7,577 students, on Tuesday, graduated with first degrees from the University of Ibadan (UI) at its 2016/2017 Convocation and 70th Foundation Day anniversary at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Ibadan.
A breakdown of the figure indicates that 201 finished with First Class; 1, 735 made Second Class (Upper Division); 4,363, Second Class (Lower Division); 834, Third Class; 69, Pass; while 372 had Unclassified degrees.
Of the First Class graduates, faculties of Science and Technology tied with 37 each; Law, 21; Art, 19; Agriculture, 8; Education, 7; Social Sciences, 1; School of Medicine, 4; Distance Learning Centre, 34; while affiliated Institutions accounted for 33.
Vice Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka, who disclosed this in his Convocation Address, said the 7, 577 graduates completed their first degrees and diplomas at the various faculties of the university, including the Distance Learning Centre and Affiliated Institutions.
“A total of 7, 577 candidates are graduating with their first degrees from various faculties.
“It is therefore, with pleasure that I report that these graduates, who are being awarded the various diplomas, certificates and degrees of this university, have kept to the oath to which they subscribed at matriculation.
“My special appeal to you is to be good ambassadors of this university wherever you find yourselves. God will continue to be with you in all your future endeavours,” Olayinka charged.
One of the graduates, Clinton Uzochukwu, who finished as the Best Graduating Student for both the Faculty of Arts and the Department of Classics, told Daily Trust that hard work and absolute trust in God made him achieve the feat.
Uzochukwu, who carted away over nine Faculty and Departmental awards explained that mapping out priorities enabled him to sustain his grades and consolidate despite various challenges that confronted him in school.
Established in 1948 as the University College Ibadan, the premier university in Nigeria attained its 70th year anniversary in November, 2018.