256 Students Bag First-Class as UNILORIN Holds 39th Convocation
The University of Ilorin will graduate 12,042 students during its 39th convocation, including 256 First Class degree holders. Vice-Chancellor Professor Wahab Egbewole announced that the graduates come from various faculties such as Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine. Additionally, 1,875 higher degrees will be awarded, including master's and PhDs.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The University of Ilorin is set to graduate 12,042 students during its 39th convocation ceremony, with an impressive 256 First Class degree holders among them. This was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, during a press briefing at the university auditorium on Thursday.
Professor Egbewole highlighted that the upcoming convocation marks a significant milestone for the university, with graduates across various faculties, including Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine, scheduled to receive their degrees. He outlined the breakdown of graduates as follows: 256 First Class, 3,842 Second Class (Upper Division), 6,178 Second Class (Lower Division), 1,299 Third Class, and 62 Pass.
In addition to the undergraduate degrees, the convocation will see 124 MB/BS graduates, 64 Nursing graduates, 35 Optometry graduates, 30 Veterinary Medicine graduates, and several others from disciplines like Pharmacy and Physiotherapy. The Vice-Chancellor stated that 1,875 higher degrees will also be awarded, including 92 postgraduate diplomas, 1,280 master's degrees, 179 professional master's degrees, one MPhil, and 323 PhDs.
Professor Egbewole also noted the university's strides in digital innovation, such as migrating to Amazon Web Services for enhanced data security and reduced downtime. Other initiatives include the launch of a scalable Enterprise Resource Portal, a digital admissions ranking system, and an automated platform for student union elections. These efforts have greatly improved the university's operational efficiency, accessibility, and security.
In research, UNILORIN revived the ₦200 million Senate Research Grant and achieved recognition with 20 patents and innovations. The institution's LABTOP Centre recently earned accolades at the Inaugural Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPPTO) awards in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed the university's expanding international partnerships in areas such as veterinary research, plant breeding, and stem cell research. In agriculture, collaborations include mechanized farming training with Broad Grains Limited and a project with Oriental Energy Farms to cultivate 4,000 hectares for maize and soybean production.
An international academic, Professor Ramar Krishnamurthy from Uka Tarsadia University, India, has been instrumental in enhancing teaching and research at UNILORIN. He is currently collaborating with the university to develop a drought-resistant rice variety, soon to be produced in commercial quantities.
Professor Egbewole reaffirmed the university's commitment to becoming a leader in higher education, stating, "Our desire to be number one in Nigeria is on course. We are taking deliberate steps to position ourselves for global ranking."
