Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, will this week graduate 10,959 students who will be conferred with diplomas, bachelor’s, and higher degrees.
EKSU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Babatola Ayodele, said the graduates comprise 284 diploma holders, 10,125 bachelor’s degree holders, and 550 higher degree recipients.
He also hailed the institution’s academic milestone by being ranked as the Best State University in Nigeria in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday during a press conference to herald EKSU’s 30th convocation activities, the VC said that 82 of the 10,125 bachelor’s degree graduates had First Class honours.
He added that 2,794 graduates had a second-class upper division, 6,020 earned a second-class lower division, 1,217 secured a third-class, and 12 graduates had a pass.
The VC said the university would also confer honorary doctorates of finance (honoris causa) on two distinguished alumni—Mr Abayomi Adeyeri and Mr Akinsanmi Falaki—”in line with our convention, and in recognition of their unique multiple leadership roles and services to humanity.”
Ayodele reiterated his commitment to “building a university that not only competes nationally and globally but serves our society in meaningful ways, ensuring that the legacy of EKSU endures for generations to come.”
He said that under his leadership over the past one and a half years, the university had recorded notable progress.
“Within the past one year, there have been notable landmarks in the expansion of academic programmes and faculties. The number of faculties has increased from 12 to 14.
“The university has begun the process of introducing postgraduate programmes in Nursing Science, in addition to the postgraduate programmes in Medicine which have successfully taken off.”
Ayodele added that EKSU now had full approval from the National Universities Commission for all its academic programmes.
The VC, taking pride in the high ranking of the university, said, “EKSU will continue to do her best to sustain this rating and remain a shining light in the South Western States of Nigeria in particular, and also in Nigeria.”
He added, “Our university has, for the second time in quick succession, been ranked by Times Higher Education in its 2026 ranking as the Best State University in Nigeria and 12th among 300 universities nationwide.
“It is cheering and pleasing to note that a university, established 44 years ago in the hinterland, has become a beauty to behold, recognized by different ranking bodies including Webometrics, Web of Universities, and the US News and World Report.”
The VC also highlighted staff welfare, saying, “A university grows faster when its workers feel valued, protected, and treated fairly. EKSU has paid monthly salaries and pensions up to date. Arrears of allowances are structured and being defrayed in a manner that does not hinder other critical aspects of administration.
“In the same vein, promotions were processed and approved as and when due for those who meet the criteria. These are made possible through the continued support of the Visitor to the University and the Governing Council, and we are sincerely grateful to them.”
Ayodele said that in 2025, 111 academic staff were promoted, comprising 24 Professors, 47 Readers, 25 Senior Lecturers, 10 Lecturer 1, and 5 Lecturer 2; while 590 non-teaching staff, including 411 senior administrative and technical staff and 179 junior non-teaching staff, also received promotions.
He added that in the last year, 15 inaugural lectures were delivered “in our determination to ensure that knowledge is not compromised in our university, and for our professors to give back to society some of the knowledge so far acquired in their quest to stardom.”
The VC expressed gratitude to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for continued support in infrastructural projects and staff training.
Ayodele also acknowledged eminent Nigerians and organisations for various ongoing and completed projects in the university, including Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, INEC National Commissioner Prof. Kunle Ajayi, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman Dr Zach Adedeji.