By Haruna Rasheed

The Federal University of Kashere (FUK) in Gombe State will confer honorary doctorate degrees on Dr Kole Shettima, Country Director of MacArthur Foundation and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

 Other recipients are, chancellor of the university, Ambassador Dr Lawrence Agbuzu, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia State and Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Umaru Pate, disclosed this on Tuesday during a pre-convocation press briefing ahead of the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th combined convocation ceremony of the university, for the award of first degrees, postgraduate diplomas, higher degrees and prizes.

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 He said recipients of the honorary doctorate degree were selected in recognition of their outstanding contributions to national development, leadership and service.

The vice chancellor disclosed that the conferment was unanimously approved by both the Senate and the Governing Council.

SolaceBase reports that the honorary degree will be presented during the convocation ceremony slated for Saturday, July 5, at the main campus in Kashere, Gombe State.

Prof. Pate revealed that out of the 6, 870 graduating students of the university, 91 graduated with First Class degrees. While 1,899 students got second class upper, 3,917 second class lower, 960 graduated with third class, while three bagged a pass degree.

He revealed that the convocation lecture with a topic, Evolution of Medical Science: Past, Present and Future, will be delivered on Friday by the Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

The vice chancellor also disclosed that a total of 8,266 students of the institution have so far benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme, with disbursements amounting to over N1.73 billion.

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Professor Pate explained that the funds were released for service charges and monthly upkeep, aimed at easing the financial burdens on students and enhancing access to uninterrupted academic activities.

 Pate, therefore, commended the NELFUND initiative, describing it as one of the most transformative interventions in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

 “This is one of the best things that has happened to Nigerian students in recent times. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the federal government deserved commendation for the implementation of this student loan scheme. “The initiative reflects a renewed commitment to inclusive and sustainable human capital development,” he said.