education
39th Convocation Ceremonies and UNILORIN’s celebration of excellence

By Kunle Akogun
By all conceivable standards, the just concluded 39th Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Ilorin was suffused with all the trappings of a world class outing. At the ceremonies that held on October 21st and 22nd, 2024, a total of 12,042 graduands convoked. Of this number, 256 came out with First Class, 3,842 Second Class (Upper Division), 6,178 Second Class (Lower Division), 1,299 Third Class and 62 Pass. It also included 124 MB;BS graduands, 64 Nursing graduands, 35 Optometry graduands, 30 Veterinary Medicine graduands, 103 Pharmacy graduands, 33 Physiotherapy graduands, 16 Diploma holders, 92 Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,280 Masters, 179 Professional Masters, 1 MPhil and 323 Ph.Ds.
Meticulously conceived and superbly executed, this year’s convocation will, for a long time, remain the subject of positive discourse both within and outside the University campus. It was one of the best organised in recent times.
Not only were the habitual traffic jams, often associated with convocation days, dramatically absent this year, the main convocation arena –the surroundings of the University Auditorium – was devoid of the din and unruly hurly-burly that usually hallmarked the scramble for seating spaces by graduands’ parents, guardians and other guests desirous of having vantage views of the convocation proceedings inside the Main Auditorium.
To stave off unnecessary crowding of the Auditorium grounds this year, the Ceremonials Committee, headed by its workaholic Chairman, Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, had put in place superb arrangements whereby guests were comfortably seated in the expansive UNILORIN Multipurpose Hall, where they watched everything happening inside the Auditorium live on giant television screens! No moment was missed, as it was just like being inside the Auditorium itself.
The well-paved Pavilion behind the Auditorium, which was hitherto reserved for seating the guests in years past, was exclusively reserved, this year, for graduands who could not be accommodated inside the Auditorium. They too were comfortably seated under special canopies, watching everything that transpired inside the Auditorium live!
But beyond the fantastic organisational acumen of the Ceremonials Committee, the real essence of the two-day events –award of various degrees and prizes – was the real deal that gave the 39th Convocation Ceremonies its defining character. The array of guests, which included the representative of the Visitor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the representative of the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; the representative of the Chancellor, the Emir of Katsina, HRH Alhaji (Dr) AbdulMumini Kabir Usman, CFR; the Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman, His Excellency, Surv. Abiodun Jacob Aluko; the Convocation Lecturer, Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi; several Vice Chancellors from across the country, various traditional rulers, captains of industry, and many others, added great colour and intellectual verve to the occasion.
On hand to receive the guests was the multiple award-winning Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, ably assisted by his ever-supportive management team members. Throughout the ceremonies, you could feel the air of satisfaction going through the mind of the erudite Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, who had, about five days earlier, at his traditional Press Briefing, enthusiastically reeled out a long list of achievements recorded by the University in the past 365 days.
But by far the most heart-warming and soul-lifting event of the convocation was the Visitor’s Address, read on behalf of President Tinubu by the immediate past Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu. In the Address, the President poured torrents of encomiums on the University of Ilorin, which he described as a veritable Centre of Excellence!
According to President Tinubu, the University “has continued to do well in fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment where students from diverse backgrounds come together to explore, learn and grow.”
The President expressed great delight in the giant strides of the University staff in groundbreaking patented research endeavours, while acknowledging the accomplishments of its students and Alumni in debates, quizzes, sports and other national and international competitions.
He particularly congratulated the Governing Council, Management, Staff, and Students of the University “for making the nation proud over the years”, noting that the University recently received an award as the most subscribed University in Nigeria, with a cash award of N500,000,000 from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The President pointed out that “this award is a reward for hard work, dedication, and commitment to always doing what is right”, saying, “I wish the University of Ilorin more success as I hope others would emulate the University.”
President Tinubu was not done yet, as he also congratulated the University on its recent award of the Best Federal University in ICT Integration by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, a development he described as “a further testimony to the giant strides of the University.”
He also congratulated the University on the forthcoming celebration of the 50th anniversary of its establishment. He noted that “the event is indeed worthy of celebration as the University is doing quite well in every realm”, adding that “alumni of this University are doing very well within and outside Nigeria and one can say without any fear of contradiction that the University of Ilorin is a front-liner among the nation’s Universities.
For the Better by far University, that lavish presidential kudos was the veritable icing on the proverbial cake of a very successful convocational outing! All thanks to the Midas’ touch of ‘Mr Efficiency”!
Akogun is the Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin
education
KW-IRS Tax Quiz Competition: Six schools emerge finalists

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
In furtherance of its vision to raise tax compliant citizens and propagate tax education among the younger generation, the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), in collaboration with the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, has concluded the semi-final stage of the 2025 Tax Club Quiz Competition.
A statement by the Head, Corporate Affairs of the KW-IRS, Funmilola Oguntunbi, said six schools emerged as finalists at the competition.
The semi-final stage of the competition which was held via online Computer Based Test (CBT), involved 12 schools that sat for the test from the comfort of their respective schools, with appropriate back-end monitoring provided by KW-IRS Tax Club Advocacy Committee alongside representatives of the Commissioner, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Aina, B.E and Mrs Alaya, A.I.
The finalists are St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Ilorin; Roemichs International Schools, Ilorin; Ansar Ud Deen College, Offa; Ansarul Islam Grammar School, Ijomu Oro; Shepherd School, Lafiagi; and Government Secondary School, Lafiagi.
The six schools will contest for the grand prize of N2.5m at the final stage of the competition which will hold in Ilorin on 6th November, 2025.
End
education
Wike: We’re Currently Embarking On Rehabilitation of Over 100 Schools Across The Territory, Gave marching Order for the publication of contracts Already executed

Hassan Taiye
Minister of FCT , Nyesom Wike has disclosed that the Administration is currently working on rehabilitation of over 100 identified schools across the territory.
While giving the marching order to the education secretary to publish the 100 identifed schools under renovations, he said that the provisions for the development of FCT also covered other sectors like the schools.
Wike made this revelation while flagging off provision of engineering infrastructure within A09 lot 1& 2,Guzape, A04 Asokoro Districts on Wednesday in Abuja.
He explained that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration covers all sectors of human endeavors, dismissing claimed by some people saying FCT Administration concentrated on road construction only.
For clarity sake, the Minister ordered the Mandate Secretary, FCTA Education Secretariat to compile the list of the identified over 100 schools spread across the six area councils in electronic form to covers those whose rehabilitation have been completed, those that are ongoing and those that will soon be flag off for members of the public viewing.
According to the Minister: I have told the Mandate Secretary for Education to compile the list in an electronic form, area council by area council, school by school. how many schools have we rehabilitated, completed? How many is ongoing, and how many are we going to flag up? Let Nigerians see, and challenge us, and say it is a lie.
“It is, seeing is believing. And I have told him, that must be shown. The 107 schools, some have been completed, some are going to be rehabilitated, and some will be flagged up.
He said provision of engineering infrastructure to areas of Guzape and Asokoro districts are in tandem with President Tinubu’s intention towards ensuring that every part of Abuja, particularly the city has infrastructure, has good road network’s that will make the city look what it is.
” And those who are living here, what would they be saying tomorrow? Would they say that there is not impact of the Tinubu’s administration? They have been here for years, no road. But Tinubu has come, now there is a road. Would they say it has no impact at all, at all, as far as Tinubu ‘s administration is concerned? So, the truth must be told, “
education
UNILORIN inducts 35 new veterinary doctors

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin has inducted 35 new veterinary doctors at its seventh induction/oath-taking ceremony.
Speaking as the Keynote Speaker at the event, a former Vice President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Dr. Bala Muhammed, told both the graduands and audience at the event that solutions to contemporary health challenges demand interdisciplinary cooperation.
“Solutions to today’s greatest health challenges cannot be designed in isolation—they demand cooperation across veterinary medicine, human medicine, environmental sciences, and public policy”, he added.
Muhammed, a veterinary surgeon, said: “The health of humans, animals, and the environment can no longer be treated as separate concerns.
“They are intricately linked, forming the foundation of the one health approach, a global strategy that requires collaboration across disciplines to achieve optimal health outcomes for all.”
He added that, “despite successes, veterinary services remain underfunded, under-recognized, and under-integrated into national health frameworks.
“Many countries, including ours, face surveillance blind spots, weak laboratory capacity, and governance silos.
“These gaps allow diseases to simmer unnoticed until they explode into public crises, with devastating health and economic consequences.
“To truly protect one world, we must invest in veterinary infrastructure and laboratories, foster collaboration among doctors, veterinarians, ecologists, and policymakers to strengthen education, funding, and data systems which empower community-centered prevention strategies. “Veterinarians must be recognized not only as responders but as guardians of planetary health.”
The President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Prof. Mathew Adamu, urged the graduands to uphold the ethics of the profession.
Prof. Adamu, who was represented by the Vice President of VCN, Halimah Gambo, urged the graduands to let the integrity be their watch word and serve with compassion.
According to him, taking care of animals as a veterinary doctor, means they are indirectly taking care of people of the nation.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN) who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Management Services, Prof. Adegboyega Fawole, charged the new vet doctors to be good ambassadors of the university.
Earlier, Dean of the Faculty Professor Saliu Ameen, said that the induction marked the formal licensing of these young doctors as veterinary professionals.
Professor Ameen added that, “this ceremony is not merely a ritual; it is a defining moment. It signifies the transition of our graduands from students of veterinary medicine to full members of a noble and globally relevant profession”.
Dr Kareemot Babalola, who spoke on behalf of the graduands commended their lecturers for the mentoring and tutorship for their six years rigorous of learning.
Babalola appreciated their parents for the spiritual, moral and financial support throughout the journey.
She, therefore, urged her colleagues to be good ambassadors of the institution and Nigeria.
End
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