A total of 20 students of the Trinity University in Yaba, Lagos would be graduating in the first class division at the institution’s combined convocation scheduled for Friday.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Clement Kolawole, stated this at the maiden pre convocation news conference on Wednesday, in Lagos.
The news conference was part of activities lined up for the three-day event.
According to him, in all, a total of 72 students will be graduating across two faculties and eight disciplines.
He noted that convocation would be for the graduating students in the 2021/22 and the 2022/23 academic sessions.
Kolawole noted that two of the 20 first class students were among the total nine graduating in the 2021/22 set.
Giving a further breakdown of the graduating students, the acting vice chancellor noted that 18 others in the first class division, were among the 64 in the 2022/23 academic session.
“The two sets of the graduates become the first set of the alumni of Trinity University.
“The graduation ceremonies will witness the award of first degrees and the presentation of prizes to deserving graduates who have been found worthy in learning and in character.
“These are worthy ambassadors of Trinity University. They are the beginning of our vision and the evidence of our grace.
“They are a demonstration that it is possible and that the possibilities are endless. In them, we are producing world class citizens who are able to impact the world in knowledge, skill and character.
“They are going into the world guided by the sound value system that Trinity University had ingrained in them, including godliness, academic excellence, professionalism, responsibility, integrity, leadership and discipline.
“We are releasing them to the world as the true stars that they are. It is the reason the theme of this event has been christened; Convoking a Galaxy of Trinity Stars,” he stated.
According to him, the graduating students are also going to become the first set of the school’s alumni.
He said that the alumni body of the institution would be inaugurated as part of the highlights of the ceremonies on Friday.
He noted that in the five years of existence of the university, it had matriculated five sets of students, which now form the two sets graduating at the ceremony.
Prof. Kolawole noted that the university was a growing institution with its greens, evident across intellectual, technical, administrative, physical and infrastructural spheres.
“We are a dynamic and evolving institution, both in terms of the growing number and the quality of resources.
“Our impact as a teaching and learning community in these past five years has been felt both within our immediate environment, as well as outside of it.
“This was made possible through the publications and the works of our scholars (academia and students), who have also been strengthened by administrative and technical support from our non-teaching staff.
“As a university, we have resolved to be solution providers to our environment and shall be collaborating with other universities in our axis to build an intellectual hub necessary to initiate and power changes that would move the nation forward.
“We call on all stakeholders to come with us on this journey, as it is a collective responsibility.
“It is possible if we all address our minds to it and I believe that collectively we can do it,” he stated.
Speaking further, the don noted that although the institution was only five years old, its roots were deeper and much firmer than its age.
According to him, the university is a part of the Trinity Group, comprising the Trinity Foundation Schools (Trifos), Trinity International College (Tricol) and Trinity University (TU).
He said that the Trinity brand had been around for almost 30 years, making impact locally and internationally.
The acting vice chancellor noted that the institution had, however, had its own fair share of challenges, given the country’s operating environment.
He noted that the operating environment for university education in the country was challenging, especially with the state of public utilities, high costs of living and the paucity of fund for education.
“Raising fund by private institutions is also quite challenging and the cost of fund is not always friendly.
“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate the call to add private universities to the beneficiaries of TETFUND.
“This is the way to go for the advancement of education in Nigeria. The promoters and the managers of the private universities are Nigerians and we are paying our taxes.
“The parents of our students are paying their taxes. Private universities should, therefore, not be excluded from a commonwealth such as the TETFUND,” he stated.
Prof. Kolawole noted that it was time for the government to review, update and upgrade the Nigerian educational architecture.
He further noted that it was time to begin to challenge the status quo, to ignite new thinking and freshness into the nation’s educational landscape.
According to him, the development of the nation is anchored on the well-being of the Nigerian universities.
He noted that the relationship and collaborations between government, industries, universities and other stakeholders must be deliberately cultivated and articulated in a framework and made actionable in the interest of the nation.
He lauded members of the press for partnering with the institution in its steady growth and relentless walk toward impacting a generation tailored to bring about the much needed national transformation.
“We value your role as one of our major enablers, bringing us to the public and bringing the public to us.
“This is why it is important that we unveil the programme of the convocation through the eyes of the press.
“We appreciate the principle, that if it must be known by the public, it must first be known by the press, because you are the gatekeepers.
“On Thursday, Feb. 22, we shall be having the Convocation lecture. The paper is titled: Disruptive Technology; The Ambiguous Friend?
“It shall be delivered by Prof. Adenike Osofisan, Africa’s first woman Professor of Computer Science.
“ The occasion will be chaired by Deacon Adebowale Tade, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Trinity University, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and West Africa.
“On Friday, February 23, the convocation programme shall commence. One of the major highlights shall be the investiture of our Chancellor, in the person of Prince Samuel Adedoyin, doyen of industry and a philanthropist of renown.
“He is the founder and chairman, Doyin Group of Companies, with footprints across various sectors of the Nigerian economy, including manufacturing, property, engineering, and services.
“We will also be having the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on two eminent personalities who have contributed in no small measures in their spaces and in advancing the frontiers of humanity in the course of life.
“The two awardees are, Mrs Florence Fatima Ajimobi, the immediate past First Lady of Oyo State and Dr. John Tani Obaro,” he said.
