By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
PRINCE Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba is to graduate and present certificates to 26,160 with 178 First Class graduands at the 7th Combined Convocation of the institution.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Marietu Ohunene Tenuche disclosed this at the Pre-Convocation press briefing to kick off series of activities to mark the 7th Combined Convocation Ceremonies of the University billed to cap on Saturday.
Tenuche said a total of 26,160 Graduands would be awarded First Degrees across five academic sessions – 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
She further revealed that 178 of them bagged 1st class; 5,653, 2nd class upper; 15,266, 2nd class lower; 4,891, 3rd class; 172, Pass adding that 1,139 Postgraduate Degree Graduands will be presented with their certificates during the 7th Combined Convocation Ceremonies.
Among the First Class graduands was President of the Students Union Government (SUG), Emmanuel Shaibu who emerged the Overall Best Graduating Student of 2024/2025 session with 4.88 Cumulative Grade Points Aggregate (CGPA) in Economics.
Prof. Tenuche revealed that as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the 25-year-old Ivory Tower, her appointment came at a defining moment with the University grappling with serious security concerns, cult related violence, loss of lives and need for additional infrastructural facilities.
“When I assumed office in April, 2020, initially in an acting capacity and subsequently as the substantive Vice-Chancellor, I did so with a deep sense of responsibility, fully aware of the enormity of the challenges before us”, she explained.
“We identified challenges not as limitations but as opportunities for reform”, she said, adding that her administration anchored its policies on three strategic pillars – Campus security, Responsible work ethics and institutional discipline, and Welfare of staff and students.
She said that the institution, under her leadership, has been able to restore security and decisively addressed academic and social misconduct, examination malpractices, academic fraud, indecent dressing and other forms of unethical practices.
“lam pleased to state as a matter of public record that since 2020, not a single gunshot has been recorded on our campus. Peace, confidence, and stability were fully restored and sustained”, she enthused.
Prof. Tenuche said that the MBBS programme, which was suspended for 12 years, has been revived and has come to stay as all encumbrances have been addressed.
She noted that the University under her watch, had ensured that academic excellence remained non-negotiable saying that she introduced 12 new academic programmes adding that the institution recorded strong accreditation outcomes across all programmes.
She hinted that the Mass Communication programme of the institution has been unbundled in line with global best practices.
On infrastructure, she said her administration had significantly transformed the physical outlook of the University through TETFund interventions, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), FERMA interventions, and State Government support.
On students hostel accommodations, the Vice Chancellor hinted that the Campus currently has 2,938 bed spaces and called on private developers and public spirited Nigerians to partner with the University for construction of more Hostels.
The VC added that the university has maintained uninterrupted academic calendar without strikes or delayed results and made landmark achievements in research with the $205,000 Arise Grant won by Dr Emmanuel Amulabu.
She also cited collaboration with St. Petersburg Mining University, Russia as remarkable achievements adding that the university has also enjoyed peaceful coexistence with the host community.
Prof. Tenuche attributed her achievements in the University to clear vision, institutional discipline, and unwavering political support from the immediate past and incumbent governors of the state.
“The political will demonstrated by both the immediate past Visitor and the current Visitor, His Excellency Alhaji Anmed Usman Ododo, remains the bridge between vision and reality”, she said. (Ends)