By Habeeb Ibrahim
The University of Ilorin is set to award 251 Doctor of Philosophy degrees and graduate 365 First Class degree holders at its 41st convocation ceremony, with a total of 16,152 students completing various programmes for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The figures, announced by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wahab Egbewole (SAN), highlight the range of academic qualifications the institution will award, from undergraduate degrees to doctoral qualifications.
Of the 11,213 students completing first-degree programmes, 365 earned First Class honours, while 4,367 obtained Second Class Upper Division and 5,102 secured Second Class Lower Division.
Another 1,006 graduands will receive Third Class degrees, while 30 will graduate with Pass degrees.
The First Class graduates account for approximately 3.3 per cent of the first-degree graduands, while those in the Second Class Upper category represent about 38.9 per cent.
Beyond undergraduate education, the university will award 4,939 higher degrees and diplomas. The figure includes 160 postgraduate diplomas, 901 master’s degrees across various faculties, 114 professional master’s degrees, two Master of Philosophy degrees and 251 PhDs.
The professional programmes will also produce 19 medical doctors, 89 nursing graduates, 73 pharmacy graduates, 41 optometry graduates, 89 physiotherapy graduates and 32 veterinary medicine graduates.
Another 3,511 students are expected to graduate through the university’s Centre for Affiliated Institutions.
The institution also reported that 8,320 graduates had completed its U-INSPIRE programme, which provides students with additional 21st-century skills alongside their primary qualifications. The programme was developed within the university and delivered in collaboration with 10 industry partners.
One of the programme’s students, Toyibah Abiodun Abdullateef of the Department of Science Education, designed the logo for the 41st convocation ceremony.
Egbewole attributed the graduands’ achievements to their dedication and perseverance, as well as the contributions of academic and non-teaching staff, parents, guardians and other stakeholders.
He said the convocation reflected the university’s continued commitment to academic excellence, professional training, research, innovation and the production of graduates capable of contributing to national and global development.
The ceremony will bring together graduands from undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and diploma programmes, alongside students from affiliated institutions, marking another milestone in the university’s academic calendar.
