The management of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), has conferred degrees on no fewer than 32,884 graduands across three academic sessions.
The graduands were drawn from the 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 sessions and were honored during the institution’s 8th combined convocation ceremony held on Saturday in Keffi.
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State congratulated the graduands on their academic achievements and urged them to uphold the values of honor and integrity of their alma mater.
He charged them to contribute meaningfully to nation-building and humanity.
“You must build your communities, the nation and humanity as a whole. As graduands of this university, you are expected to give back in equal measure, and even more, to society,” he said.
Sule reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the education sector, noting that investment in education remains critical to socio-economic development.
“No amount of investment and sacrifice can be too much to provide quality education, considering its importance to societal development.
“Our administration will continue to build on the enviable legacies of our predecessors and sustain the strides recorded so far,” he said.
The governor also commended successive administrations in the state for nurturing the university to an enviable height, enabling it to compete with other institutions globally.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that students learn in safe and supportive environments.
Sule further praised the Governing Council, led by Prof. Attahiru Jega, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman, for providing purposeful leadership at the institution.
Earlier, Liman said the 32,884 graduands comprised 1,677 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) recipients, 8,169 Master’s degree holders, 2,809 Postgraduate Diploma awardees, 20,229 first-degree graduands, as well as three honorary degree recipients.
She added that 82 students graduated with First Class Honors across all faculties, with an equal number of males and females.
The Vice-Chancellor said honorary degrees (Honoris Causa) were conferred on President Samia Hassan of Tanzania, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, and Dr Mahmoud Ahmadu, President of the Nigerian-Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce, Dubai.
She appealed to the state government to consider employing indigenes who graduated with First Class Honors into the university system to promote excellence and strengthen academic manpower.
Liman also disclosed that the university awarded N50,000 each to the 82 First Class graduands, as well as an additional N50,000 to the overall best graduand in each of the three academic sessions, amounting to N4.25 million.
In an interview, Dr Tope Oyeleke, a PhD graduate, expressed joy over her achievement, describing the journey as challenging but rewarding.
She encouraged women to pursue their academic goals with determination.
“Whatever you want to achieve, commit it to God and pursue it with determination. Do not wait for anyone.
“If you are married, discuss with your spouse and make efforts to secure the needed support. For single ladies, do not delay your aspirations,” she advised.
