For the first time in 69 years, the University of Ibadan has produced a graduate with a First Class honours degree in History, Ozibo Ekele.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, said Ozibo Ekele of the Department of History, was one of the 186 students who earned First Class degrees at the 2015/2016 convocation ceremonies, which began Monday in Ibadan.

Olayinka said 5,629 students graduated in various academic programmes from 12 faculties, including the Distance Learning Centre at the convocation.

According to him, 186 passed with first class honours, 1,538 finished with Second Class Upper, while 3,133 finished with Second Class Lower.

Similarly, 434 students finished with Third Class, while 81 others graduated with Pass degrees.

The Vice-Chancellor admonished the graduates to be good ambassadors of the university, saying they should impact positively on their world.

“Our students would have graduated a long time ago but for the strike embarked upon by the academic and non-academic staff unions,” he said.

According to him, the breakdown of the graduating list showed that 3.5 percent and 28.6 percent finished with First Class and Second Class (Upper) honours, respectively.

“We warmly congratulate Ozibo Ekele, who is graduating today with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 6.6 out of a maximum of 7.0,’’ the VC said.