UNN to Graduate 12,895 Students, 168 With First Class Honours

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) will graduate 12,895 students at its 55th Convocation Ceremony, including 168 First Class honours graduates, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Ortuanya has announced. Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday ahead of the convocation activities, Ortuanya broke down the numbers: 10,641 graduands will receive first degrees and diplomas, while 2,944 will earn postgraduate qualifications, comprising 1,390 PhDs, 1,340 Master's degrees, and 214 Postgraduate Diplomas. "This year's convocation celebrates a harvest of 12,895 graduands," he said. As part of the ceremony, UNN will confer honorary doctorate degrees on First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, High Chief Williams Agbo, Arc. Dr Kaycee Kelechi Orji, and Dr William Franklyn Richardson. The university will also bestow the title of Professor Emeritus on two retired academics, Prof. Peter-Jazzy Ezeh and Prof. Boniface Obinna Okere. The convocation lecture is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, and will be delivered by Enugu State Governor Dr Peter Mbah, with former UNN Vice-Chancellor and current Vice-Chancellor of the University on the Niger, Prof. Ositadinma Nebo, chairing the event. Reviewing his administration's record since taking office in August 2025, Ortuanya said UNN had received approval to raise its admission quota for Medicine from 180 to 400 and Dentistry from 15 to 60, following accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. He added that the National Universities Commission had approved the restructuring of the Department of Mass Communication into five specialised degree programmes, while Agribusiness, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Industrial Arts, and Criminology and Security Studies had all received full accreditation. On academic infrastructure, Ortuanya pointed to the digitalisation of the university's Central Library and the launch of a Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Laboratory as steps toward strengthening digital learning and research. He also listed ongoing physical projects, including road reconstruction, hostel rehabilitation, and new facilities at the College of Medicine, Ituku-Ozalla — with renovation work underway at Eni-Njoku, Eyo-Ita, Nkrumah and Odili hostels, and construction resuming on the previously stalled Zik's Flats and Senate Building. The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that 1,984 staff members had been promoted over the past 11 months, including 25 academics elevated to full professorship. He said the university had also deepened its international ties through partnerships with institutions in Sweden, Taiwan, China, Belarus, the United States and South Africa, covering research collaboration, staff exchange and academic development. Ortuanya described these initiatives as part of a broader push to position UNN as a globally competitive institution. "Our vision is to reposition the University of Nigeria as a globally competitive institution distinguished by excellence in teaching, cutting-edge research, digital innovation, entrepreneurship and transformational community engagement," he said, calling on alumni, development partners and other stakeholders to support the university's continued growth.