UniAbuja Announces Graduation of Over 12,000 Students for 2022/2023–2023/2024 Sessions

The University of Abuja has confirmed that a total of 12,624 students will be awarded degrees at its combined 29th and 30th convocation ceremonies scheduled to hold between April 10 and April 18, 2026. The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, made the announcement during a press briefing held at the university campus, describing the forthcoming ceremony as a major highlight in the academic calendar and his first convocation exercise since assuming office. He explained that activities marking the ceremony have already commenced with religious observances, including both Islamic and Christian services, and will continue through a series of academic and developmental engagements involving students, staff, and invited guests. Events lined up for the week include an innovation showcase from various faculties, a public lecture on drug awareness, discussions on climate change, and a convocation lecture themed around artificial intelligence and financial technology. These engagements, according to the Vice-Chancellor, are aimed at strengthening the university’s academic relevance and societal impact. The institution also plans to confer honorary doctorate degrees on three individuals in recognition of their achievements and contributions to society. The recipients include Professor Yusuff Olaolu Ali, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, alongside Mr Paul Odili and Mr Emmanuel Ayuba Iza. The main graduation ceremonies are expected to take place in two sessions. First-degree graduands will be celebrated on April 17, while postgraduate awards and honorary degrees will be conferred the following day at the Convocation Square. Professor Fawehinmi expressed satisfaction with the graduating cohorts, noting that the university continues to produce graduates equipped with both academic knowledge and strong ethical values. A total of 7,158 students are graduating from the 2022/2023 academic session, while 5,466 students are from the 2023/2024 set. For the earlier set, 48 students graduated with First Class honours, 2,048 with Second Class Upper, 4,418 with Second Class Lower, and 644 with Third Class. From the 2023/2024 session, 29 students earned First Class, 1,395 Second Class Upper, 3,091 Second Class Lower, and 951 Third Class degrees. He further revealed that outstanding graduates from both sets will be offered automatic employment within the university as part of efforts to reward academic excellence and support their career progression. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the institution’s student population has grown significantly to nearly 40,000, with projections indicating further expansion to about 50,000 by 2030. He stressed that this rapid growth has intensified the demand for expanded infrastructure across the campus. According to him, the university is currently working to bridge infrastructural gaps through new and ongoing projects, but additional investment is still required to meet rising needs. Fawehinmi also reflected on the university’s recent administrative challenges, noting that it experienced a period of leadership instability. He said the situation has since improved following intervention from relevant authorities and the governing council. On academic development, he highlighted continued accreditation successes and research progress, including a ₦4 billion intervention supporting the College of Health Sciences. He added that research in medical fields such as cardiovascular and sickle cell diseases is gaining wider recognition. He also pointed to growing international exposure for students and staff, including participation in global academic competitions and collaborative research initiatives, with one student team selected for an international programme in Rome. On infrastructure, he listed several completed and ongoing developments, including administrative buildings, digital learning facilities, laboratory upgrades, solar-powered housing projects, and a planned 1,500-bed student accommodation scheme through public-private partnership arrangements. On staff welfare, he announced the promotion of over 100 academic staff to professorial ranks, describing it as a record achievement for the institution. He added that efforts are ongoing to further improve staff training and student support systems. Addressing discipline, he confirmed that 28 students were expelled earlier in the year for various misconduct cases, reiterating the institution’s commitment to maintaining order and academic integrity.