The Federal University Dutse (FUD) recently conducted its 8th and 9th Convocation Ceremony, marking a significant milestone for its graduating students.
The ceremony was attended by esteemed dignitaries, including the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, who represented the President of Nigeria, HE Bola Ahmad Tinubu.
A total of 209 students were awarded First Class honors, highlighting the university’s commitment to academic excellence.
The Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university, Prof. Abdulkarim Muhammad Sabo, expressed his gratitude to the Jigawa State Government for their support, stating that they have been the university’s “top friend.”
He appreciated their donation of hundreds of hectares of land for construction purposes. The VC also reflected on his achievements during his tenure, as he prepares to leave office in the coming months.
Two students stood out during the convocation ceremony, winning the overall best student award for their respective academic sessions. Oladele Yusuf Olatunji from the Mathematics department won the award for the 2022/2023 session with a Cumulative Grade Average (CGA) of 4.92.
Yekini Hameed Ishola from the Faculty of Management Science won the award for the 2023/2024 session with a CGA of 4.95.
Yekini expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am deeply honored and humbled to be recognized as the Best Graduating Student. This moment is not just a personal achievement, it is a reflection of the sacrifices of parents, the dedication of teachers, the support of peers and the grace of God.”
The Governor’s Award was presented to the best graduating students of Economics and Accounting for the two academic sessions, with each recipient receiving a token of 250,000 naira.
Hadiza Aminu, a graduate of Biology for the 2022/2023 session, expressed her elation at finally achieving her dream of becoming a Biology graduate.
She thanked her parents, relatives, teachers, and friends for their support, saying, “Thanks to parents, relatives, teachers, and friends for their enormous support and dedication.”
The convocation ceremony, which saw a total of 4227 graduands, was preceded by a Convocation Lecture delivered by the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Jibrilla Dahiru Amin.
The lecture, titled “Harnessing Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Role of Higher Education Institutions,” was chaired by Prof. Fatima Batul Mukhtar, a former VC of the university. The ceremony marked a significant milestone for the graduating students, who are in now poised to make their mark in their respective fields.