Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara, on Saturday awarded degrees and prizes to 924 students at its 6th graduation.
Prof. Taofeek Ibrahim, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, made this known during his convocation address in Ilorin.
Ibrahim said that the institution was presenting a total of 874 graduates with first degree and 50 graduates with post graduate degrees.
“In the current session, we are happy to announce that we are presenting 874 graduates with first degree, this shows seven per cent increase over 2014/2015 session when a total of 817 students graduated.
“Alhamdulillah, for the first time in our history, 50 students from the post graduate school will be awarded with Master’s Degree”, he said.
He noted that total number of 21 students bagged First Class Degree, 207 students with Second Class Upper Division, 417 students with second Class Lower division, 207 students with Third Class while 24 students graduated with a pass.
Ibrahim said that while there had been increase in the numbers of first class and second class degrees, there had been a reduction in the numbers of third class and pass degrees.
The vice-chancellor also said that financing of personnel emoluments; infrastructural development, supplies and maintenance of utilities remained challenging.
He, however, said that the 2016/2017 fiscal year would witness the focusing of the universities attention on establishing new academic programmes in Health Sciences and Agriculture among others.
The vice chancellor announced that the university would partner with the Islamic Financial Institution, Jaiz Bank for further development of the school.
“I feel very elated and fulfilled to mention the promising and potentially rewarding partnership with Jaiz Bank Plc for financing our projects beginning in the 2016/2017 fiscal year.
“This relationship is expected to fill the development gap created by our inability to source interest-based loan from our existing financial institutions all these years, in line with the institutional Islamic philosophy”, he explained.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the best graduating student in Islamic studies, Ummar Abdulhameed was given a scholarship to further his post graduate studies.
Also, Abdulhameed was given an automatic employment in the university by the founder, Dr AbdulRaheem Oladimeji.
Speaking with NAN, Abdulhameed said, “I feel delighted, but one fear I have is that, I pray that Allah is not testing me with this kind of honour, because life and death are meant for test.
“I am asking Allah to save me from this kind of audience and likewise I cannot deny that it is an honour.
Allah gives honour and pleasure to whom He wills, so I thank and appreciate Him.
“My secret to success was hard work and dedication combined with perseverance, I advise other students to always remember Allah and He will make you knowledgeable,” he said.
The founder of the institution, Dr AbdulRaheem Oladimeji thanked God for another successful academic year and convocation.
He expressed gladness over the number of graduating students and appreciated the efforts of all the lecturers and other members of staff, saying their cooperation had brought about the successful convocation.
He advised staff and students not to relent in their efforts at achieving greater success and prayed that Allah will reward them greatly.
