The 4th and 5th combined convocation ceremony of Akwa Ibom State University held on the 8th of November, 2019 at the University main campus.

The event started with an opening prayer followed by the National and School Anthem respectively after which the registrar called the Chancellor of the university to declare open the assembly as enshrined in section 4.1 of the varsity law 2009, which the Chancellor did.
After the declaration, the registrar called on the school Orator, Prof. Oto Abasi Denis to present the Chancellor for the conferment of Honourary Doctorate Degree as approved by the university Senate. The university Orator presented the Chancellor and read through his citation and thereafter was awarded the Doctorate Degree accordingly.

The chancellor of the varsity, His eminence Dr. Nteyim Etuk, JP, in his address, stressed the that the convocation of the varsity is a dream come true; a moment of celebration for the university especially the graduands and their Parents/guardians as well as the Government and the public.

The chancellor also pointed out that the 4th and 5th combined convocation of the varsity is his first participation after his official installation as the Chancellor of the varsity which took place on October 31 2019.

He made it known that the successful journey of the varsity is credited to the consistent commitment of the state government which has brought tremendous benefits to the people, state and the nation as whole by offering more opportunities to the people to be educated and at the same time generate employment opportunities and create landmark development within its operational bases in Mkpat Enin and Oruk Anam LGA where the two campus are located.

He went further to commend the Vice Chancellor stating that his leadership and commitment has made Aksu a great institution and without sycophancy, he described Prof. Eno Ibanga as a diligent administrator whose leadership has ensured the successful accreditation of several undergraduate programmes by NUC and the building of several new structures across the varsity this he said has paved way forthe commencement of Post graduate programmes and collaboration with sister varsities, institutions and bodies towards the success story of AKSU.

He charged all the graduands to be good ambassador of AKSU and fly high as eagles.

Up next was the address by the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council, Engr. Samuel Inyang OON,TMA. He started by appreciating God for the ceremony as well as the visitor to the university and the management team led by Prof. Eno Ibanga, staff and students for their cooperation in ensuring that the mission of the varsity.
He went further to point out that the school despite its tremendous achievement however still trails from the rare in terms of development, pointing out 9 areas which needs urgent action for its development amongst which are:
1.Construction of main Entrance Complex
2. Opening of access road to and within the permanent site
3. Water works and reticulation at the permanent site
4. Extension and boosting of power supply at the permanent site
5. Construction of a varsity auditorium, senate building and faculty building
6. Construction of lecture theaters and library building
7. Construction of sports/ recreation centre
8. Completion of students hostel/ building new ones
Central sewage system, as well as an integrated waste management system, and many more so as to help compete with it contemporaries.

Next was the address of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eno J. Ibanga FNIP.
After acknowledging protocol, He made known to the assembly that graduation ceremony is one of the most significant events in the calendar of any varsity.

He said:

“It is a culmination of years of diligent hard work by the graduands, parents, sponsors and staff of the varsity. For the graduands journey started with the writing of utme through post-utme screening, days, weeks, semesters and sessions of stress and anxiety, sacrifices and the proverbial burning of the midnight oil to reach this point of graduation”.

According to him, the 4th and 5th combined convocation marks the Third convocation under his tenure as vice chancellor of the varsity and that since his assumption of office, the varsity narratives have been changed to actualizing it core values of accountability, transparency, etc, which he said have been the fuel of the system and the results have translated into excellent level of growth to the extent that when compared with his peers, Akwa Ibom State University towers above all and is on the threshold of a world class university. He did justice to point out his areas of achievement to include, inter alia, student enrolment and welfare, staff strengths and their academic development and welfare, academic programmes, accreditation, infrastructural renaissance and community relation.

Akwa Ibom State University has collaboration, linkages and partnership with the following institutions and corporate bodies:

1.University of Innsbruck, Austria
2.University of Bradford, United Kingdom
3.Temple University, United States Of America
4.Harvest –plus and International on Biofortification of crops
5.CEMOUA on cassava production (Outgrowths scheme)
6.Chinese Academy of Science in the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Guangdong, China; he added.
He further informed the university and the assembly that the 4th and 5th combined convocation is for students who completed their academic programmes in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic year.

A total of 920 graduands completed their academic programmes in the 2016/2017 academic year with the break down below;

First Class Honours……15
Second Class Upper division…..222
Second class lower division….520
Third class ……162
Pass….1

For the 2017/2018, a total of 1080 graduands completed their academic programmes thus;
First Class Honours…26
Second Class Upper division ….287
Second Class Lower division ….575
Third class…189
Pass…3 AKSU Convocation 2019

The best graduating student for the 2016/2017 academic year was Mr. Utibe Mfon Okon of the department of Animal Science with a CGPA of 4.88 while the best graduating student for the 2017/2018 academic year was Mr. Victor Effiong Odokwo of the department of Marine Engineering with a CGPA of 4.89. In all a total of 2000 graduands convoked with 41 emerging as first class graduates. He added that the school alumni has already being established, stressing that all convocking students should register as the varsity is looking up to them for the development of their Alma Mater.

Furthermore, he informed the assembly that in consonant with the extant law of the varsity, the honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters was conferred on the chancellor his Eminence, Nteyin Solomon Etuk, JP (Honoris Causa).

Also on the movement to the core region of the university main campus, the vice chancellor said that progress are on ground for it completion.
The Registrar in turn asked the Respective Faculty Deans to present their Convocking students for the Chancellor to admit them fully to the class of scholars and this was carried out simultaneously

Reacting to their convocation, some of the graduands interviewed by the university e-Team, expressed excitement on the successful completion of their academic programmes at the stipulated time and as well convocate without delay.

The Visitor to the University and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel in his remarks appreciated the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for the developmental strides recorded so far in the varsity, he further charged the convocking students to be great ambassadors of the varsity and should therefore let the light of the knowledge they have acquired brighten thier path as they navigate thier way around career paths and service to humanity.

The 4th and 5th combined Convocation came to a close at about 2:45pm with a closing prayer followed by the National and School Anthem respectively and thereafter the Senate procession in reverse order.

SOURCE: https://ebenblog.com/index.php/2019/11/12/aksu-convocation-2019/