By: Abdulhafeez Oyewole
The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) is set to graduate 12,042 students, including 256 First Class degree holders, during its 39th convocation ceremony, according to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN.
Addressing a press briefing on Thursday at the university auditorium, Prof. Egbewole emphasized the significance of the event, noting that graduates from various faculties, including Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine, would receive their degrees.
"The 39th Convocation Ceremonies shall witness the graduation of 12,042 students across various faculties, including 256 First Class graduates. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both students and staff," he stated.
In addition to undergraduate degrees, the Vice Chancellor announced the award of 1,875 higher degrees, comprising 323 Ph.D.s, 1,280 Master's degrees, and 92 Postgraduate Diplomas.
He commended the university for maintaining academic excellence while incorporating cutting-edge innovations to improve service delivery and academic processes.
Highlighting UNILORIN's progress in digital transformation, Prof. Egbewole noted key achievements, such as migrating to Amazon Web Services (AWS) for enhanced data security and reduced downtimes.
The university has also implemented a scalable Enterprise Resource Portal (ERP) to streamline communication among students, staff, and administrators.
Additional digital innovations include a new admissions ranking system, automated student union elections, and a remote clearance process for final-year students, allowing them to complete clearance from anywhere in the world.
In research, Prof. Egbewole revealed the revival of the ₦200 million Senate Research Grant (SRG) for 2023 and 2024, which has contributed to the university's 20 patents and innovations.
UNILORIN’s Laboratory-to-Product (LABTOP) Centre recently received national recognition at the Inaugural Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPPTO) awards in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor also disclosed ongoing international collaborations in fields such as veterinary research, plant breeding, and stem cell research.
In agriculture, the university is partnering with Broad Grains Limited for mechanized farming training and has entered a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Oriental Energy Farms to cultivate 4,000 hectares for maize and soybean production.
As the convocation approaches, Prof. Egbewole reassured stakeholders of UNILORIN’s commitment to academic innovation and excellence, reiterating the institution’s ambition to be ranked number one in Nigeria and to position itself for global recognition.
He noted, "Our desire to be number one in Nigeria is on course. We are taking deliberate steps to position ourselves for global ranking."