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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu has concluded arrangements to honour the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enutan Ogunwusi, Air Peace boss, Allen Onyema, and pharmaceutical mogul, Dr. Stella Okolie, among others during her combined convocation on Friday.
The event will be preceded by a pre convocation lecture to be delivered by Professor Barth Nnaji, a former Minister of Power and Chief Executive of Geometric Power Group.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ndukwe J. Okeudo, who made the disclosure at the pre convocation briefing, yesterday, said the triple convocation marks a defining moment in the university’s history, reflecting both a backlog clearance and a strategic reset under a new administration.
The ceremonies, he said, were scheduled to begin today and culminate in the conferment of degrees and honorary awards on Friday, at the university’s main campus in Uturu, Abia State.
Okeudo, who described the occasion as epoch making, noted that the institution is repositioning to compete globally through improved academic standards, staff welfare and research output.
The VC revealed that the combined 30th, 31st and 32nd convocation ceremonies will roll out a total of 10,255 graduates covering undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional degrees.
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“The triple convocation and accompanying reforms underscore a broader institutional recovery and repositioning effort, reflecting how targeted governance, funding interventions, and academic renewal can reshape public universities in emerging economies for global relevance.”
On admissions, the university, he said, recorded a steady increase in students intake, rising from 4,756 in the 2023/2024 academic session to 7,509 for 2025/2026, a development he linked to expanded infrastructure and renewed public confidence.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted significant administrative reforms, including the clearance of longstanding staff promotion backlogs through four appraisal exercises conducted between 2022 and 2025.
“A total of 951 staff members across teaching and non teaching cadres were promoted within the period, alongside 41 elevations to professorial ranks.
“The university now hosts about 27,000 students across 16 faculties and 68 departments spread across Uturu, Umuahia, and Aba campuses. It was recently ranked among the top state universities in Nigeria, reflecting steady academic progress”, the VC informed.
He attributed sustained industrial harmony within the institution to proactive engagement with staff unions and the implementation of worker friendly policies, which have ensured uninterrupted academic activities.
The VC announced the restoration of access to TETFund interventions after years of sanctions due to un-retired grants, adding that the university had cleared all outstanding obligations, enabling the approval of 33 research proposals with funding already disbursed.
