students from the Faculties of Science and Social Sciences would also be awarded first degree which is on the first day of three-day convocation ceremonies.

“The university will graduate a total of 12,843 students at the ceremonies.7, 438 would be awarded first degree and 5,405, postgraduate degrees.

“This year, the trio of Adeniyi Adeyeye (B.Sc. Insurance), Chinaedum Ogbechi (B.Sc. Business Administration) both of Management Sciences, and Joedicta Ekeh (B.Sc. Pharmacy) have emerged best graduating students with cumulative grade point average of 4.96,’’ he said.

Ogundipe further said that the Faculty of Arts, Education and Environmental Sciences would graduate 603, 1008 and 382 students, respectively, on Tuesday.

He added that the Faculty of Science would graduate 964 while Faculty of Social Sciences would graduate 838.

According to him, “out of the 3,795 students who would graduate on Tuesday, 104 of them finished in the first class category, including four from the Faculty of Arts, 12 from the Faculty of Education and 22 from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences”.

He said that the university’s management had pursued uncompromising academic standards, local and global networks and innovative fundraising mechanism in an effort to make the institution better.

 

KELECHI EWUZIE