…Mbah approves ₦1.4bn for perimeter fencing — VC

…House of Reps Speaker Abbas, others to receive honorary degrees

By Chinedu Adonu

ENUGU — Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) will graduate a total of 7,991 students during its 21st Convocation Ceremony scheduled for Saturday, November 22, 2025.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius Okolie, disclosed this on Monday, adding that Governor Peter Mbah has approved ₦1.4 billion for the construction of a perimeter fence around the university.

Prof. Okolie explained that the convocation covers the 2023/2024 academic session across 13 faculties and includes first degree, postgraduate diploma, master’s, and doctorate awardees.

Providing a breakdown of the graduands, he said:

14 students earned First Class Honours

1,646 obtained Second Class Upper Division

4,619 graduated with Second Class Lower Division

113 made Third Class

233 fall under the pass category for professional programmes such as Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacy

A further breakdown shows:

6,625 first degree recipients

212 postgraduate diploma holders

720 master’s degree graduands

434 Ph.D. awardees

The Vice Chancellor noted that ESUT has maintained its tradition of holding convocation ceremonies annually, with successful events hosted in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

According to him, activities for the 2025 convocation will begin with a lecture on Friday, November 21, to be delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, on the topic: “Legislative Leadership and the Future of Democratic Governance in Nigeria.”

The main convocation ceremony for the conferment of first and postgraduate degrees, as well as honorary doctorates, will take place on Saturday, November 22.

Prof. Okolie announced that three distinguished Nigerians will receive honorary doctorate degrees as approved by the University Council and Senate. They are:

Rt. Hon. Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives — Honorary Doctorate in Legislative Practice

Chief Dr. Paulinus Ozonnagbo, CEO of Polystar Electronics — Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration

Senator Osita Ngwu, Senate Minority Whip and Senator representing Enugu West — Honorary Doctorate in Governance and Public Policy

The VC expressed appreciation to Governor Peter Mbah for his sustained support to the institution, especially the recent approval of ₦1.4 billion for the university’s perimeter fencing project.