Campus News

39th Convocation Ceremonies: 256 graduands make First Class….as Egbewole hails UNILORIN’S rising profile

As the 39th convocation ceremonies of the University of Ilorin get underway, a total of 256 graduands will be conferred with First Class degrees at the events holding at the University Auditorium today and tomorrow. This was disclosed by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, last Thursday (October 17, 2024) during the press briefing segment of the activities marking this year’s convocation ceremonies. Prof. Egbewole, in his address, titled “Coping With Change”, explained that the figure is part of a total of 12, 042 students who successfully completed their training in the 2022/2023 academic session of the University.

Giving further breakdown of the graduands performances, the renowned legal luminary explained that a total of 3,842 of them made Second Class (Upper Division) as 6,178 received Second Class (Lower Division) degrees while 1,299 made Third Class degrees with 62 others graduating with Pass. The Vice Chancellor further revealed that the University also produced 124 medical doctors, 64 nurses, 30 veterinary doctors and 103 pharmacists as well as 33 physiotherapists.

Prof. Egbewole, who is the Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), also said that the University produced 16 Diploma holders and 1,875 higher degree holders comprising 1,280 Masters from various Faculties, 179 Professional Masters, I Master of Philosophy (Mphil) and 323 doctorate degrees graduands in various fields of study. The Vice Chancellor said that graduates of four-years degree programmes would be awarded their certificates on Monday, October 21, 2024 while those of other programmes would have their turn on Tuesday, October 19, 2024 at the University Auditorium.

Speaking on the achievements of the University in the last one year, Prof. Egbewole expressed profound satisfaction with the rising profile of the University in teaching, research innovation and other realms. Prof. Egbewole explained that the University of Ilorin remains the institution with the highest number of patents as he said that many staff members and students of the University have done themselves and the institution proud at national and global levels with several accomplishments and awards. He added that the University has also done very well in sports and other extra-curricular activities at local, national and international levels to the amazement of stakeholders.

The Vice Chancellor, who appreciated the numerous, positive and glowing impacts of the staff of the University, which culminated in the successful completion of the academic session, commended some staff members and alumni of the University who recorded impressive milestones in their careers. He added that the University was delighted to produce a Justice of the Court of Appeal, three High Court judges, and four Senior Advocates of Nigeria and a member of the Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Prof. Egbewole stated further that two academic staff members of the University were recently appointed as Vice Chancellors, among several other milestones recorded by the University in the last one year.

The Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, who expressed delight with the recent peaceful and popular emergence of Prof. Abdulrasaq Kilani of the University of Port-Harcourt as the President of the University Alumni Association, also appreciated the individual and collective contributions of many of the institution’s alumni to the growth and development of the University. He also thanked individuals and groups who instituted prizes to be awarded to outstanding graduates of various programmes at the University and those who offered one donation or the other to the University and its various segments. Prof. Egbewole explained that the convocation ceremonies would be “more than just a celebration of the academic achievements of our graduands” but a show of its strength in different areas.

He added that the ceremonies would be “a testament to the resilience, hard work and dedication of both students and faculty” and a symbol of how far the University has come as an institution and how committed it has charted new paths of excellence.

As part of the convocation ceremonies, Prof. Egbewole disclosed that the Visitor to the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, would commission no fewer than nine projects, including the University’s Abuja Liaison Office Guest House. The event was attended by the Vice Chancellors of  Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, and the newly established Kwara State University of Education, Ilorin, Prof. Rasheed Gbenga Jimoh and Prof. Medinat Folorunso Salman, respectively, as well as members of the Governing Council and Principal Officers of the University, among other dignitaries from far and near.