55th Convocation: UNN Set to Graduate 12,895 Students as VC Highlights 11-Month Transformation

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), will graduate 12,895 students during its 55th Convocation Ceremony as the institution celebrates what its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, described as a remarkable transformation achieved within his first 11 months in office.

Ortuanya disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the university's Enugu Campus, themed "The Renaissance of Mind and the Rebuilding of the Lion's Den."

The Vice-Chancellor said the university was steadily rediscovering its founding vision and reaffirming its place as a leading centre of scholarship, character and national service.

He noted that since assuming office 11 months ago, his administration had focused on restoring academic excellence, improving staff welfare, expanding infrastructure, strengthening research and repositioning the institution for global competitiveness.

According to him, one of the administration's major achievements was the increase in the university's MBBS admission quota from 180 to 400 students following accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, while the Dentistry quota rose from 15 to 60 students.

He added that the National Universities Commission (NUC) approved the unbundling of the Department of Mass Communication into five specialised degree programmes, while four new programmes—Agribusiness, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Industrial Arts, and Criminology and Security Studies—received full accreditation.

Ortuanya also announced the establishment of the university's Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Laboratory, describing it as a strategic investment in preparing students for the digital economy.

He said the university had commenced the digitalisation of its administrative processes to enhance efficiency, transparency and accountability.

The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that several student-led start-ups had gained national recognition through innovation initiatives, including the iDICE Start-up Bridge Programme and projects supported by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

On staff welfare, Ortuanya said salaries had remained regular, while academic staff continued to receive their earned entitlements. He added that arrangements for implementing similar benefits for non-teaching staff had reached an advanced stage.

He revealed that 1,984 members of staff had been promoted across various cadres during the period, including 25 scholars elevated to the rank of professor.

Highlighting the university's growing international profile, Ortuanya said UNN had strengthened partnerships with institutions and governments in Sweden, Taiwan, China, Belarus, the United States and South Africa, leading to research collaborations, staff and student exchange programmes and other academic initiatives.

He added that the university's Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre was implementing the INCLUDING-Africa Project on climate finance and sustainable development and had been selected among 13 leading African think tanks under the African Union-coordinated RAISED Africa Consortium.

The Vice-Chancellor announced that the convocation lecture, scheduled for Thursday, July 23, would be delivered by Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, under the chairmanship of former UNN Vice-Chancellor and current Vice-Chancellor of the University on the Niger, Prof. Ositadinma Nebo.

Providing a breakdown of the graduating students, Ortuanya said 10,641 would receive first degrees and diplomas, including 168 First Class graduates.

He added that 2,944 postgraduate students would be awarded higher degrees on Saturday, July 25, comprising 1,390 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, 1,340 Master's degrees and 214 Postgraduate Diplomas.

The university will also confer honorary doctorate degrees on Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; businessman High Chief Williams Agbo; architect Dr. Kaycee Kelechi Orji; and Dr. William Franklyn Richardson.

In addition, two distinguished scholars of the institution, Prof. Peter-Jazzy Ezeh and Prof. Boniface Obinna Okere, will be honoured with the title of Professor Emeritus.

Ortuanya said the 55th Convocation was not merely a celebration of academic achievements but a reaffirmation of the university's commitment to excellence, innovation and service to humanity.

He reiterated that UNN remained committed to rebuilding the institution in line with the vision of its founding fathers and positioning it as a globally competitive university capable of producing graduates equipped to address contemporary national and global challenges.