The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has announced that 240 of its graduating students will bag first-class honours out of a total of 2,747 first-degree recipients during its 36th convocation ceremony.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, made the announcement while briefing journalists on the campus ahead of the convocation. She described the impressive performance of the graduating class as a testament to FUTA’s enduring commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and discipline.

According to her, the breakdown of the graduating class shows that 240 students earned first-class degrees, 1,479 finished with second-class upper division, 912 with second-class lower division, and 116 with third-class honours.

Beyond the undergraduate level, a total of 867 postgraduate students will also be honoured, comprising 627 Master of Technology (MTech) graduates, 86 Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) recipients, and 154 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) awardees.

Professor Oladiji attributed the outstanding results to the students’ diligence, consistent effort, and the University’s enabling academic environment. She reaffirmed FUTA’s position as one of Nigeria’s foremost institutions of technology, renowned for producing top-tier graduates and advancing research-driven education.

Speaking on the University’s achievements, the Vice-Chancellor noted that FUTA continues to blaze the trail in various scientific and technological fields—particularly in climate and space science, agriculture, engineering, and digital innovation. She emphasized that both staff and students have been increasingly involved in international collaborations and cutting-edge research that contribute to solving real-world problems.

On student welfare, Professor Oladiji highlighted the importance of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), lamenting that many students were still unaware of its benefits. She disclosed that over 3,000 FUTA students had already benefited from the scheme and encouraged others to take advantage of the reopened application portal.

In a related development, the Federal Government has begun disbursing interest-free loans under the **Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF)**. The initiative was launched at FUTA by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s **Renewed Hope Agenda**.

Dr. Alausa revealed that about 30,000 academic and non-academic staff members from tertiary institutions across the country had applied for the facility, with 9,000 applications already approved. He was joined by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, as they presented cheques to beneficiaries at the FUTA campus in Akure.

The 36th convocation ceremony, Professor Oladiji added, will celebrate not only academic success but also FUTA’s growing impact as a hub for innovation, research excellence, and national development.