The University of Ilorin, under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, has marked the beginning of its 37th and 38th Convocation Ceremonies with a press briefing that highlighted the remarkable achievements and progress made by the Institution in the last one year.
During the press briefing, the Vice Chancellor said that a total of 25,234 students will be convoking during the 37th and 38th Convocation Ceremonies. “We have 14,477 students for the 37th Convocation Ceremonies in the 2020/2021 Academic Session who will be convoking. On the other hand, we shall be graduating 10,757 students for the 38th Convocation Ceremonies who are for the 2021/2022 Academic Session.
“In the First Degree/Diploma category of the 37th Convocation Ceremonies, we have 211 First Class, 4,143 Second Class (Upper Division), 6,570 Second Class (Lower Division), 1,742 Third Class and 30 Pass. The 37th Convocation Ceremonies also include 151 MBBS graduands, 73 Nursing graduands, 18 Optometry graduands, 43 Veterinary Medicine graduands, and 12 graduands with Distinction and 27 graduands with Pass in Pharmacy.
“In summary, the University will be graduating 13,020 for First Degrees/Diplomas Furthermore, the total number of Higher Degrees to be awarded at the 37th Convocation Ceremonies is 1,457. Out of this figure, there are 75 Postgraduate Diplomas, 976 Masters from various Faculties, 88 MBA/MPA/MILR/MGIS/MPH/MHPMs, and 318 PhDs.
“Students Graduating from the University of Ilorin in the 2021/2022 Academic SessionIn the First Degree/Diploma category of the 38th Convocation Ceremonies, we have 239 First Class, 3,406 Second Class (Upper Division), 4,691 Second Class (Lower Division), 961 Third Class and 21 Pass. The 38th Convocation Ceremonies also include 160 MBBS graduands, 87 Nursing graduands, 15 Optometry graduands, 35 Veterinary Medicine graduands, and 26 graduands with Distinction and 43 graduands with Pass in Pharmacy.
“Thus, we have 9,684 graduands in the First Degrees/Diplomas category. Furthermore, the total number of Higher Degrees to be awarded at the 38th Convocation Ceremonies is 1,073. Out of this figure, there are 60 Postgraduate Diplomas, 605 Masters from various Faculties, 211 MBA/MPA/MILR/MGIS/MPH/MHPMs, and 197 PhDs.
Addressing the audience, Professor Egbewole commended the dedication and excellence displayed by the University’s faculty, staff, and students. He spoke about the university’s vision to attain global recognition as a 21st-century Institution and one of the best in Africa.
According to Prof. Egbewole, to achieve this vision, various committees were formed, focusing on digitization, ranking, revenue generation, social re-engineering, internationalization, and security, among others.
He said further that, in terms of rankings, the Institution has made significant progress both nationally and internationally, adding that the institution was recognized as the most sought-after university in Nigeria for the 10th consecutive year, according to the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
“The Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC) also disclosed that five faculties and 11 subjects from the university were among the world’s best in the Times Higher Education Subject Rankings. Furthermore, four academic staff from the university were listed among the top 2% of scientists in Nigeria, ranking among top-notch researchers worldwide”, he added.
In a boost to research and innovation, Prof. Egbewole said that the University revived the Senate Research Grant (SRG), dedicating fifty million naira to it. This grant he said will support research projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Elsevier Top-Rated Scholars list recognized eleven distinguished academics from the University of Ilorin, while 33 staff members were listed in the Elsevier Top-Rated Scholars.
Notable research achievements included Prof. J.O. Olaoye and Dr. M.O. Sunmonu securing a grant of ₦788,862,483.27 for the 2022/2023 Africa Agrifood Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP). This grant will be used to train farmers and develop software for farm processes. Additionally, Prof. Dupe Ademola-Popoola led a team in performing the first treatment of eye cancer in Nigeria using Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy (IAC).
The university has also been recognized internationally, with a faculty member, Adeyinka Tella, winning the Outstanding Paper Award of the Emerald Literati Awards for his article on robots and public libraries. Four researchers from the university were awarded a total of ₦100,703,500.00 from the 2021 TETFund National Research Fund.
Empower Africa honored Professor Olugbenga Mokuolu for his efforts in combating malaria, and the Department of Geophysics secured a $1.5 million grant to expand its oil and gas-related training and research.
Notably, Prof. Mathew Kolawole was recognized as a “Global Exceptional Talent” by the Royal Society, UK, and received a Two Million Euros Discretionary Award for a research project on arboviruses across Africa.
The university’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine received equipment for a molecular epidemiology laboratory, and Prof. Isaac Olusola Aremu was named the pioneer winner of the Academic Pharmacist of the Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
The University of Ilorin has also seen a significant increase in student enrollment, with 13,374 students matriculating for the 2021/2022 academic session. The university’s students have excelled in various fields, including debating, leadership, and research.
The University of Ilorin’s 37th and 38th Convocation Ceremonies are a celebration of academic excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievements. The institution’s commitment to nurturing talent, fostering research and innovation, and providing quality education remains unwavering. As it continues to advance in various academic and research domains, the University of Ilorin is setting a standard of excellence in the Nigerian and global educational landscape.
