The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) will graduate 4,141 students, including 104 first-class degree holders, at its 33rd convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Kehinde, has announced.

Prof. Kehinde disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the university’s Senate Building, where he also revealed that nearly 5,000 students of the institution have benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to the tune of N840 million.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the beneficiaries of the federal government’s student loan scheme have received significant financial relief, describing the initiative as a major boost to access to education. He commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing NELFUND, noting that it has had a “tremendous impact” on students of the university.

Giving a breakdown of the graduating students, Prof. Kehinde said 1,771 graduands earned Second-Class Upper Division, 1,896 obtained Second-Class Lower Division, 285 received Third-Class degrees, while two graduated with Pass degrees. He added that 41 graduands earned the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, which is not classified.

For postgraduate studies, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the university will also award 49 Postgraduate Diplomas, 164 Master’s degrees, and 89 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees across various disciplines.

He announced Osiama Chinyere of the Department of Food and Nutrition, who graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.85, as the overall best graduating student.

Prof. Kehinde further revealed that the Federal Government has approved the reintroduction of four Management Sciences programmes, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration and Economics, which were previously delisted by the National Universities Commission during the 2017/2018 academic session.

In addition, he said the university has introduced new academic programmes, including Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, Forestry Resource Management, Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Climate Science and Agricultural Meteorology, and Cooperative and Development Studies.

With these additions, the Vice-Chancellor stated that FUNAAB now runs 44 academic programmes across 55 departments.

On infrastructure and energy development, Prof. Kehinde disclosed that the university’s World Bank-assisted 3-megawatt Hybrid Solar Power Project has reached a critical stage, providing uninterrupted electricity to all facilities during the daytime and powering about half of the campus at night.

He said the project places FUNAAB among Nigerian universities adopting renewable energy solutions to enhance academic, research, and residential experiences.

Highlighting projects to be inaugurated during the convocation, the Vice-Chancellor listed the College of Physical Sciences, a 240-capacity Computer Laboratory, Animal Demonstration Laboratory, Veterinary Anatomy Laboratory (Phase I), and residential quarters for principal officers.

Describing the 33rd convocation as a moment of pride, Prof. Kehinde said the ceremony symbolises resilience, academic excellence, and the beginning of new opportunities for the graduating students, whom he described as innovative entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, visionary leaders, and future changemakers.