By Femi Anamelechi
Renown for academic excellence and and churning out some of brightest scholars in Nigeria and Africa, foremost University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), is set to confer first degrees and diplomas on 9,821 students at its 54th Convocation Ceremony, with an all time impressive 167 graduating on First Class Honours.Our reporter gathered that the convocation activities commenced with a press briefing held at the university’s Enugu campus on July 22, 2025 with the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oguejiofor Ujam, addressing journalists. The acting Acting Chancellor attributed the academic achievements of the university to the relentless dedication of both students and academic staff. “These statistics reflect not only the perseverance of our students but also the unwavering commitment of our faculty,” Ujam noted. A breakdown includes 167 First Class Honours, 3,485 Second Class Upper, 5,217 Second Class Lower, 739 Third Class, 33 Pass grades, and 180 unclassified results. In addition, the university will also award 1,892 higher degrees and postgraduate diplomas — comprising 616 PhDs, 1,101 Master’s degrees, and 133 MBAs.
Professor Ujam, whose six-month acting tenure is expected to come to an end next month, also announced that the convocation lecture will be delivered by Mr. Ukandu Eme Ukandu, MD/CEO of FirstCap Limited and Chairman of First City Monument Bank. The lecture, themed “Educated to Rise: From Struggle to Global Strength,” is scheduled for July 24.The out going Acting Vice Chancellor while highlighting developments under his leadership pointed out that the creation of the Directorate of Grants and Scholarships was a strategic move to boost external research funding and enhance access to academic scholarships. Professor Ujam described the initiative as a key step toward transforming UNN into a hub for groundbreaking research and global academic excellence.
