University of Maiduguri, Borno State, on Saturday
presented first-class degree certificates to 172
students of the institution during its 22nd combined
convocation.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution Prof. Ibrahim
Njodi, who, according to the News Agency of Nigeria
announced this at the ceremony, said 37, 259
students, comprising five sets of students from 2009
to 2015, graduated at the convocation.

“It is gratifying to inform you that the university
graduated five sets of students from 2009/2010,
2010/2011, 2012/2013, 2013/2014, and 2014/2015
academic sessions from 12 colleges, faculties,

distance learning centre and 23 affiliated colleges.

“A total of 37, 259 students were graduated. Out of
this, 32, 869 were regular students, 841 students
were from affiliated colleges and 3,549 students
were from the Distant Learning Programme,’’ Njodi
said.

He said the university had signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the United Nations Children’s
Emergency Fund and Norwegian Embassy to work
out a programme on de-radicalisation of repentant
members of the Boko Haram terrorists group.
“There is a strong partnership between the
university and the UNICEF on safe schools project.
“In this regard, the university will continue to
explore all avenues for support and collaborations,’’
Njodi said.

He said there were plans by the university to
organise an international conference on Boko
Haram terrorism to facilitate research into the
mystery behind the group.

According to him, the move is pursuant to President
Muhammadu Buhari’s call during his inaugural
speech on the need to conduct an in-depth research
towards understanding the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said it was also consistent with “our mandate of
solving societal problems through research.’’