From Owede Agbajileke, Abuja 
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is to confer honorary doctoral degrees on African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and the House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, for their contributions to the country. 
 
Its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Peters Olufemi, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja ahead of the school’s 14th convocation billed for the weekend. He said Adesina would be awarded a Doctor of Humane Letter while Abbass would get a Doctor of Business Administration.

The administrator revealed that the institution would be graduating 17,420 students.  Olufemi said the figure comprises 10,967 undergraduates, 6,413 postgraduates, and 40 doctoral graduates.
 
He also mentioned that a total of 51 inmates would graduate, including 41 undergraduates and 10 postgraduates from correctional centres. His words: “I want to report that this is another opportunity for us to celebrate the academic achievements of our students. “

A total of 17,420 will be graduating this year, comprising 10,967 undergraduates and 6,413 postgraduates. And then we have 40 students graduating at the PhD level.
 
“This is a remarkable growth from where we started about four years ago. Of this number, we have 2,103 postgraduate diploma students and 4,310 with a Master’s degree.
 
“Of the undergraduates, we have 16 first-class students, which is fantastic. We have 1,417 second-class upper students, 5,518 second-class lower students, and 2,761 third-class students.
 
“The total number of graduands from correctional centres this year is 51. This is extremely high – 41 undergraduates and 10 postgraduates.”