No fewer than 113 persons have obtained First Class Degrees out of 12,282 graduants in the 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 graduating years from the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUS).
Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, the Vice Chancellor of the institution disclosed this at a pre-convocation press conference on Tuesday in Sokoto.
Zuru said the graduants included 135 persons who obtained Ph.D, 770 Master Degrees, 96 Postgraduate Diploma, 10,994 First Degrees and 287 Diplomas.
The Vice Chancellor explained that 109 students would also receive various prizes based on their excellent performances.
He said 2,375 graduants obtained Second Class Upper Degrees, 6,603 Second Class Lower, 1,556 Third Class while 347 were on unclassified degree categories.
The VC said a total of 4,548 undergraduates passed out in 2015/2016, 4,166 in 2016/2017 and 2,280 in 2017/2018 graduating years.
Zuru added that three eminent Nigerians were confered with Honorary Doctorate Degrees; Business Mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Iliyasu Bashar and Sheikh Mujtaba Isa-Talatan Mafara.
He said Dangote would receive Doctorates on Science (D.Sc), Bashar Law (D. LLD) and Isa-Talatan Marafa Letters (D.Litts) Honoris Causa.
According to him, two distinguished retirees who have dedicated their entire working career to the service of UDUS and the nation at large will be conferred with Emeriti status.
He said the beneficiaries are Dr Zayyanu Abdullahi, the Emir of Yauri in Kebbi state as Chancellor Emeritus and Prof. Tijjani Bande, the Permanent Representative to the United Nation as the Professor Emeritus.
The VC said activities were lined up from April 9 to April 13 including Convocation lecture tagged “Ensuring Global Relevance: Creating a new Generation of Super Nigerians.”
He lauded the efforts of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) UDUTHS branch for introducing a pre-convocation medical outreach where they offered free medical services to the university community.
He further commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III, media stations, security agencies for their supports to the University. (NAN)
