316 graduate with First Class as UNILORIN convocates 11,886 graduands
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin –
A total of 11,886 students will graduate from the University of Ilorin during its 40th Convocation Ceremonies, with 316 of them earning First-Class honours. The event marks a major milestone in the institution’s 50 years of academic excellence and national impact.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday, saying the institution remains committed to its “Better by Far” legacy built on excellence, innovation, and public service.
According to him, the 2024/2025 academic session produced 316 First-Class graduates, 4,120 Second-Class Upper, 5,939 Second-Class Lower, 1,078 Third-Class, and 11 Pass degree holders. The ceremony will also feature 175 MBBS, 94 Nursing, 64 Physiotherapy, and 36 Veterinary Medicine graduates, among others. In the postgraduate category, 1,520 higher degrees will be awarded, including 234 PhDs and 916 Master’s degrees.
“This year’s convocation is a celebration of academic excellence and institutional growth. We are not just producing graduates; we are nurturing innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders who will redefine Nigeria’s future,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of the 40th convocation, the Vice-Chancellor announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Visitor to the university, will commission several completed projects, including the Faculty of Social Sciences building, a new English Drama Studio, the remodeled Innovation Hub, and upgraded lecture halls and roads.
Professor Egbewole praised the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its continued support, noting that the institution received over N2.56 billion in intervention funds covering 11 priority areas, including ICT, infrastructure, and staff training. An additional N4 billion was secured for upgrading facilities at the College of Health Sciences, alongside N750 million for hostel construction.
He further revealed that 12,983 students benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to the tune of N1.59 billion in the current session. “This initiative has ensured that no student drops out due to financial challenges,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor also outlined research breakthroughs and partnerships, including the university’s recognition for high global citations on Google Scholar, research grants totaling over N220 million, and innovations such as an eight-seater electric vehicle campus shuttle developed by the university’s engineering team.
