The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Kayode Adebowale, has announced that 448 out of 5,900 students graduating in the 2024/2025 academic session earned First Class honours across various disciplines.
Adebowale made the disclosure on Tuesday during the first day of the institution’s convocation ceremony held in Ibadan. The event featured graduates from the Faculties of Arts, Science, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Public Health, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Congratulating the graduating students, the Vice-Chancellor described their achievements as the outcome of discipline, hard work, and perseverance. He noted that UI had equipped its graduates with the competence, character, and creativity needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive global environment.
“The University of Ibadan has trained you to seize future opportunities with confidence and integrity,” Adebowale stated, reaffirming the institution’s position as Nigeria’s premier and one of Africa’s most prestigious universities.
He further highlighted the role of UI’s Postgraduate College — the largest in Africa — in producing high-level manpower for national and international development. Adebowale also pointed to the establishment of the Faculty of Computing as a major step in advancing digital innovation within the university.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s economic and infrastructural challenges, the Vice-Chancellor commended the resilience and ingenuity of the country’s scholars and students. He noted that the “spirit of innovation” continued to propel UI’s progress and sustain its leadership in higher education.
He also celebrated the achievements of UI’s staff and students in international research, fellowships, and competitions, emphasizing the university’s commitment to excellence and relevance in the modern knowledge economy.
In his keynote address, UK-based medical practitioner and UI alumnus, Dr. Abel Adegoke, encouraged the graduates to uphold resilience, integrity, and a service-oriented mindset. He urged them to see challenges as stepping stones to personal and professional growth.
“True growth does not come from comfort. Go into the world not as job seekers but as solution creators. The world awaits the light of your brilliance,” Adegoke said.
One of the graduates, Ayodeji Adeyemi, from the Department of European Studies (French Unit), advised fellow graduands to look beyond their certificates and embrace the values that UI represents.
“I thank God for how far the weight of that name — UI — has carried me. It has opened doors for me, including my current service year at the ECOWAS Commission,” Adeyemi remarked.
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