First degree graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, will soon start participating in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC scheme, the university’s vice chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, has assured.
Prof. Peters,who informed that the university was currently engaging the management of NYSC to that effect,said graduates deemed to have qualified to serve, would be mobilized.
Speaking at a preconvocation press conference held in Abuja head of the event on Saturday,the vice chancellor said a formal announcement will be formally made to the public.
He disclosed that 22,175 students will graduate at its 13th Convocation ceremony slated for Saturday,this week.
The Vice Chancellor said 22 of the graduating students hàve First Class, about 1,886 having Second Class Upper, 8,427 students are graduating with Second Class Lower while 3,782 others are leaving the school with Third Class.
According to him,15,768 students were graduating from first degree graduates while 6,407 were graduates from post-graduate studies.
“This year, a total number of graduands that we have is 22,175 students across our various campuses.
He said:“Of this number, 15,768 are for undergraduate degrees while 6,407 are for post-graduate degrees.
“The analysis of the undergraduate will be presented fully in my address at the convocation, but just to paraphrase, all the faculties have representation of undergraduates with the faculty of social sciences having the largest number of graduands.
“Out of this undergraduates, we have 22 of them with First Class, about 1,886 Second Class Upper and about 8,427 students with Second Class Lower and about 3,782 with Third Class.
“For the post-graduates, we have post graduate diplomas in various fields like Agriculture, Art, Education, Management Sciences and Social Sciences, totalling 2,362, and 4,039 will be graduating with Master degrees.
“I’m happy to report that we have 6 PhDs graduate which is an indication that the University is gradually moving towards establishing a more robust post-graduate school.”
He added that there will be a convocation lecture on Friday, to be delivered by the Vice Chancellor of Open University of Tanzania, Professor Elifas Bisanda.
Prof. Peters, who also said NOUN has increased its study centers from the initial 17 to 120 centers spread across the country, expressed happiness that the institution has surmounted most of the challenges it faced in the past.
He said the institution would soon commence Law programme after it was suspended based on advice of the Council of Legal Education.
According to him,talks with the Council to that effect had reached advanced stage.
Prof. Peters said the building of the Faculty of Law will begin this year as part of the outcomes from engagement with the Council on Legal Education.
He said two eminent Nigerians, Dr. Innocent Chukuma, a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and founder of Innonson Motors and an activist, Hajiya Hafsat Abdulwaheed ,who is the first female novelist in Northern Nigeria, will be conferred with Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa),during its 13th Convocation ceremony, slated for Saturday, 13th April.
