The management of University of Benin, UNIBEN, says 198 students would be graduating with First Class Honours in the 2024/2025 convocation ceremony.
DAILY POST reports that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday at the 51st pre-convocation and 55th Founders’ Day press briefing in Benin City
Omoregie said a total of 14,083 graduates would be conferred with first degree certificates.
He said a total of 4,217 bagged Second Class Upper, 7,928, Second Class Lower, 578 third class while no pass.
He noted that the results are indicative of the seriousness of staff and students in ensuring that our University marches on with vigour.
The Vice Chancellor added that 212 graduates bagged diploma certificates, while unclassified are 495.
He stated that under the unclassified 104 students bagged distinction, 221 credit and merit 168.
Omoregie also stated that 1,780 students would be conferred with higher degrees, namely PhD, 334, MPHIL 25, Masters 1,008, and Post Graduate Diploma 423 respectively.
“This is a phenomenal number, which is higher than all previous number of graduates since the inception of the University. We commend our graduating students and teaching staff for the efforts put in to attain this enviable feat”, he said.
He opined that the 1,780 graduates at the higher degrees level for the academic session was a quantum leap, representing over 600 per cent increase from the figure of the last Convocation which stood at 241 graduates.
“This is the direct positive outcome of our efforts in the last over eleven months since the assumption of office as Vice Chancellor to upscale the postgraduate degree programmes offered by the University of Benin.
“The up-grading of the Postgraduate School to College of Postgraduate Studies is a strategic move at repositioning the University as an institution both for advanced academic training and an innovative capacity-building epicentre.
“The main objective of this transformation is to make the College of Postgraduate Studies semi-autonomous capable of instituting a stable academic calendar with certainty of commencement and conclusion dates. We are happy that with a very short period, this objective is being realised”, he stated.
He, however, called on all members of the University community to join hands with the management to sustain the success story.
The VC posited that the convocation ceremony would commence on Sunday, November 23, 2025 with an Inter-faith Service at the Akin Deko Auditorium, Founders’ Day Lecture on November 24, award of First Degrees and presentation of Prizes on Friday, November 28 and on November 29, 2025.
He said the presentation of the award of higher degrees of PhD, Masters and Postgraduate Diplomas would be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
He stated that the Founders’ Day lecture, titled, “Reforms for a shared prosperity”, would be delivered by Engr Abubakar Momoh, the
Honorable Minister, Ministry of Regional Development, an alumnus of the institution.
Omoregie added that the Convocation Lecture, with the theme,”Making Our Universities Great” would be delivered by Prof Eghosa Osaghae, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs as well as a Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.
“During the period we will roll out the drums to celebrate our University that continues to excel in the fulfillment of its mandate of quality teaching, impactful research, skills empowerment and community service.
“There is no gain stating the obvious that administration after administration has remained focused on actualising the dream of our founding fathers for a University that is innovative and responsive to the needs of the people.
“This administration, in less than one year of its coming on stream, is building on the solid foundations laid by our predecessors. We have designed a blueprint encapsulated in our five-point agenda that has already been well circulated and known to many of you. The agenda is carefully articulated to align with the strategic goals of the University”, he added.
He listed some of the achievements recorded in less than one year in office to include the creation of five new faculties and the approval of more than 15 programmes by the National Universities Commission, NUC.
