The Federal University of Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, is set to confer honorary doctorate degrees on Dr Kole Shettima, Country Director of the MacArthur Foundation, and Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Others listed to receive the prestigious award include the university’s chancellor, Ambassador Dr Lawrence Agbuzu; former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; and Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Umaru Pate, made this known at a pre-convocation press briefing ahead of the institution’s combined 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, July 5, at the main campus in Kashere.
He said the awardees were carefully selected in recognition of their outstanding contributions to leadership, public service, and national development.
Prof. Pate revealed that the Senate and Governing Council of the university unanimously approved the conferment of the honorary degrees.
Highlighting academic achievements, the vice chancellor disclosed that 6,870 students will graduate during the convocation. Of this number, 91 students earned First Class degrees, 1,899 made Second Class Upper, 3,917 obtained Second Class Lower, 960 graduated with Third Class, and three students finished with a Pass degree.
The convocation lecture, titled “Evolution of Medical Science: Past, Present and Future”, will be delivered on Friday by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate.
Prof. Pate also disclosed that a total of 8,266 students have benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with over N1.73 billion disbursed to cover service charges and monthly upkeep allowances.
Describing NELFUND as a game-changer in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, he praised the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative.
“This is one of the best things that has happened to Nigerian students in recent times. It demonstrates a renewed commitment to inclusive and sustainable human capital development,” he said.
