—A total of 4,447 students will be graduating on Saturday from Abia State University, Uturu, ABSU, at its 25th convocation ceremony, with 15 of them graduating with first class in various disciplines.

Briefing journalists, Tuesday, in Uturu, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Uche Ikonne, announced that for the first time in its history, the university would issue those that have cleared themselves with the university, their certificates on the convocation ground.

According to Ikonne, 102 students would also graduate during the convocation as well as 297 receiving Masters degree certificates, adding that 72 of them are students that studied Medicine and Surgery.

Ikonne also disclosed that the university would use the occasion to install a Professor of Plastic Surgery, Prof. Frank Akpuaka, as the university’s pioneer emeritus professor.

The convocation, activities, the vice chancellor further said would feature a lecture by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah on the topic, “Nigeria and the dynamics of global education” , as well as conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees on three prominent Nigerians.

The recipients are Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, an industrialist, Elder Emmanuel Adaelu and a diplomat, Dr. Uchenna Emeloye.

Ikonne said that a lot has changed for good in the university since he assumed office two years ago, such outright ban on handout to students and online registration of courses and remitting of students’ results.

He also said that the university has attained full accreditation for all professional programmes including Medicine, Law and Nursing Sciences, among others, saying that his administration has introduced Engineering courses, Surveying, Public Health and Geo-Informatics.

Meanwhile, lecturers of the university were yet to join the strike by ASUU. According one of the lecturers,they would take a decision after the convocation.