Osun State University (UNIOSUN) says 17 academic programmes introduced under the current administration will produce their pioneer graduates at its 16th convocation ceremonies.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Odunayo Adebooye, disclosed this at a pre-convocation news conference on Saturday in Osogbo.
Adebooye said the programmes were introduced as part of efforts to expand the university’s academic offerings and respond to emerging manpower needs.
He listed the programmes to include Cyber Security, Information Systems, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Criminology and Security Studies, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, International Relations and Diplomacy and Psychology.
Others, he said, were Demography and Social Statistics, Cooperative and Rural Development, Public Administration, Library and Information Science, Biotechnology, Business Education, Environmental Education, Adult Education and Social Work.
“Several programmes introduced during my tenure as vice-chancellor would also produce their pioneer graduates at the convocation,” he said.
The vice-chancellor said the development was part of the university’s broader effort to strengthen academic programmes and prepare students for changing demands in the labour market and knowledge economy.
He said the university would graduate 4,357 students at the 16th convocation, comprising 3,845 first-degree holders, nine postgraduate diploma holders, 400 master’s degree holders and 103 doctoral degree holders.
Adebooye also disclosed that the university would graduate its pioneer set of 90 medical doctors from the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.
He said the medical graduates were inducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria on Aug. 12 and would receive their degrees on Sept. 23.
The vice-chancellor said UNIOSUN had also expanded its infrastructure to support its growing academic programmes.
He listed completed projects to include a FIFA-standard sports complex, three-in-one science laboratory complex, Governor Ademola Adeleke Lecture Theatre and a 900-capacity lecture theatre.
Adebooye said construction had also commenced on an ICT Resource Centre, computer and information technology laboratories, academic office complexes and lecture auditoriums across some campuses.
He said the university would continue to strengthen research, innovation, entrepreneurship and partnerships while leveraging technology to respond to the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.