Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has awarded scholarships to 44 first-class graduates of the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi.
Alia who made the disclosure at the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th combined convocation of the institution on Saturday (yesterday, December 7) in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said the beneficiaries were each given an automatic scholarship to proceed on a master’s degree programme in their respective fields at BSU.
He charged all the graduates to go into the world and conquer it and make their mark.
Alia further said that he had forwarded an executive bill to the Benue State House of Assembly to rename the institution after its founder, the late Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu.
The Governor pledged to donate 500 sets of computers to the institution so as to equip the computer hall.
“It is the earnest desire of our administration to bring education closer to the people.
“As a result, the university will establish a campus at Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area, and another in the Benue South Senatorial District,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Tor Iorapuu, said the university is constructing a 144-bed space hostel for the students.
Iorapuu stated that the university was expanding, adding that the Faculty of Technology and Industrial Studies would be moved to Adikpo.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor, Dr Najib Adamu, urged the graduates to contribute meaningfully to society and charged them to raise the banner of the institution very high at all times and in all situations.
Adamu, who is the Emir of Kazaure, pledged his support to enable the institution to realise her goals.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr Paul Chukwuma, said that the institution has expanded its academic programmes, stating that it is now offering Architecture and Pharmacy.
Chukwuma said that he is committed to the welfare of staff and students, reiterating that their welfare remained his topmost priority.
He admonished BSU alumni to be united and partner with the institution to move it forward.
37 graduands bag first class at PAU’s 21st convocation
In a similar development, no fewer than 37 graduating students bagged first class honours at the 21st convocation ceremony of the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.
The event held on Friday and Saturday involved 219 students from the university’s undergraduate schools who had successfully fulfilled requisite academic requirements for the 2023/2024 session
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the undergraduate programmes in the university include School of Science and Technology, School of Management and Social Sciences, and the School of Media and Communication.
Mr Oluwatomilola Adeniran of the Department of Information Science and Media Studies emerged the overall best student of the 2023/2024 academic session.
He had a cumulative grade point average of 4.98.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Enase Okonedo, celebrated the perseverance of the students and urged them to embody the university’s values in all their endeavours.
She thanked the parents, guardians and sponsors for their unwavering support, sacrifice and belief in the potential of the young graduates.
“Today is a culmination of four years of dedication and commitment to the academic journey, and I say, congratulations and well done on your achievements.
“As we reflect on the year gone by, I am reminded of our shared vision; an unwavering commitment at Pan-Atlantic University to excellence,” she said.
Okonedo expressed satisfaction that the university had made great strides in fulfilling its five-year strategic plan between 2022 and 2026.
She revealed that the plan was centred on five key pillars; teaching and learning, research and scholarship, infrastructure, people and culture, and community engagement.
According to her, the university is introducing a Masters in Management to promote the growth of business management in Africa.
Okonedo also announced a partnership with Mastercard Foundation on a ‘Scholars Programme’ with the aim of empowering and educating 700 scholars in the next 10 years.
The partnership, she said, would deepen the university’s commitment to inclusive education and enable young people from underserved communities to access the high-quality education offered at the Pan-Atlantic University.
On his part, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Henry Ajumogobia, described the event as a celebration of excellence and hard-earned accomplishments.
He praised the university’s implementation of a robust core curriculum and minimum academic standards, emphasising the initiative’s role in preparing students for the future.
“Courtesy of its 2022-2026 strategic plan, the university has integrated 40 per cent experiential learning and cutting-edge technology into all programmes.
“Each course now incorporates practical skills and innovative thinking, equipping students to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow.”
