Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja, will graduate 12,624 students at its 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremonies scheduled from April 10 to April 18, 2026, with the institution's best graduating students from both sets to receive automatic employment offers.

Vice Chancellor Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi announced on Monday at a pre convocation press briefing on the university's main campus, describing the event as a major milestone and his first convocation since assuming office.

Fawehinmi disclosed that 7,158 students will graduate from the 2022/2023 academic session and 5,466 from the 2023/2024 session. The 2022/2023 set produced 48 First Class graduates, 2,048 Second Class Upper, 4,418 Second Class Lower, and 644 Third Class. The 2023/2024 set recorded 29 First Class, 1,395 Second Class Upper, 3,091 Second Class Lower, and 951 Third Class.

"Overall, a total of 12,624 students will graduate. As part of our commitment to the development and advancement of our graduates, the overall best graduating students of both sets will be given automatic employment in the university," Fawehinmi stated.

The main convocation ceremonies will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, for first degrees, and Saturday, April 18, 2026, for higher degrees and the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees at the Convocation Square. Honorary degrees will be conferred on Professor Yusuff Ali (SAN), Mr Paul Odili, and Mr Emmanuel Iza.

Fawehinmi acknowledged a period of institutional turbulence, noting that stability had since been restored. "The fact that we had three Acting Vice Chancellors within a short period explains this crisis. We are glad that now, the storm is over," he affirmed.

On discipline, the Vice Chancellor revealed that 28 students were expelled in February for offences ranging from examination malpractice to drug possession. He also noted that the university received a N4 billion TETFund intervention for its College of Health Sciences, and that 100 academic staff had been promoted to professorial ranks.

Fawehinmi projected the student population, currently at 40,000, to reach 50,000 by 2030, stressing the urgent need for infrastructural expansion through strategic partnerships and improved internally generated revenue.