The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, will graduate 12,895 students at its 55th Convocation Ceremony, with 168 of that number having earned First Class honours degrees.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, announced the figures on Wednesday at a press briefing held ahead of the convocation activities. Of the total graduands, 10,641 will receive first degrees and diplomas, while 2,944 will be awarded postgraduate qualifications. The postgraduate category comprises 1,390 Doctor of Philosophy degrees, 1,340 Master's degrees and 214 Postgraduate Diplomas.

"This year's convocation celebrates a harvest of 12,895 graduands. Of these, 10,641 will receive First Degrees and Diplomas, including 168 First Class honours graduates," Ortuanya stated.

The institution will also confer honorary doctorate degrees on First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, High Chief Williams Agbo, Arc. Dr. Kaycee Kelechi Orji and Dr. William Franklyn Richardson. Two retired academics, Prof. Peter Jazzy Ezeh and Prof. Boniface Obinna Okere, will receive the title of Professor Emeritus.

The convocation lecture, scheduled for Thursday, July 23, will be delivered by the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah. The Former Vice Chancellor of the university and current Vice Chancellor of the University of the Niger, Prof. Ositadinma Nebo, will chair the event.

Ortuanya outlined several institutional gains recorded since he assumed office in August 2025. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria approved an increase in the university's admission quota for Medicine from 180 to 400, and for Dentistry from 15 to 60. The National Universities Commission approved the unbundling of the Mass Communication department into five specialised degree programmes, while Agribusiness, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Industrial Arts, and Criminology and Security Studies received full accreditation.

The university has also digitalised its Central Library and established a Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Laboratory. Infrastructure works are ongoing across campuses, covering internal road reconstruction, hostel rehabilitation and new facilities at the College of Medicine, Ituku Ozalla. Renovations are underway at Eni Njoku, Eyo Ita, Nkrumah and Odili hostels, with work resuming at Zik's Flats and the Senate Building.

A total of 1,984 staff members received promotions within 11 months, including 25 academics elevated to professorial rank. The university has also expanded partnerships with institutions in Sweden, Taiwan, China, Belarus, the United States and South Africa.

"Our vision is to reposition the University of Nigeria as a globally competitive institution distinguished by excellence in teaching, cutting edge research, digital innovation, entrepreneurship and transformational community engagement," Ortuanya said.