By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A student of French language, Felicia Marinze, 71, has emerged the oldest PhD graduate from the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Vice Chancellor Oluwatoyi Ogundipe says it proves that, with resolve, age is no barrier to attaining any height.
Ogundipe made the announcement when he spoke about activities for the 51st convocation of the school, per the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Marinze’s thesis is “Evaluation de la Competence Communicative Orale du Francais Des Apprenants Nationale Diploma Des Polytechniques Seledionness du Nigeria’’.
Other big achievers include Moruf Olatunji (department of marine sciences), who won the overall best PhD thesis award, and Ibrahim Adedeji (department of mechanical engineering) who scored 4.98 cumulative grade point average (CGPA).
Also on the honours list is Opeyemi Popoola (department of economics) with 4.90 CGPA.
Ogundipe said: “The three-day convocation will culminate in the graduation of 15,753 students. These comprise 7,754 students who will be awarded first degrees and 7,999 postgraduate degrees.
“We shall also award 160 diplomas in social works and human kinetics.
“The faculty of engineering came tops in the category of first-class with 70, followed by management sciences with 59 among others.”
He also announced that UNILAG will honour its late Vice Chancellor, Ibidapo Obe, with a posthumous award.
“The university will also award a posthumous honorary doctorate degree to Ameyo Stella-Adadevo, a lead consultant physician and endocrinologist at the First Consultant Hospital, at the ceremony.”
Also to be awarded honorary doctorate degrees are Mohammed Indimi, Kessington Adebutu, and Biodun Shobanjo, Chairman of Troyka Holding.
Ogundipe said UNILAG recorded huge success last year particularly in research and infrastructure upgrade, and continues to witness growth in other areas.
The school attracted N14 billion local and international research grants in the past three years, he disclosed.
“This is a pointer to the renaissance of research culture in the university. Our researchers also had six patents in 2019 and five in 2020 out of which two, in each year, have been prototyped.
“Scholars of the university have continued to raise the bar of research excellence.
“Drawn from departments and faculties, some scholars recently had their research proposals approved for generous funding with grants from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
“Our university is reputable for being one of Nigeria’s leading institutions, especially in the area of research and innovation.
“This path, which we have consolidated under the current leadership, has improved our ranking as first in Nigeria and 12th in Africa, just last year.’’
On July 5, the convocation lecture titled “National Development and Knowledge Economy in the Digital Age: Leapfrogging SNEs into the 21st Century” will be delivered by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The lecture will be chaired Tunde Bakare, Pastor of Citadel Global Community Church, Lagos.
