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From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
The University of Ilorin is set to confer degrees upon a total of 11,886 students across various disciplines at its 40th convocation for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Announcing this during a press briefing on Monday, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), said the institution has every reason to celebrate as it continues to live up to its “Better by Far” identity through stability, innovation, and research-driven growth.
According to him, 316 students bagged First Class honours, 4,120 Second Class (Upper Division), 5,939 Second Class (Lower Division), 1,078 Third Class, and 11 Pass degrees. The university will also award 1,520 postgraduate degrees, including 234 PhDs, 916 Masters, 188 Professional Masters, and 182 Postgraduate Diplomas.
In the professional category, 175 will graduate with MB;BS degrees, 94 in Nursing, 36 in Veterinary Medicine, and 64 in Physiotherapy, while 13 students will receive Diplomas.
Professor Egbewole said the week-long ceremony will feature religious services, a theatrical performance of “Joromi,” and a convocation lecture by former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), titled “Gen-Z Playbook: Navigating Work and the Real World.”
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the Visitor to the University, is expected to commission several completed projects on campus, including the new Faculty of Social Sciences complex, an English Drama Studio, and the remodelled Unilorin Innovation Hub.
Highlighting achievements during the year under review, the Vice-Chancellor said the university received N2.56 billion in TETFund interventions across 11 areas, as well as a N4 billion Special High Impact Project for the College of Health Sciences and N750 million for hostel construction.
He also announced that 12,983 students benefited from the Federal Government’s Education Loan Scheme amounting to N1.59 billion, describing it as a “lifeline that ensures no student drops out due to financial hardship.”
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Speaking on research impact, Professor Egbewole revealed that Unilorin scholars recorded over 11,000 Google Scholar citations each, noting that Dr. Ismail Odetokun of Veterinary Public Health and Dr. Afis Basiru of Veterinary Physiology were among the most cited academics. He added that 81 academic staff received Senate Research Grants worth N177 million, while the university won eight National Research Fund projects worth N220 million.
The Vice-Chancellor said Unilorin’s innovations in electric vehicle design and biomass-plastic composites had earned national recognition and international partnerships. “Our collaboration with the National Board for Technology Incubation will commercialise our research outputs to create affordable, eco-friendly materials,” he said.
He also listed several landmark initiatives including the unveiling of 30 campus shuttle buses developed by students under a cashless transport system, establishment of the U-INSPIRE entrepreneurship programme that has trained over 9,900 students, and the setting up of the Advancement Board to drive resource mobilisation.
The university also achieved 100 per cent accreditation for its academic programmes and signed new collaboration agreements with institutions in Kenya, South Africa, Malaysia, and the United States, as well as with local partners such as OPay, Dangote Foundation, and Ilorin Central Mosque for new infrastructure projects.
Professor Egbewole further praised the outstanding performance of Unilorin students in national and global competitions, including Guinness World Record holder for the longest mathematics lesson, Sanusi Akanbi Kazeem; the Diana Award winner, Dr. Oluwabukola Princess Alabi; and several laureates in engineering, science, and public speaking contests.
He acknowledged the challenges of limited funding and bureaucratic hurdles but maintained that the institution remains committed to curriculum reform, research for development, and staff welfare.
“As we mark this historic 50th anniversary, we are not just celebrating our past but reimagining our future. Transformation is a continuous process, and together we will sustain Unilorin’s legacy of excellence, innovation, and service to humanity,” he said.
