AE-FUNAI TURNS OUT 916 GRADUATES AT 6TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY
22 BAG FIRST CLASS
Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, yesterday held its 6th convocation ceremony, where it turned out 916 graduates from 10 faculties, with 22 of them bagging first class degrees in different disciplines.

This was made known by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Sunday Oge Elom while delivering his convocation address at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Convocation arena.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom (2nd L) handing a dummy cheque of N500, 000 to the overall best graduand of the 6th convocation ceremony, Miss Cynthia Chioma Onuigbo (1st R) of the Department of Geology, who bagged a First Class with a CPGA of 4.86


“At today’s event, we are turning out 916 graduands. In the previous 4 convocation ceremonies we admitted 124, 247, 355 and 512 graduands respectively into the first degrees of this University. This year’s number shows that we are making steady rise.



“The 916 graduands are being awarded Bachelor’s degrees in 10 Faculties. The breakdown is as follows: Faculty of Agriculture – 4, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences – 94, Faculty of Biological Sciences – 131, Faculty of Education – 61, Faculty of Engineering and Technology – 59, Faculty of Environmental Sciences – 13, Faculty of Humanities – 131, Faculty of Management Sciences – 99, Faculty of Physical Sciences – 95 and Faculty of Social Sciences – 226.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom addressing the convocation


“Out of these 916 graduands, 22 graduated with First Class, 306 with Second Class Upper, 505 with Second Class Lower, 82 with Third Class and 1 with pass. This is a good result. But the most important thing is that the University can vouch for the integrity of these results. These have also been underscored by external examiners reports and the impressive performance of many of our alumni in different works of life.”



Continuing, the Vice-Chancellor stated that the graduates have been groomed in the University’s core values of excellence, integrity and entrepreneurship, adding that in spite of the hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, they were still mobilized for the National Youth Service Corp programme and noted that the institution is the only public university in Nigeria to do so in 2019/2020 academic session.

He further charged the graduands to be focused, resilient and committed to their life goals in order to succeed in their chosen fields or any other area of life they may delve into in future.

While addressing the convocation, the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council of the University, Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs said the Council has initiated a 10-year developmental plan in order to ensure even and all-round development of the University.


Pro-chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs delivering his speech at the event
“In order to ensure an even and all- round development of the university, council felt the need to formulate a 10-year development plan for the institution in sync with that contained in the laws establishing the university. The plan which is to be known as “AE-FUNAI Decennial Development Plan 2031” sets in motion workable strategies for the structured development of the university. It also reviews the achievements the university made in the last 10 years (2011 – 2021) and further specified what it should achieve in the next decade. I am pleased to announce that the committee set up for the purpose has concluded its assignment and got the document ready for launching in the near future.



“With it, the university has a development roadmap that will be easily monitored and evaluated. It is council’s belief that with this document that contains measurable timelines and indicators, strategic stakeholders both in public and private sectors can buy into and support the university to achieve its dream of becoming a world-class university. I, therefore, use this opportunity to call on relevant agencies of government, corporate organizations, and philanthropic individuals to support this noble dream by using the university as one of the beneficiaries of their corporate social responsibility (CRS).”



He also commended the commitment of the University Senate in maintaining high academic standard, ensuring that the institution becomes a reputable center of learning and research, and making our graduates employable and competitive in the global economy. He added that the unwavering commitment of the Senate to the academic calendar has also ensured the yearly graduation of students and their mobilization for the National Youth Service Corp programme as well as the yearly holding of convocation ceremony since 2016.


Chancellor, Oba (Dr) Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo, CFR, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland speaking at the convocation ceremony
The Chancellor of the University, Oba (Dr) Michael Aremu Adedotun Gandebo, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland in his speech congratulated the graduands, for their commitment to the ideals and culture of the university, which made the Senate to find them worthy in character and in learning to be admitted into the degrees of this University, adding that the ceremony was a true reflection of the hard work, commitment and persistence of the Nigerian youths and the vision of a University as factory of knowledge.



He further urged the Governing Council, Senate, Management, Staff and students of the University to keep the flag of excellence and integrity flying at all times in order to build and sustain a University that would be globally recognized for the quality of its research output and alumni.

The Visitor to the University, President Muhammadu Buhari in his address noted that the quality and quantity of functional knowledge and sellable skills at the disposal of a nation’s citizens is directly proportional to their degree of socio-economic and political development, especially in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century.

He therefore urged academics to remain focused on the cardinal objectives of a university – teaching, research and community service, adding that the academia needs to commit and recommit themselves to the ethos of their profession, as it is only through such commitment that their ideas, knowledge and innovations can be translated into production.

The President also used the opportunity to assure of his government’s commitment to one and invisible nation, noting that his government is working assiduously to ensure that the country remains one.


Rep. of Visitor to the University and a Visiting Scholar to the National Universities Commission, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba delivering the visitor’s address


“We are better off as one big indivisible nation despite our diversities. In fact, our real strength as a nation lies in our differences, when pooled together. Nigeria is the only country we have irrespective of our ethnic, religious and cultural differences. My government will continue to do the needful to ensure that the country remains one and safe for all. We are also winning the war on terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminal activities. Our government will continue to ensure that citizens remain safe and their livelihood, secure in every part of the country.”


Overall best graduand, Miss Cynthia Chioma Onuigbo presenting her valedictory address at the event
Highlight of the ceremony was award of prizes to deserving graduands, where Miss Cynthia Chioma Onuigbo of the Department of Geology received 7 academic awards including the Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for the overall best graduand