UNILORIN VC to graduates: Let this investment count

ILORIN — The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has urged graduating students to justify the sacrifices made by their parents, guardians and other stakeholders by using their education, knowledge and skills to solve societal problems and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Egbewole gave the charge in his address titled “Let This Investment Count!” at the university’s 41st Convocation Ceremony, where he congratulated the graduands and challenged them to translate the opportunities provided by university education into tangible benefits for themselves and society.

The Vice-Chancellor’s message placed emphasis on the responsibilities that come with obtaining a university degree, particularly the need for graduates to demonstrate that the time, money, energy and other resources invested in their education have produced meaningful results.

He called on the graduands to appreciate the contributions of their parents and guardians, whose sacrifices had helped them reach the milestone, while also recognising the efforts of the university’s academic and non-academic staff and other stakeholders in their educational journey.

According to the message of the address, the significance of graduation goes beyond receiving certificates and celebrating academic achievements. It also marks the beginning of a new phase in which graduates are expected to apply their learning, demonstrate discipline and integrity, and contribute to the development of their communities.

The charge comes at a time when Nigerian graduates face concerns over unemployment, changing workplace requirements and the need to acquire practical competencies that complement conventional academic qualifications.

Egbewole’s appeal therefore highlights the importance of ensuring that university education produces individuals capable of creating opportunities, addressing real-life challenges and adding value to their workplaces and communities.

16,152 students to graduate

The 41st Convocation Ceremony is expected to see the university graduate a total of 16,152 students for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The figure comprises 11,213 students receiving first degrees and 4,939 candidates earning higher degrees and diplomas.

Among the undergraduate graduands, 365 earned First-Class honours, while 4,367 obtained Second-Class Upper Division degrees. Another 5,102 graduated with Second-Class Lower Division degrees, 1,006 earned Third-Class degrees and 30 obtained Pass degrees.

The graduating class also includes students from several professional programmes, including Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Pharmacy, Optometry, Physiotherapy and Veterinary Medicine.

The scale of the graduating class underscores the responsibility confronting the university and other stakeholders in ensuring that graduates are adequately prepared for the demands of employment, entrepreneurship, professional practice and further learning.

For the graduands, the Vice-Chancellor’s message serves as a reminder that the value of their qualifications will increasingly be demonstrated through their conduct, competence, creativity and contributions beyond the university environment.

Beyond certificates, emphasis on practical skills

The university has also placed increasing emphasis on equipping students with practical skills to complement their academic qualifications.

One of the initiatives highlighted ahead of the convocation is the University of Ilorin’s U-INSPIRE programme, through which 8,320 participants successfully completed training designed to strengthen their employability, entrepreneurial capacity and readiness for the demands of the modern workplace.

The programme was developed in collaboration with industry partners to help students acquire relevant competencies beyond classroom instruction.

At the graduation ceremony for the programme’s second cohort, Egbewole urged participants to move beyond academic certificates, develop practical capabilities and turn innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.

The initiative reflects a broader recognition that graduates need more than theoretical knowledge to thrive in an increasingly competitive economy.

Practical experience, problem-solving ability, creativity and the capacity to identify and respond to emerging opportunities are becoming important complements to formal qualifications.

The university’s efforts in this area provide additional context for the Vice-Chancellor’s appeal to graduands to make their educational investment count.

Parents, guardians and stakeholders share in the investment

The address also draws attention to the role played by parents, guardians and other supporters in the education of university students.

For many Nigerian families, sponsoring a child through university involves considerable financial and personal sacrifices, including the payment of tuition-related charges, accommodation, feeding, learning materials, transportation and other expenses.

Beyond financial contributions, families often provide emotional support, encouragement and guidance throughout their children’s academic journeys.

The successful completion of a degree is therefore not only a personal achievement for the graduand but also a milestone for the families and communities that supported the process.

The Vice-Chancellor’s call places a responsibility on graduates to honour those sacrifices by making responsible decisions, upholding ethical standards and applying their knowledge in ways that benefit others.

It also reinforces the need for graduates to recognise education as an opportunity to develop their potential and contribute to society, rather than merely as a means of obtaining certificates.

UNILORIN highlights institutional progress

The convocation also provides an opportunity for the university to showcase its academic and institutional achievements during the 2025/2026 session.

Ahead of the ceremony, Egbewole highlighted several developments, including the accreditation of 11 academic programmes, the expansion of campus transportation and the strengthening of research, innovation and institutional partnerships.

The university also disclosed that it received a ₦25 million award from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in recognition of its compliance with admission regulations.

In addition, the institution announced the introduction of 12 compressed natural gas-powered buses and 20 electric tricycles to improve transportation within the campus.

The university has continued to pursue its Vision 1:10:500 aspiration, which seeks to make it Nigeria’s leading university, place it among Africa’s top 10 institutions and secure a position among the world’s top 500 universities.

The vision reflects the institution’s stated ambition to strengthen academic standards, research output, innovation, partnerships and its international standing.

Egbewole has also stressed the importance of continuity, responsible management of resources and collective commitment to sustaining institutional progress.

A new responsibility for graduands

As the graduands prepare to leave the university, the message of “Let This Investment Count!” places their future contributions at the centre of the convocation celebration.

Their degrees represent years of learning and assessment, but they also carry expectations from families, employers, communities and the wider society.

For those entering the labour market, the challenge will be to demonstrate the knowledge and skills acquired through their studies. For aspiring entrepreneurs, it will be to identify opportunities, develop viable ideas and create value. Others will pursue postgraduate education, professional development or careers in public service.

Whatever paths they choose, the central challenge is to make their education relevant to the needs of society.

The university’s 41st Convocation Ceremony, which runs from October 16 to 25, 2026, celebrates the achievements of its graduating students while providing an opportunity to reflect on the responsibilities that accompany higher education.

For the graduands, the message is clear: the completion of a degree is not the end of their journey but the beginning of a new responsibility to themselves, their families and society.

The ultimate measure of the investment in their education will be what they do with the knowledge, discipline and opportunities they have acquired.

UNILORIN VC to graduates: Let this investment count