UNIZIK sets for historic convocation as 194 make First Class, 16,842 graduate

By Praise Chinecherem

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, is set to graduate 16,842 students at its 20th and 21st combined Convocation Ceremonies scheduled for November 15 to 20, 2026, with 194 graduands emerging with First Class Honours.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the university’s Council Chambers, describing the forthcoming ceremony as another significant milestone in the institution’s academic history.

According to him, 14,803 students will receive first degrees, while 2,039 will be awarded postgraduate qualifications.

Giving a breakdown of the first-degree results, Anyaehie said 194 graduands made First Class Honours, 4,230 obtained Second Class Upper Division, 7,992 earned Second Class Lower Division, while 1,936 graduated with Third Class and 65 with Pass degrees.

He added that another 486 students would graduate with unclassified medical and professional degrees.

The postgraduate category, he disclosed, includes 603 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduates, underscoring the university’s growing contribution to advanced scholarship, research and knowledge production.

The Vice-Chancellor said the graduating students had successfully completed their respective academic programmes and had been found worthy in character and learning.

He urged them to embrace discipline, self-reliance and excellence as they transition into the wider society, charging them to remain worthy ambassadors of the institution.

“Your certificates should not only be symbols of academic achievement but also reminders of the values of integrity, discipline, hard work and responsibility. Wherever you go, let your conduct reflect the quality of education and character you have acquired at UNIZIK,” he said.

Beyond the convocation figures, Anyaehie highlighted several achievements recorded by his administration in digital transformation, infrastructure development, academic advancement and student welfare, in line with its vision of building a greater UNIZIK.

On digital innovation, he disclosed that the university had secured selection into the Federal Government’s $617.7 million Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, supported by the Bank of Industry, Agence Française de Développement and the African Development Bank/Islamic Development Bank.

He said the institution had also expanded its internet bandwidth to 2Gbps through the Agence Française de Développement-Nigerian Research and Education Network partnership, while an additional 300Mbps capacity was awaiting activation through Galaxy Backbone infrastructure.

The Vice-Chancellor further announced the establishment of a TETFund ICT Experience Centre at Hall 2 of the university’s Digital Library.

The facility, he said, would provide training and research opportunities in emerging technology fields, including artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity and software engineering.

On administrative reforms, Anyaehie said the university had introduced an online graduate clearance system to eliminate delays associated with manual clearance procedures and facilitate the faster issuance of statements of results.

He added that historical academic records, results and transcript archives had been digitised to ensure easier retrieval, while the Vice-Chancellor’s student portal had been upgraded to improve real-time communication between students and university management.

In the health sector, the Vice-Chancellor announced that UNIZIK had secured full re-accreditation of its medical programme by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), resulting in an increase in its annual MBBS admission quota from 100 to 300 students.

He also disclosed that the university was upgrading its medical centre to provide round-the-clock emergency services.

On admission transparency, Anyaehie dismissed allegations of cash-for-admission practices in the institution, insisting that its admission process remained firmly rooted in merit and due process.

He disclosed that approximately 90 per cent of admissions processed so far were based on merit, adding that the Vice-Chancellor’s admission list had yet to be released.

Addressing student welfare and campus security, the Vice-Chancellor listed expanded CCTV surveillance coverage, improved perimeter lighting, rehabilitation of hostel water systems and restrooms, as well as regular diesel allocations for power generators among the interventions undertaken by his administration.

Anyaehie also announced that UNIZIK had attained a joint fourth position among Nigerian universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

He described the university’s victory at the 13th All Nigerian Universities Debate Championship as another landmark achievement, noting that it was the institution’s first triumph in the competition’s history.

The university also recorded sporting success at the 12th Federation of African University Sports Games in Cairo, Egypt, where its athletes won silver and bronze medals.

The Vice-Chancellor said the achievements reflected the institution’s determination to strengthen its academic reputation, improve its infrastructure and provide a more conducive environment for teaching, learning and research.

The combined 20th and 21st Convocation Ceremonies will bring together thousands of graduands, their families, members of the university community and other stakeholders to celebrate academic excellence and institutional progress.

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