The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has announced that a total of 12,895 students will graduate during its 55th Convocation Ceremony, with 168 of them earning First Class honours.
The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists ahead of the commencement of activities lined up for the convocation.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, 10,641 graduands will receive first degrees and diplomas, while 2,944 students will be awarded postgraduate qualifications.
The postgraduate category comprises 1,390 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, 1,340 Master’s degrees and 214 Postgraduate Diplomas.
“This year’s convocation celebrates a harvest of 12,895 graduands. Of these, 10,641 will receive First Degrees and Diplomas, including 168 First Class honours graduates,” Ortuanya said.
He further announced that the university would confer honorary doctorate degrees on the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; High Chief Williams Agbo; Arc. Dr. Kaycee Kelechi Orji; and Dr. William Franklyn Richardson in recognition of their contributions in various fields.
The institution will also honour two distinguished retired academics, Prof. Peter-Jazzy Ezeh and Prof. Boniface Obinna Okere, with the title of Professor Emeritus.
Ortuanya disclosed that the convocation lecture, scheduled for Thursday, July 23, will be delivered by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah.
He added that the event would be chaired by a former Vice-Chancellor of UNN and the current Vice-Chancellor of the University on the Niger, Prof. Ositadinma Nebo.
Reviewing the achievements of his administration since assuming office in August 2025, the Vice-Chancellor said the university had secured approval to increase its admission quota for Medicine from 180 to 400 students.
He also revealed that the admission quota for Dentistry had risen from 15 to 60 following accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
According to him, the National Universities Commission (NUC) also approved the unbundling of the Department of Mass Communication into five specialised degree programmes.
He noted that programmes in Agribusiness, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Industrial Arts, and Criminology and Security Studies also received full accreditation during the period.
Ortuanya stated that the university had accelerated its digital transformation by digitising its Central Library and establishing a Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Laboratory to support learning and research.
On infrastructure, he explained that several development projects are currently ongoing across the institution’s campuses.
These include the reconstruction of internal roads, rehabilitation of students’ hostels and expansion of facilities at the College of Medicine in Ituku-Ozalla.
The Vice-Chancellor listed Eni-Njoku, Eyo-Ita, Nkrumah and Odili hostels among those undergoing renovation.
He also disclosed that work has resumed on the long-abandoned Zik’s Flats and the university’s Senate Building.
Speaking on staff welfare, Ortuanya revealed that 1,984 members of staff had been promoted within the last 11 months.
He added that the promotions included 25 academic staff who attained the rank of professor.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the institution’s expanding international collaborations with universities and organisations in Sweden, Taiwan, China, Belarus, the United States and South Africa.
According to him, the partnerships are expected to strengthen research, staff exchange programmes and overall academic development.
He described the ongoing reforms as part of deliberate efforts to reposition the University of Nigeria as a globally competitive institution.
Ortuanya appealed to alumni, development partners and other stakeholders to continue supporting the university’s growth and transformation.
“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.
