From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State is to honour Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule and other prominent personalities with fellowship awards for excelling in their various fields of endeavours.
The Rector of the institution, Dr Abdullahi Ahmed, who disclosed this at a press briefing held at the institution in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state said the awards will be given to the recipients at the 10th combined convocation slated for Saturday, June 18, 2022.
According to him, other personalities to be awarded include; Alhaji Ibrahim Jibrin, Emir of Nasarawa, Alhaji Halilu Usman, Osu Ajiri and Traditional Ruler of Afo kingdom in Nasarawa.
He said that a posthumous award will also be confered on the former Traditional Ruler of Nasarawa, Late Alhaji Jibrin Mairiga.
“A combined total of 18, 835 graduands of the 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic sessions would be awarded with Higher National Diplomas (HND) and National Diplomas (ND) with 7,104 graduands awarded with HND and 11, 731 graduands receiving ND.
“Out of the combined total to be awarded with HNDs, 239 graduands graduated with distinctions while out of the 11731 combined total to be awarded NDs, a total of 293 also graduated with distinctions,” Ahmed maintained.
He further revealed that the 2017/2018 academic session recorded 3,086 graduates with the HND level having 1900 while the ND had 1186 graduates.
The rector explained that for the 2018/2019 academic session 4857 graduated with 1870 graduating in the HND level while 2987 graduates for ND level while in the 2019/2020 academic session, the institution graduated 1801 in the HND level and 2630 graduated in the ND level for a total of 4431 graduates.
Ahmed added that as for 2020/2021 session which recorded a total of 6461 graduates, HND level had 1533 while ND level had 4928 graduates.
He, commended the federal government and critical stakeholders for their support to the institution and appreciated his management team for tirelessly working to ensure the institution is currently among the top ranking polytechnics in Nigeria.
“This is factual because of the availability of astute and intellectual human resources, as well as the quality of our graduates and other research breakthroughs recorded by the polytechnic over the years, mostly in the fields of agriculture, technical and vocational education.
“Our focus since establishment has been towards achieving the polytechnic’s objective and also tailored towards our mission of moulding students to become disciplined, skilled and innovative for self-actualisation and national development,” he said.
The Voice reports that the combined convocation ceremony which is scheduled for Saturday by 10am will feature a pre-convocation lecture scheduled for Friday, June 17 with the theme “Equipping Nigerian Youths in Skills Acquisition for the 4th Industrial Revolution” among others.