The University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has announced a total of 22 First Class graduates in its combined convocation ceremony covering 2013 to 2016 sessions.
The ceremony is slated to take place on Saturday at the university’s main campus along Nwaniba Road, Uyo.
The Vice chancellor, Professor Enefiok Essien (SAN) at the pre-convocation briefing on Monday at the Council Chambers said nine of First Class graduates were produced from the 2013/ 2014 sessions while the remaining 13 emerged from 2015/2016 sessions.
He however did not give details about their grades and their departments.
However, he said, a total of 8,012 would be awarded certificates, diplomas and degrees of the institution while 3 distinguished Nigerians have been selected for honorary awards.
The Next Edition reports that the combined convocation ceremony is the first to be presided over by Professor Essien since he assumed office on December 1, 2015.
The vice chancellor said although he came in at the time of economic recession in the country, he was able to record most achievements in the last two years.
“I assumed office as vice chancellor at the onset of the national economic recession, which brought with it massive reduction in personal emolument, capital allocation and the full operation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
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“This notwithstanding, we have made modest strides in the last two years.”
He reeled out such feats to include effective internal mechanisms to address issues capable of degenerating into crises among all unions on the campus, stressing that such interventions have brought peace and stability to the institution.
Essien pointed out that his administration in the last two years had been able to update teaching and learning infrastructures which prompted the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other regulatory agencies to give clean bill of health to 18 out of 24 academic programmes.
Staff and students, according to the vice chancellor, had won academic laurels in both local and international competitions.
He promised to elevate the institution from its current rank of 26 among over 100 institutions to enviable height at the end of his tenure.
He, therefore, solicited for more funding to address other key challenges including academic jobs to improve the quality of teaching in line with international best practices.
