By Salejo Aliyu
The University of Abuja, now renamed Yakubu Gowon University, has conferred degrees on 17,300 students during its 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremony, while also honouring three distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to society.
The colourful ceremony, held at the institution’s main campus in Abuja, saw the conferment of an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree on Paul Odili, alongside Yusuf Ali and Emmanuel Issa.
Vice-Chancellor, Hakeem Fawehinmi, said the honourees were selected based on their exemplary character and significant contributions to national development.
“I doff my hat for you for this well-deserved honour and great achievement,” he stated.
Addressing the graduating students, the Vice-Chancellor urged them to prioritise impact over certificates, stressing that character, discipline, and integrity would ultimately define their success.
“Certificates can open doors, but it is your character, discipline, integrity and steadfastness that will determine how far you go,” he said, urging them to uphold the institution’s reputation wherever they find themselves.
Responding on behalf of the award recipients, Mr. Odili expressed gratitude to the university and dedicated the honour to Nigerians who continue to pursue their dreams despite challenges.
“For a village boy like me to stand before you today… I want to tell Nigerians to keep dreaming. It is possible,” he said.
He also pledged support for the university, promising to collaborate with its leadership to address key challenges and improve infrastructure within the next two years.
A breakdown of the graduating students shows that for the 2022/2023 academic session, 48 students graduated with First Class honours, 2,048 with Second Class Upper, 4,418 with Second Class Lower, and 644 with Third Class degrees.
For the 2023/2024 session, 29 students earned First Class honours, 1,395 Second Class Upper, and 3,091 Second Class Lower degrees.
At the postgraduate level, covering March 2024 to March 2026, 815 students obtained Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,724 earned Academic Master’s degrees, 1,244 received Professional Master’s degrees, while 729 were awarded PhDs and 64 obtained Professional Doctorates.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the university is undergoing strategic repositioning through infrastructure expansion, staff development, and partnerships aimed at strengthening research and academic excellence.
Earlier, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Olanrewaju Tejuoso, called for increased private sector participation, particularly in addressing the shortage of student accommodation due to rising enrolment.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the education sector through sustained investment and enhanced welfare for staff.
Represented by Permanent Secretary Abel Enitan, the minister described education as a critical driver of national development, noting that countries that prioritise education position themselves for innovation and global competitiveness.