By Esther Onyegbula

Mountain Top University is set to graduate no fewer than 378 students at its 6th Convocation, scheduled for December 19 at the school’s Multipurpose Hall.

Giving a breakdown of the graduating students at a media briefing held on Monday to herald the ceremony, MTU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Elijah Ayolabi, noted that a total of 50 students bagged first-class degrees. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences produced 19 first-class graduates, while the College of Basic and Applied Sciences produced 31. Additionally, 144 students graduated with second-class upper degrees, 127 with second-class lower degrees, and 24 with third-class degrees. A total of 345 students will receive Bachelor’s degrees, 17 will receive Postgraduate Diplomas, 14 will receive Master’s degrees, and 2 will be awarded Doctorate degrees.

Explaining further, Prof. Ayolabi revealed that this year’s overall Best Graduating Student is Ms. Oni Toluwani Itunu-Oluwa of the Department of Food Science and Technology, who achieved a graduating grade point average of 4.98. At this convocation, two students will be awarded Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the College of Humanities, Management, and Social Sciences—one in Accounting and one in Mass Communication.

“It is worth noting that our Food Science and Technology students secured first place in the 10th Regional Food Science and Technology Summit 2024 quiz. Moreover, Miss Ajayi Iteoluwa, a student of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, was named the 2024 Under-25 CEO Entrepreneur of the Year. In the past year, we have witnessed tremendous progress,” Prof. Ayolabi stated.

Meanwhile, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, will deliver this year’s convocation lecture. There will also be the conferment of an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters upon Prince Alex Mbata in recognition of his contributions to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, Mountain Top University, and the private sector in Nigeria and Africa in general. Another highlight of this year’s convocation is the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award.

The university will also honor Professor Olajide Ayinla and Honorable Justice Oluwatoyin Atinuke Odusanya with the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of their exemplary service and dedication to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, Mountain Top University, and public service.

Activities to mark the ceremony include an entrepreneurship exhibition, where students will showcase innovative projects and business ideas. Various vocational programs, including musical performances by student musicians, will also be on display. Additionally, there will be an open-day festival and an art exhibition.

MTU achieved recognition as the top-ranked institution in Nigeria and gained global recognition for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4—Quality Education, as assessed by the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking. The university also excelled in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), achieving high rankings in Nigeria. These accolades underscore MTU’s commitment to setting new benchmarks in educational excellence.

Additionally, the National Universities Commission approved five new academic programs at MTU: Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Public Health, and Biomedical Technology. Admissions for these programs commenced during the ongoing 2024–2025 academic session, with approximately 150 students already enrolled.

MTU has also secured accreditation for all its academic programs. In response to its rapid growth, the university is intensifying efforts to expand its housing facilities on both Campus A and Campus B, laying the groundwork for future milestones.

“Our university has a distinguished record of being one of Nigeria’s leading private institutions of higher learning, with students rated among the best in the nation.

“This convocation ceremony is not just a celebration of our graduates’ hard work and dedication but also a testament to the concerted efforts of our faculty, staff, students, and the entire university community. Our week-long activities commenced yesterday with the Heart Workers’ Thanksgiving Service, where we expressed gratitude for the journey so far and sought divine blessings for the future,” Prof. Ayolabi concluded.