Rivers State University Celebrates 36th Convocation with 120 First-Class Graduates out of 8,920 Graduating Students

Rivers State University is set to hold its 36th convocation this weekend, with 8,920 students graduating, including 120 achieving First Class honours.

This year’s ceremony will also celebrate a historic milestone, marking the graduation of the first cohort of Nursing students, who have recently been inducted as professional nurses by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. This is a significant achievement for both the university and the Rivers State Government, which has been instrumental in the establishment of the Medical College.

During a pre-convocation press briefing in Port Harcourt, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nlerum Okognule highlighted two key reasons for this year’s significance. Firstly, it will be his final convocation as Vice Chancellor, with his tenure concluding on March 4, 2025. Secondly, the event will set the stage for the graduation and induction of the university's first set of medical doctors by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in January 2025.

The convocation will take place over two days, with the awarding of Bachelor's Degrees on Friday, December 13, and Higher Degrees on Saturday, December 14, 2024. This structure was introduced to avoid overcrowding and ensure a smooth ceremony.

Additionally, a convocation lecture will be delivered on Thursday, December 12, by Prof. Lawal Suleiman, former Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University. The lecture, titled "Emerging Technologies in Reshaping the Future of Education and Learning Environment," will be an important academic highlight of the event.

The breakdown of the 8,920 graduating students includes 6,708 undergraduate students, with 120 achieving First Class Degrees, 1,962 earning Second Class Honours Upper Division, 4,017 attaining Second Class Honours Lower Division, 757 with Third Class Degrees, and 58 with Pass Degrees. The postgraduate cohort includes 2,212 students, with 743 receiving Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,195 achieving Master’s Degrees, and 442 earning Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

Prof. Okognule also expressed gratitude to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his continuous support in strengthening the university, acknowledging the significant investment that has contributed to the institution’s growth and academic success.