No fewer than 197 students graduated with distinctions in the Ordinary and Higher National Diploma programmes at the 28th Convocation of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos on Thursday.

The institution graduated 7, 040 students out of which 3,740 were of the 2010/2011 set, while 3,300 belonged to the 2011/2012 set.

Rector of the college, Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, who gave the figures at the convocation, said in the 2010/2011 session 24 students had distinctions; 409 students got upper credits, 815 had lower credits and 171 students graduated with ordinary pass at the HND level.

She said at the ND level, 61 got distinctions; 461 students got upper credit while 930 students graduated with lower credit.

Chairman, Famfa Oil, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija and a commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission, Dr. Nuru Yakubu, were also conferred with the college fellowship awards.

Ladipo explained that the college had recorded improvement in its academic programmes as it got the approval of the National Board for Technical Education to start seven new programmes.

She said Book Publishing and Mechanical Engineering Technology were introduced at the HND level; while Marketing, Agriculture and Bio-environmental Engineering Technology, Marine Engineering and Polymer Technology were introduced at the ND level.

Ladipo added that the governing council had also approved the introduction of Leisure and Tourism course at the institution’s campus at Epe.

While commending the Federal Government and Tertiary Education Trust Fund for their support, she advised the graduating students to utilize their knowledge in ways that would benefit the nation.

“The college will continue to appreciate the Federal Government and Tertiary Education Trust Fund for their support through capital grants and intervention funds for infrastructure and academic development,” she said.