The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State, Prof. Florence Obi, says 11 students, who bagged first class degrees, would be honored at the institution’s 35th convocation ceremony slated for Friday and Saturday, May 6.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the convocation in Calabar, the Cross River State capital on Monday, May 1, Obi said the 11 students were among the 7,769 graduates to be awarded their degree certificates at the event.

The Vice-Chancellor said Friday is for the award of first degrees, diplomas, and postgraduate, as well as induction into UNICAL alumni for those found worthy in character and learning.

She disclosed that Saturday is scheduled for the award of doctorate and honorary degrees to deserving students and awardees.

Obi said Thursday has also been scheduled for the investiture of the 6th Chancellor of the institution, the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero.

The UNICAL VC said the convocation lecture would be delivered by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

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“For the 35th convocation of our university, we are happy to announce that 11 students made first class, 899 students made second class upper, 3,396 graduated with second class lower, while 721 got third class.

“Also, we have 519 students for doctorate degree, 1,078 for masters, and 556 for postgraduate diploma and others.

“For our sandwich programme, 162 students made second class upper, while 251 made second class lower,” she said.

The VC also announced that the UNICAL Senate accepted three personalities for the award of honorary doctorate (honoris causa) degrees.

Obi listed them to include former President Goodluck Jonathan; the Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Petroleum, Winifred Akpani; and a businesswoman and an advocate of women and youth empowerment, Tola Johnson.

She described Jonathan as a humble gentleman who places Nigeria above any other personal consideration, referring to him as a unifying factor in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.

The UNICAL Vice-Chancellor commended staff and students of the institution for their support for her administration, adding that the university under her leadership would continue to strive for academic excellence and quality research.

The Star