The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), will graduate 167 students with First Class Honours during its 54th convocation ceremony, which began on Tuesday, July 22, and will run until Sunday, July 27, 2025.
Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguejiofo T. Ujam, disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the university’s Enugu Campus.
According to Ujam, a total of 9,821 students will receive first degrees and diplomas during the ceremony, with 1,892 others receiving higher degrees and postgraduate diplomas.
He said: “For this year’s graduates, 167 will be awarded First Class Honours. Another 3,485 will graduate with Second Class Honours (Upper Division), 5,217 with Second Class Honours (Lower Division), and 739 with Third Class Honours. We also have 33 graduating with Pass degrees and 180 in the unclassified category.”
Speaking on the postgraduate awards, Ujam said: “We are also conferring 616 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, 1,101 Master of Science (MSc) degrees, 133 Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees, and 42 Postgraduate Diplomas (PGDs). These figures reflect the hard work and resilience of our students, as well as the unwavering commitment of our faculty and staff.”
Highlighting one of the key events of the convocation week, Ujam announced that the convocation lecture will be held on Thursday, July 24.
In keeping with our tradition, the 54th Convocation Lecture will be delivered by Mr. Ukandu Eme Ukandu, the MD/CEO of Firstcap Limited and Chairman of First City Monument Bank. The lecture, titled ‘Educated to rise: From struggle to global strength,’ will be chaired by Chief (Dr.) Akinnola Oladejo, the MD/CEO of Prestigious Homes Limited, Lagos. It promises to be both inspiring and thought-provoking,” he said.
The award of first degrees and diplomas will take place on Friday, July 25, while postgraduate degrees and honorary awards will be conferred the following day.
“Saturday, July 26, will be the grand finale of our convocation week,” Ujam said. “That day, we will honour some distinguished Nigerians who have made remarkable contributions to public life and enterprise.”
Among those to receive honorary doctorate degrees are Senator Abdul-Aziz Abubakar Yari, Engineer Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Chief Samuel Ogboku, Dr. Jimmoh Rauf Badamosi, and Chief Andrew Oru, who will each be awarded the Doctor of Public Administration (DPA, Honoris Causa). Engineer Chinedu Okeke and Mr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, CON, will receive the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA, Honoris Causa).
The Acting Vice-Chancellor used the occasion to highlight some of his achievements since assuming office. “One of my key promises was to expand the university’s capacity to attract external funding for research and scholarships. Today, I am pleased to report that we have successfully established a Directorate of Grants and Scholarships, which is now fully operational. This Directorate is already mobilising crucial funding for academic and research excellence, and it will go a long way in supporting our students and faculty,” he said.
On infrastructure, Ujam said: “We have begun a phased rehabilitation of roads within Nsukka Campus, including the Institute of African Studies Road, Mbonu Ojike Street, and the Fulton-Ikejiani-Marguerite Cartwright link road. The main access road into the campus has also been resurfaced to give the university a befitting entrance.”