Michael Okpara Varsity holds 12th Convocation Ceremony, Imo Governor Uzodimma to deliver lecture

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUOA says the Institution has continued to make remarkable headway in various key areas which makes it an entrepreneurial University in line with the dream of ensuring that the citadel of learning attains a level of enterprise that would enhance its resources.

Speaking during a Pre-Convocation Press Briefing, the Vice-Chancellor of MOUOA Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe outlined the successes and achievement recorded so far since he took over the reins of leadership in the institution like consistent food production including the MOUOA bread, biscuit, animal and crop production, well equipped laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment, increasing the University’s bandwidth in ICT as well biometrics capturing of all students to enhance security and strengthen examinations.

Professor Iwe said the convocation ceremony which will see the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, on Friday 29th November deliver the 12th convocation lecture of the institution will see the Governor speak on the topic, ‘Agriculture and national development in a diversified economy: A vision of renewed hope through town and gown’ at the Anyim Pius Anyim Hall at the University adding that the chairman of the event is the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin.

The VC further stated that on Saturday, November 30 which is the D-Day, Graduands and Guests will be seated at 10.00am while Academic Procession will start at 11.00am. This will be followed by award of Certificates, First Degrees and Prizes as well as conferment of Higher Degrees adding that the venue is the University’s Convocation Pavilion.

He said the 12th convocation ceremony will see 4743 graduating student awarded with Bachelor’s Degree, 49 Post Graduate Diploma, 252 Master’s Degree and 164 awarded with Doctorate Degree as he called on distinguished Nigerians from all walks of life, including representatives in government, captains of industries, Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Institutions, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders to attend the convocation ceremony.

See full statement below:

MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, UMUDIKE

A PRE-CONVOCATION PRESS BRIEFING spy THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, UMUDIKE, PROFESSOR MADUEBIBISI OFO IWE, CFS, FNIFST, FIAFoST, HOLDING ON THURSDAY 287 NOVEMBER, 2024 AT THE VICE-CHANCELLOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM AHEAD OF THE 12th CONVOCATION CEREMONY

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world. Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God (Ps 90:1-2)

PROTOCOL

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Pre-Convocation Press Conference for the 12 Convocation Ceremony of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and the third Convocation ceremony since my assumption of office as the Vice-Chancellor of this University three years and eight months ago. I am glad to have you all attend this briefing again this year.

We are going to witness the awards of First Degrees and prizes and conferment of higher Degrees in this 12 Convocation ceremony. The 12″ Convocation Ceremony is a demonstration of our commitment to University culture and calendar. In this 12th Convocation Ceremony, we are admitting our 2019/2020 to 2023/2024 graduands into the Convocation.

As our friends and partners, we hold the Press in high esteem, that is why we always commence our Convocation activities with a Press Conference. Other activities slated to mark this Convocation Ceremony, to which we also invite the Gentlemen of the Press are:

1. Inter-Denominational Convocation Thanksgiving Service. It will start at 12.30pm today at the Senator Anyim Pius Anyim Auditorium. We enjoin you to thank God with us for the many miracles He has performed for us in this University within the year. Later on today, at 4pm, we shall have a Novelty Football match in the University Mini Stadium.
2. On Friday, November 29th, 2024, that is tomorrow, our Muslim colleagues will at12.00pm the hold their Juma‘at Prayer at the MOUAU Central Mosque. Time for this is 12pm.

At 1.30pm we shall converge all be at the Senator Anyim Pius Anyim Auditorium for the 12 Convocation Lecture. The title of the Lecture is FROM IVORY TOWER TO INNOVATION HUBS: THE RENEWED HOPE AGENDA FOR ECONOMIC TRANSFORMTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The 12″ Convocation Lecturer is a His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the Executive Governor of Imo State, and shall be chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, CFR, CON.

On Saturday, November 30%, 2024, which is the D-Day, Graduands and Guests will be seated at 10.00am while Academic Procession will start at 11.00am. This will be followed by award of Certificates, First Degrees and Prizes as well as conferment of Higher Degrees. The venue is the University’s Convocation Pavilion.

We have invited distinguished Nigerians from all walks of life, including our representatives in government, captains of industries, Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Institutions, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders to this Ceremony. We are optimistic they would honour our invitation.

STATISTICS OF GRADUATING STUDENTS The statistics of our graduating students at the 12 Convocation ceremony is as follows: DISTRIBUTION OF DEGREES

Bachelor’s Degree 4,743

Postgraduate Diploma 49

Master’s Degree 252

Doctorate Degree 164

Breakdown of Class of Degree FIRST CLASS=163 , SECOND CLASS UPPER =1710, SECOND CLASS LOWER = 2114, THIRD CLASS =734, PASS= 9, Unclassified, 423

It is my pleasure to re-emphasise that MOUAU has cumulatively made giant strides in academics, human capital development, infrastructure, community service and administration in the last three decades. The University is making steady progress in the academic arena. Our graduates are part of the manpower that have been contributing

immensely towards the socio-economic and political development of the nation, Nigeria and the world at large. In line with the vision of our founding fathers, many of our products have become established farmers, employers of labour and major contributors towards ensuring food security in Nigeria. On the other hand, many of our staff have carried out cutting edge researches, won national and international grants, price awards for community service and obtained fellowships from institutions, professional associations and organization.

We are still confronted with the problems of inadequate physical facilities, poor funding, non-release of take-off grant from government, high demand on provision of amenities and public utilities especially electricity, water and of course bad roads. We still experience constant disruptions in academic calendars due to national industrial actions and students’ agitations.

Nigerian Federal universities are yet to recover from the AD 2022 eight months’ long industrial action by staff unions. Even though the Federal Government has tried to address the issue of withheld salaries, there are still the issues of despondency and jukewarmness in the attitude of staff following the salary injury associated with that experience.

We have continued to make remarkable headway in various key areas in spite of the intriguing situation. For instance, we are succeeding in making MOUAU an entrepreneurial University in jine with our dream of ensuring that it attains a level of enterprise that would enhance its resources. Our bread and biscuit factory, our water production and our Guest House outfit are steadily growing and giving name to our university. All our Colleges are also thriving. Our College of Animal Science and Animal Production (CASAP) and the College of Crop and Soil Sciences (CCSS), for instance, are

4 Vigorously driving a level of animal and crop production that is consistent with our vision. We are equipping our laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment and we will continue to do so for agriculture, sciences, engineering and technology.

In the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), we are increasing the University’s bandwidth and almost achieving full coverage by the end of the year. We have embarked on the biometrics capturing of all our students to enhance security, strengthen examinations, facilitate the speedy preparation of transcripts and enhance ease of doing business. We have captured all our students electronically. Our Bursary Department is being fully computerized to enhance its operations. We have continued to also engage in important linkages with like-minds across the globe, to ensure that we continue to grow and make impact as a specialized University. At the present, we are having relationship with more than sixty two universities across the world.

Gentlemen of the Press, I want to thank you ail for your unceasing effort in telling the world our stories and pray that you continue the good work, as you reflect our university in good light

Finally, I enjoin all of you to participate fully in all the activities lined up for this 12 Convocation ceremony of our dear University.

Thank you and God bless you ail.

Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, CFS, FNIFST, FIA, FoST Vice-Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike