448 Bag First Class as UI Graduates 5,900 Students

A total of 448 students have graduated with First Class honours as the University of Ibadan (UI) conferred degrees on 5,900 students for the 2024/2025 academic session.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, disclosed this on Tuesday during the first day of the institution’s Convocation Ceremony, held at the university’s International Conference Centre, Ibadan. The ceremony featured graduates from the Faculties of Arts, Science, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Public Health, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Prof. Adebowale congratulated the graduates, describing their success as a reflection of discipline, determination, and resilience. He noted that the University of Ibadan had equipped its students to thrive globally through competence, character, and creativity.

“The University of Ibadan has trained you to seize future opportunities with confidence and integrity,” he said. “You represent the excellence for which this institution stands.”

He reaffirmed the university’s position as Nigeria’s premier institution and one of Africa’s most prestigious universities, highlighting its impact on national and global development through innovative research and academic excellence.

According to the vice-chancellor, UI’s Postgraduate College, the largest in Africa, continues to produce high-level professionals across various fields. He also noted that the newly established Faculty of Computing positions the university as a leading force in digital innovation and technology-driven education.

While acknowledging the country’s economic and infrastructural challenges, Adebowale praised the perseverance of Nigerian scholars and students who continue to distinguish themselves despite difficult conditions.

“The spirit of innovation continues to drive UI’s progress and sustain its leading role in higher education,” he added.

The vice-chancellor also commended the achievements of UI’s staff and students in international research, fellowships, and competitions, describing them as evidence of the university’s commitment to excellence and relevance in the modern knowledge economy.

Delivering the convocation lecture, Dr. Abel Adegoke, a UK-based medical practitioner and distinguished alumnus of the university, charged the graduates to approach life with resilience, integrity, and a sense of service.

“True growth does not come from comfort. Go into the world not as job seekers but as solution creators,” Adegoke said. “The world awaits the light of your brilliance.”

One of the graduating students, Ayodeji Adeyemi of the Department of European Studies (French Unit), shared his gratitude and urged fellow graduates to look beyond academic qualifications and embrace the broader values UI represents.

“I thank God for where the weight of that name — UI — has carried me,” Adeyemi said. “It has opened doors for me, including my current service at the ECOWAS Commission. The name has truly made room for me.”

The weeklong convocation ceremony will continue with other faculties, including Education, Law, Social Sciences, Technology, and Agriculture, as the University of Ibadan continues to celebrate academic excellence and its contribution to national development.