Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has officially launched its 12th Convocation Ceremony with an opening press conference held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at the Muhammadu Buhari Main Library. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, announced that the university will be awarding degrees to 6,374 undergraduate and 517 postgraduate students from the 2023/2024 academic session.
In a testament to academic excellence, 71 students earned first-class honours, marking a significant milestone in the university’s pursuit of producing top-tier graduates.
Convocation Week Highlights
The weeklong ceremony features a series of events designed to celebrate academic achievements and foster camaraderie:
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Press Conference and Exhibition Opening.
Friendly football match between academic and non-teaching staff.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Convocation Lecture: Delivered by Emeritus Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, OON, FAS, President-elect of the Nigerian Academy of Science, on “The Optimum Utilisation of Nigeria’s Energy Resources for Sustainable Growth and Development.”
Convocation Play: The Department of Performing Arts will stage Mojagbe by Ahmed Yerima at the Ultra-modern Performing Arts Building.
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Award of Degrees Ceremony: Held at the Ultra-modern Performing Arts Building.
Convocation Luncheon: Includes the presentation of awards for the “Best Researcher” and “Best Non-Teaching Staff.”
KWASU has expanded its academic offerings with two new faculties, Allied Health Sciences and Environmental Sciences, increasing its total faculties to 11. Ten new academic programs, including B.Sc. Geography and Remote Sensing and B.Sc. Anatomy, have been approved following successful resource verification by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The Osi Campus for Environmental Sciences has begun operations, while the Ilesha-Baruba Campus for Agriculture is set to open after the Harmattan Semester. Other notable achievements include the upgrade of the KWASU Teaching Hospital to support the MBBS program and increased admission quotas for the Medical Laboratory Science program.
Several infrastructure projects have been completed, including the state-of-the-art Performing Arts complex, additional faculty buildings, and a 104-bed hostel, with plans for a 25,000-bed student smart city underway. The university also continues to engage local communities through entrepreneurial initiatives and development programs.
Despite these achievements, KWASU faces challenges such as road infrastructure, land encroachment, and limited on-campus hostel facilities. The Vice-Chancellor appealed to the Kwara State Government to assist with upgrading the Shao-Malete Road and resolving land disputes.
Professor Jimoh commended the unwavering support of the Kwara State Government and the university community, emphasizing KWASU’s commitment to producing graduates equipped to address societal challenges.
“This convocation is a celebration of resilience, academic excellence, and our collective vision to expand the frontiers of knowledge and innovation,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.