UNILORIN celebrates 41st Convocation in style, writes KUNLE AKOGUN The University of Ilorin once again lived up to its billing as it rolled out drums for its 41st Convocation Ceremonies between Friday, 16th and Sunday, 25th October, 2026.
The University campus, usually known for its clean and green ambience, was particularly beautifully adorned in the University’s signature colours for the special occasion.
Apart from the main auditorium, which sat about 2000 people, including graduands, guests and top University officials, other venues used for the three main days of the convocation proper were the Multipurpose Hall, where the proud parents of graduands were seated, and the Marquee beside the Auditorium, where students who could not be accommodated in the main hall sat.
The beautiful thing was that whether one sat inside the Main Auditorium, the Multipurpose Hall, or under the Marquee, nobody missed any piece of the action as the event inside the auditorium was beamed live to all guests and even those who were not on campus on those days.
Indeed, everybody in any part of the world got connected seamlessly to what was happening on the University campus throughout the convocation days, all thanks to the meticulous planning and clinical execution by the Ceremonials Committee, led by Prof.
Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, a renowned clinician, consummate consultant paediatrician, and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University.
What began with prayers ended with praises, as the University celebrated 16,152 graduands, sustained intellectual excellence and remarkable institutional progress.
Of the graduands, 11, 213 bagged their first degrees (365 First Class, 4,367 Second Class Upper, 5,102 Second Class Lower, 1,006 Third Class and 30 Pass graduates.), 4,939 higher degrees and Diplomas, comprising 160 Postgraduate Diplomas, 901 Master degrees, 114 Professional Master degrees, two Master of Philosophy degrees and 251 Ph.D.
Also in the pack were 3,511 graduands from the University’s affiliated institutions.
The ceremonies commenced on Friday, 16th October, 2026 with a Special Juma’at Service at the University Central Mosque followed by an Interdenominational Service on Sunday, 18th October, 2026 at the Chapel of the Light.
Both services sought divine guidance for a hitch-free celebration.
The intellectual curtain-raiser was the Vice-Chancellor’s Press Briefing and Media Chat on Monday, 19th October, 2026, at the University Auditorium.
At the media engagement with members of the elite UNILORIN Accredited Press Corps, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.
Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, announced the programme run-down for the 41st Convocation Ceremonies, officially releasing the total number of graduands, and award winners.
He also dwelt substantially on the various landmark achievements made by the University during the 2025/2026 academic session.
On Tuesday, 20th October, the Performing and Film Arts Theatre came alive with the staging of the Convocation Play, titled “The Death of the Crown Escort”, written by Dr Abdulmalik A.
Amali, and directed by Prof.
AbdulRasheed Adeoye.
It was performed in two sessions, the Command Performance for University top shots and the other session for the general public.
The drama, set in a fictional Odu community in Idoma land of Kogi State, was not just entertainment for the fun of it but a pithy commentary on inter-generational cultural conflict caused by apprehension over the adoption of new practices.
Then came the convocation proper, which kicked off on Wednesday, October 21, with graduands from the Faculties of Education, Agriculture (Home Economics), Communication and Information Sciences, Environmental Sciences (Architecture), Social Sciences, and Institute of Education taking the centre stage.
On Thursday, October 22, it was the turn....
