The University of Ilorin, popularly known as Unilorin, has celebrated its 37th and 38th combined convocation ceremony, where an impressive 450 students were awarded first class honours out of a total of 25,000 graduating students. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, disclosed this during a press conference held in Ilorin to mark the beginning of the convocation ceremony.
According to Prof. Egbewole, the 37th convocation ceremony will see the graduation of 14,477 students from the 2020/2021 Academic session, while the 38th convocation ceremony will graduate 10,757 students from the 2021/2022 Academic session. He further revealed that in the 37th convocation, there were 211 students who obtained first class honours and 4,143 with second class upper division. In the 38th convocation, 239 students graduated with first class honours and 3,406 with second class upper division.
The convocation ceremony was not only an occasion of celebration but also an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the institution. President Bola Tinubu was invited to inaugurate 15 completed projects, including the Faculty of Clinical Science building, the Advancement Centre building, the Department of Anatomy building, and the Extension of Students Affairs Office, among others. Also, notable among the projects was the Department of Chemical Engineering building, Faculty of Engineering 400 square capacity studio, and the laying of asphalt on the road from the university gate to the Senate building.
Prof. Egbewole emphasized that Unilorin is renowned for its academic prowess and unwavering commitment to integrity. The university aspires to be recognized as a 21st-century hub of intellectual excellence, the best in Africa, and one of the top 500 in the world. This vision is backed by well-planned and coordinated strategies that aim to make Unilorin an industry leader in Nigeria and a formidable force in Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor pledged the management’s dedication to fostering an environment that nurtures creativity, fosters critical thinking, and instills a sense of social responsibility among the students. He also highlighted the university’s plans to collaborate with Oriental Energy Farms for large-scale commercial agriculture, taking advantage of the institution’s vast land resources. Additionally, Prof. Egbewole assured that the university would undertake perimeter fencing to address the issue of land encroachment and enhance security within the institution.
The University of Ilorin has once again demonstrated its commitment to academic excellence and remains a beacon of hope for Nigerian students aspiring to make a mark in their chosen fields. The outstanding achievements of the graduating students serve as a testament to the university’s dedication to nurturing and producing well-rounded scholars.
NAN
