Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will receive an honorary doctorate degree at the 48th convocation ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, disclosed this during a pre-convocation press briefing held on campus on Thursday.
The Vice-Chancellor also announced that the Group Chairman of Mutual Benefits Plc, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, and the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria Communications, Karl Toriola, will also be honoured.
Bamire further revealed that, during the three-day convocation ceremonies, 7,368 students will graduate, and two other distinguished individuals — academic and entrepreneur Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, and oil and gas industry leader Daere Afonya-Akobo — will also receive honorary doctorate degrees.
Explaining the basis for Senator Tinubu’s award, Bamire highlighted her longstanding support for the university, noting her contributions towards improving the welfare of OAU students and the university community.
“Specifically, we will confer honorary awards on five exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions to humanity by uplifting the less privileged and advancing societal progress through their talents, financial resources, and material support,” Bamire said.
The Honorary Award Recipients for this year are:
“Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, OON First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is an astute politician and advocate for the underprivileged, particularly women and children.
“Dr. Akinade Akanmu Ogunbiyi Group Chairman of Mutual Benefit PIc, leads a conglomerate of nine companies employing over 5,000 people.
“Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe: A distinguished entrepreneur, academic, and engineer, Prof. Adegbulugbe has demonstrated extraordinary generosity through the Springland Kids and Youth Foundation (SKY Foundation) and the Anthony and Afolake Adegbulugbe Foundation.
“Prince Karl Olutokun Toriola: A seasoned business leader and telecommunications expert, Prince Toriola serves as the CEO of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
“Daere Afonya-Akobo: A prominent figure in the oil and gas sector, Daere Afonya-Akobo is highly committed to education and philanthropy. His contributions include Donating ICT units to Rivers State University in 2021,” the VC said.
Giving details of the grades obtained by the graduating students drawn from the 13 faculties in the university, Bamire said 215 students made First Class Honours, Second Class Upper Division, 2,197, Second Class Lower Division, 2,691, Third Class Honours Upper Credit, 61, Lower Credit, 33, Pass, 62, making a total of 6,015 students for Classified Degrees.
For Unclassified Degrees, Bamire said, Distinction, 13 students, Pass with Distinction, 59 students, Pass with Credit,154 and Pass, 169, making a total of 395 for Unclassified Degrees.
For Postgraduate Degrees, the VC said 74 students would bag Postgraduate Diplomas, while 708 and 176 students would bag Master’s Degrees and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), respectively.
