The University of Ilorin has graduated 16,152 students at its 41st Convocation Ceremonies, recording significant achievements in research funding, academic rankings, infrastructure, digitalisation, innovation, accreditation, student development and strategic partnerships.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, disclosed this on Monday, October 19, 2026, during the 41st Convocation Press Briefing held at the University Auditorium, Ilorin.
In his presentation titled “From Impact to Legacy,” Professor Egbewole reviewed the university’s achievements during the 2025/2026 academic session and the period since the last convocation.
He said the convocation provided an opportunity to celebrate graduating students, assess the institution’s progress and reflect on its future direction.
Professor Egbewole explained that since assuming office on October 16, 2022, his administration had focused on building on the university’s existing strengths while improving digital infrastructure, staff and students’ welfare, research, innovation, teaching and learning, campus facilities and external partnerships.
According to him, the administration’s objective has been to strengthen the university’s tradition of academic excellence, stability, integrity and peace while preparing it for the demands of a changing knowledge economy.
He said the achievements formed part of the university’s Vision 1:10:500 aspiration of becoming Nigeria’s number one university, ranking among the top 10 universities in Africa and entering the world’s top 500.
On research and academic rankings, Professor Egbewole disclosed that UNILORIN secured eight awards under the 2026 National Research Fund, valued at ₦260,291,695, and emerged as the fourth-best-performing university nationally in the latest TETFund ranking cycle.
He also announced that the university ranked first in Nigeria in Aquatic Science in the 2026 SCImago Institutions Rankings.
Other rankings included second in Nigeria and 50th in Africa in Animal Science and Zoology; second in Nigeria and 10th in Africa in Surgery; third in Nigeria and 36th in Africa in Veterinary Science; third in Nigeria and 43rd in Africa in Mathematics; and third in Nigeria and 10th in Africa in Library and Information Science.
The university also ranked fourth in Nigeria and 73rd in Africa in Computer Science; sixth in Nigeria and 69th in Africa in Physics and Astronomy; and sixth in Nigeria and 47th in Africa in Arts and Humanities.
The Vice Chancellor described the results as encouraging indicators of the university’s growing research strength and institutional standing, adding that the institution remained committed to improving its performance and achieving its strategic vision.
Digitalisation and Infrastructure Development
Professor Egbewole said his administration had made deliberate investments to transform UNILORIN into a smart campus through the digitalisation of academic processes, improved Learning Management Systems, stronger internet infrastructure and digital administration.
He also highlighted improvements in campus transportation, disclosing that five new Compressed Natural Gas buses and 20 electric tricycles were commissioned on January 2, 2026, to ease movement within the university.
He added that seven additional CNG buses had been acquired through Unilorin Holdings Limited, bringing the total number of CNG buses to 12. The 20 electric tricycles were provided through a TETFund initiative.
The university also secured a ₦1 billion TETFund High Impact Intervention for equipment upgrades in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology.
On academic quality assurance, Professor Egbewole disclosed that the university obtained full accreditation for 11 academic programmes following an exercise conducted by the National Universities Commission in November 2025.
He further announced that the university’s Central Research Laboratory was selected as one of the few laboratories in Nigeria to conduct a national baseline study on lead-analysis capacity in Northern Nigeria.
The study is being conducted in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives, with support from the United States Agency for International Development.
Similarly, the Department of Microbiology received scientific equipment valued at €59,846.02, estimated at approximately ₦100 million, under the XSTAR Project Nigeria.
The equipment includes a Luminex MAGPIX system, an ultrasonic bath and microplate shakers.
Students and Graduates Record Major Achievements
The Vice Chancellor also highlighted achievements by students and graduates across entrepreneurship, law, engineering, debate and innovation.
He disclosed that three undergraduates secured a combined ₦150 million under the Federal Government Students Venture Grant competition, with each beneficiary receiving ₦50 million for separate project proposals.
A graduate of the Faculty of Law, Mr Israel Adekunle Adeniyi, emerged as the 2026 Best Graduating Student at the Nigerian Law School, while 15 other UNILORIN graduates obtained First Class in the Bar Final Examination.
The university also produced four new Senior Advocates of Nigeria: Mr Adebisi Emmanuel Adeniyi, Mr Adebayo Folorunsho Ologe, Mr Akorede Habeeb Lawal and Mr Mohammed Adelodun.
In engineering education, Professor Egbewole described UNILORIN’s performance at the 2026 Committee of Deans of Engineering and Technology of Nigerian Universities Students’ Competition as a historic milestone.
He said the institution became the first Nigerian university to secure podium finishes in all award categories in a single edition of the competition.
The University of Ilorin Debate Group also emerged first runner-up at the 2026 National Universities Commission Debate Championship and recorded strong performances at the All Nigeria Universities Debate Championship.
Another achievement was recorded by a 400-level student of Criminology and Security Studies, Mr Pelumi Barnabas, who won the 2026 TEC ASBE Innovation Summit after developing a campus emergency response application.
Strategic Partnerships and Skills Development
Professor Egbewole said the university had expanded its academic, research and industry partnerships during the period under review.
He cited the strategic collaboration between UNILORIN and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which focuses on establishing a Centre of Excellence for practical engineering and technology-driven research, alongside an NNPC Professional Chair at the university.
The university also entered into a partnership with the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi, Pakistan.
The agreement covers pharmaceutical, biological and clinical sciences, including staff and student exchanges, joint research, publications and conferences.
Other partnerships were established with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the League of Tropical Universities and Hainan University, China.
The university also received ₦10 million from the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellow Alumni Association Nigeria for the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies to support its annual award for the best graduating PhD thesis in Peace and Development Studies.
In addition, Professor Egbewole disclosed that 8,320 students graduated from the U-INSPIRE programme, through which participants acquired 21st-century skills alongside their primary qualifications.
He described the graduates as products of the distinctive “UNILORIN way”, characterised by discipline, diligence, intellectual excellence, resilience and service.
Egbewole Calls for Sustained Progress
Reflecting on his administration’s four-year journey, Professor Egbewole said the 41st Convocation was not only a celebration of academic achievements but also an opportunity to assess the progress made and consider what would be passed on to the next administration.
He said the university’s achievements included stronger institutional systems, improved facilities, growing research and innovation, expanded partnerships, talented graduates and a committed workforce.
The Vice Chancellor noted that no administration could complete the development of a university within a single tenure, stressing the importance of building a stronger foundation for future leadership.
He urged stakeholders to sustain cooperation and shared responsibility as the institution continues to pursue its Vision 1:10:500 aspiration.
Professor Egbewole also called on members of the press to maintain their partnership with the university in communicating its achievements, aspirations and values.
He stressed that the institution’s next phase of development would require continued discipline, collaboration and commitment to improvement, adding that UNILORIN must remain focused on building on its history while preparing for a stronger future.
