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By Sola Rotimi
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, has challenged 11,213 first-degree graduands of the institution to become active solution providers to the nation’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
Delivering his address, titled “Let This Investment Count,” at the university’s 41st Convocation Ceremony, Prof. Egbewole urged the new graduates to deploy their acquired skills, knowledge, and ethical values to address national threats, including widespread unemployment, insecurity, healthcare gaps, food scarcity, and moral decline.
“Your certificate is not the end of your journey–it is the beginning of a greater responsibility. The world is waiting for you, and Nigeria needs you,” Egbewole told the gathering.
“Do not go into the world merely to join the growing queue of complaints. Go out there to create value and make desired positive change,” he stated further.
Emphasising that tertiary education represents major sacrifices by families, institutions, and individuals, the Vice-Chancellor reminded the graduands that many parents diverted vital financial resources to fund their studies.
“The money that could have been used to build a house went towards your accommodation. The money that could have bought a car paid for your textbooks, learning materials and internet data,” he stated, charging the graduates to repay these sacrifices through professional integrity, civic contributions, and by supporting their families.
The 41st convocation produced 11,213 first-degree graduands, led by 365 First Class Honours recipients, 4,367 Second Class Upper Division graduates, 5,102 Second Class Lower Division graduates, 1,006 Third Class graduates, and 373 in other degree categories.
The university also produced key healthcare professionals across several disciplines, including 19 in Medicine and Surgery, 89 in Nursing Science, 73 in Pharmacy, 41 in Optometry, 89 in Physiotherapy, and 32 in Veterinary Medicine, alongside 4,939 postgraduate graduands.
To demonstrate that UNILORIN students are already developing practical solutions, Prof. Egbewole reeled out several recent student achievements, including three undergraduates, Abdullahi Babatunde, Abdulrazaq Alatare, and Shehu Mogoban, who secured ₦50 million each under the Federal Government Students Venture Grant competition for innovative projects.
He also cited international recognition gained by veterinary students Oluwagbemiga Ojobaro and Grace Ogundipe through global scholarships and research grants, as well as community contributions such as telecommunications students donating weather-forecasting equipment to the campus radio station.
In his address, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko, commended President Bola Tinubu and Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa for federal interventions through TETFund and NELFUND, while describing UNILORIN as a “leadership factory.”
Shedding light on the institution’s rise from 37th position in Nigeria in the previous year to fifth position in the 2026–2027 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities Rankings, Aluko called on the Federal Government to increase funding for research in Nigerian universities.
“No nation can develop beyond the level of research conducted in its universities,” Aluko said, stressing that sustained investment in research remains essential to consolidating the gains recorded by tertiary institutions.
