The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, led a delegation of university executives to the 15th convocation ceremony of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

The ceremony, held at the institution's Atere Campus, featured a high-profile guest list including the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Alabi, who represented Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Other prominent attendees included the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, and the Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Prof. Sheikh Luqman Alade Jimoh.

Prof. Egbewole's presence at the event was described by UNILORIN's Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, as a deliberate move to deepen the historic relationship between the two institutions. Notably, UNILORIN played a foundational role in grooming Al-Hikmah University when it was established two decades ago as Kwara's first private university.

Since assuming office in October 2022, Prof. Egbewole who chairs the Consortium of Kwara Universities (KU8+) has made inter-university networking a cornerstone of his administration. His leadership extends beyond the state, as he currently serves as Vice-President (West Africa) of the Association of African Universities (AAU) and Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU).

The event also saw the attendance of Dr. Usman Atolagbe Abubakar Jos, the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin and an Associate Professor at UNILORIN, alongside various other leaders from the academic and public sectors.

He added that many past leaders of Al-Hikmah University, including Prof. Musibau Adewumi Akanji, Prof. Rasaq Deremi Abubakar, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, and Prof. Noah Yusuf, had previously served as staff at UNILORIN.

Mr. Akogun explained that Prof. Egbewole's presence was also intended to support the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lateef Folorunsho Oladimeji, a former national official of the UNILORIN Alumni Association, and to celebrate the first convocation organized under his administration.

The visit was further described as a gesture of appreciation to the founder of Al-Hikmah University, Alhaji (Dr.) AbdulRaheem Oladimeji, OFR, who has maintained a longstanding relationship with UNILORIN.

Mr. Akogun assured that UNILORIN, under Prof. Egbewole's leadership, will continue to serve as a "big brother" to other universities in Kwara State, promoting quality education, collaboration, and improved service delivery among member institutions of the KU8+ consortium.

The initiative underscores UNILORIN's ongoing commitment to fostering inter-university partnerships and advancing higher education across the state.