Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, is set to graduate 324 students at its eighth convocation ceremony scheduled for October 27, with 69 graduands earning first-class degrees across its regular and distance learning programmes.
Of the total number of graduands, 281 are from the regular academic programmes, while 43 are from the Centre for Distance Learning and Executive Programmes (CEDLEP). Fifty-three students from the regular programmes earned first-class degrees, alongside 16 from the distance learning and executive programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Oyedunni Sola Arulogun, disclosed the figures on Monday during a press conference held ahead of the institution’s convocation ceremony.
Arulogun said 142 graduands from the regular programmes obtained second-class upper degrees, representing 50.5 per cent, while 78 earned second-class lower degrees, accounting for 27.8 per cent. Eight students, representing 2.8 per cent, graduated with third-class degrees.
The 53 first-class graduands from the regular programmes represent 18.9 per cent of the 281 students graduating from the category.
For CEDLEP, 16 of the 43 graduands obtained first-class degrees, representing 37.2 per cent, while 19 earned second-class upper degrees, accounting for 44.2 per cent. The remaining eight graduands obtained second-class lower degrees, representing 18.6 per cent.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university’s educational philosophy was centred on equipping students with the knowledge, skills and values required to address emerging societal challenges, stressing that academic qualifications should translate into meaningful contributions to society.
“Our commitment is not expansion merely for numbers. Growth must be matched by quality, relevance and sustainability,” she said.
Arulogun explained that the theme of the eighth convocation, “Next-Gen Minds. Next-Level Impact,” reflected the need to prepare graduates for a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence, digital technology, entrepreneurship, climate change, public health challenges and economic uncertainty.
She said universities should look beyond the number of graduates they produce and pay greater attention to how their knowledge could be applied to solve real-world problems.
“The more important question is, ‘What can our graduates do with what they know?’ At Chrisland University, we believe that knowledge must ultimately translate into impact,” she said.
The Vice-Chancellor announced that the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, would deliver the convocation lecture titled “Beyond the Degree: Next-Generation Leadership, Innovation and Impact in a Changing World.”
According to her, the lecture would address the importance of competence, character, creativity and problem-solving abilities beyond the possession of academic certificates.
“A certificate can open a door, but what keeps that door open is competence, character, creativity and the capacity to deliver value,” Arulogun said.
She added that the university would recognise outstanding graduands through prizes and awards for academic excellence, leadership, innovation and service.
Arulogun attributed the graduands’ achievements to years of hard work and sacrifice by the students, their parents and guardians, as well as the commitment of the university’s academic and non-academic staff.
She also outlined eight priority areas guiding the institution’s development, including academic expansion, health and allied health education, research, entrepreneurship, digital and artificial intelligence education, infrastructure, character development and international visibility.
On research, the Vice-Chancellor said the university was encouraging academics to undertake studies capable of addressing practical challenges and influencing public policy, industry and community development.
She added that the institution was promoting entrepreneurship and innovation to prepare students not only to seek employment but also to create business opportunities and generate jobs.
Arulogun noted that universities could no longer afford to treat artificial intelligence as a distant development, given its growing influence on professions such as healthcare, finance, communication, law and business.
She, however, stressed that technological advancement must not come at the expense of human values, adding that the university remained committed to producing graduates who combine intellectual competence with moral rectitude.
