Four hundred and fifty (450) students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have bagged First Class degrees during the 2020/2021 and 2022/2023 academic sessions of the institution.

The First Class students are amongst the 25,234 students that will be graduating during the combined 37th and 38th convocations of the university billed to hold between Friday and Monday.

The vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, disclosed this at a pre-convocation press conference in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday.

Given the breakdown of the graduating students, Egbewole said: “We shall be convoking 25,234 students 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, 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 session; In 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, 26 graduands with Distinction, and 43 graduands with Pass in Pharmacy.

“Thus, we have 9,684 graduates 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.”

Egbewole said the institution has recorded remarkable milestones in terms of ranking, both nationally and internationally.

“UNILORIN has moved up the ranking ladder of leading ivory towers in Nigeria and for the 10th consecutive year, we again topped the list of most sought-after universities in the country for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

“Also, the Chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC) disclosed recently that five Faculties and 11 subjects of this university were among the world’s best as contained in Times Higher Education Subject Rankings. Four academic staff were also listed among 2% of top scientists from Nigeria ranked among top-notch researchers worldwide.”

He also disclosed that some projects completed by his administration will be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu on Monday.