By Our Reporter
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and three prominent Nigerians will be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees at the 55th Convocation of the University of Nigeria.
The other distinguished Nigerians to be honoured are High Chief Williams Agbo; Arc. Dr. Kaycee Kelechi Orji; and Dr. William Franklyn Richardson.
There will also be the elevation of two eminent scholars, Prof. Peter-Jazzy Ezeh and Prof. Boniface Obinna Okere, to the rank of Professor Emeritus.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, who announced this at a media briefing on Thursday at the Nsukka campus of the university, said a total of 12,895 students would graduate during the ceremonies, out of which168 exceptional scholars will pass out with First Class Honours degrees across various disciplines.
Providing a detailed breakdown of the graduating class, Professor Ortuanya revealed that 10,641 students would receive First Degrees and Diplomas, led by the 168 First Class record-setters whose achievements reflect the enduring academic culture of the institution.
In the postgraduate category, the premier university will confer 2,944 higher degrees, comprising 1,390 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, 1,340 Master’s degrees, and 214 Postgraduate Diplomas, reinforcing UNN’s standing as a citadel of advanced scholarship and scientific research.
Delivering the flagship Convocation Lecture on Thursday, July 23, 2026, is the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, under the chairmanship of Venerable Professor Ositadinma C. Nebo, CON, the 12th Vice-Chancellor of UNN and current Vice-Chancellor of the University on the Niger.
Speaking on the theme, “The Renaissance of Mind and the Rebuilding of the Lions Den,” Professor Ortuanya noted that his administration, since taking office in August 2025 as the 16th Vice-Chancellor, has remained committed to rediscovering the moral courage and founding vision established by Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
He stated that leading UNN entails preserving a sacred covenant to restore the dignity of man while boldly confronting inherited challenges, including aging facilities, infrastructural deficits, and economic pressures.
Drawing inspiration from the biblical account of Nehemiah, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that the ongoing turnaround of the institution begins with a mindset shift aimed at converting visible physical fatigue into institutional renewal.
”We are rebuilding not simply structures but confidence; we are restoring not merely facilities but possibilities,” Prof. Ortuanya declared, stressing that a true academic renaissance must first be anchored on intellectual distinction and research excellence.
Highlighting significant academic breakthroughs achieved over the past eleven months, the VC disclosed that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has approved an expansion of UNN’s MBBS admission quota from 180 to 400, while the Dentistry quota was increased from 15 to 60 students.
He also announced the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) approval for the unbundling of the Department of Mass Communication into five modern, specialized degree programs tailored to the contemporary digital communication ecosystem.
Furthermore, four newly introduced undergraduate programs—Agribusiness, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Industrial Arts, as well as Criminology and Security Studies—have secured full professional and academic accreditation from regulatory authorities.
On the technological front, UNN has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation of its Central Library and successfully operationalized a dedicated Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Laboratory to prepare students for the global digital economy.
Addressing physical infrastructure, the Vice-Chancellor outlined extensive ongoing construction and rehabilitation works across the Nsukka, Enugu, and Ituku-Ozalla campuses, turning the university into an active development site.
Key projects include the total reconstruction of major internal road networks with standardized drainage systems, alongside the ongoing overhaul of historic residential halls such as Eni-Njoku, Eyo-Ita, Nkrumah, Odili Hostels, and the historic Zik’s Flats.
At the College of Medicine, Ituku-Ozalla, construction is underway for new 40-room hostel blocks for Nursing and Pharmacy students, alongside new faculty facilities and the resumption of work on the long-delayed administrative Senate Building.
The university administration has equally enforced its master plan by removing illegal structures, restoring green belts, erecting perimeter fencing, and constructing a grand architectural entrance gate at the Nsukka main entrance.
On staff and student welfare, Professor Ortuanya revealed that 1,984 staff members across various cadres have received promotions—including 25 newly elevated Professors—while academic salaries and earned allowances are being disbursed promptly in line with federal agreements.
He praised UNN students for making national headlines through technological innovations, citing several student-led startups that secured funding and accolades through the iDICE Start-up Bridge Initiative and NITDA/JICA platforms.
Fielding questions on university financing, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged severe funding deficits facing public tertiary institutions and outlined strategic measures adopted by UNN to maintain operational efficiency.
He explained that the university relies on strict budget prioritization, transparent fiscal management, and strategic Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to execute critical capital projects like student accommodation without relying solely on federal allocations.
Prof. Ortuanya expressed deep concern over the low uptake of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) in the South-East region compared to other geopolitical zones, despite its zero-interest benefit.
He urged UNN students to actively take advantage of the federal loan scheme to ease financial burdens, noting that over 7,201 students from the university have already benefited from the fund.
To enhance graduate employability, the VC highlighted practical skill acquisition drives embedded in the university’s curriculum, including hands-on training at the Entrepreneurship Center and the Department of Vocational Teacher Education (VTE).
In a practical demonstration of self-reliance, he revealed that all academic graduation gowns utilized for the 55th Convocation were produced internally by university staff and students rather than outsourced to external vendors.
Additionally, the university has established a Directorate of Career Services to bridge the gap between academia and industry, connecting students directly with corporate organizations and multinational firms for internship and employment pipelines.
These multi-pronged reforms have yielded global dividends, with UNN climbing rapidly in recent international rankings to become the 2nd best university in Nigeria and ranking 4th across the African continent.
The university’s global footprint has expanded through strategic research partnerships with institutions across Sweden, Taiwan, China, Belarus, South Africa, and the United States, as well as hosting distinguished visiting scholars, including a Nobel Laureate in Economics.
Prof. Ortuanya reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering zero-tolerance policy against corrupt practices, extortion, and illegal fees in student admissions or staff employment processes.
Reiterating the institution’s whistleblowing framework, he assured students, parents, and the public that reported cases of extortion would be investigated discreetly, with severe sanctions meted out to culprits while protecting the identity of informants.
The Vice-Chancellor called on the alumni, corporate partners, and the media to join hands with the university administration in sustaining the ongoing transformation.
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