By Waziri Isa Adam Gwantu
Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) rolled out a record convocation yesterday, Saturday, graduating 32,884 students during its 8th Combined Convocation and Silver Jubilee Anniversary ceremony.
The figure includes 1,677 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) recipients, a milestone that drew applause from dignitaries, and 82 graduates who earned first-class honors, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman announced.
Other graduands included 8,169 Masters, 2,809 Postgraduate Diplomas, 20, 229 first degrees (including the 82 that bagged first class.
“This number of PhDs sends a strong message of great academic achievement by our University,” Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule said in his address. The governor, who serves as Visitor to NSUK, announced a N44 million cash reward for the top graduates: N500,000 for each of the 82 first-class graduands present, and N1 million each for the three overall best graduating students.
The ceremony also saw NSUK confer honorary doctorate degrees on two distinguished figures: Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Nigerian entrepreneur Mahmood Ahmadu, in recognition of their contributions to public service and development.
Dignitaries at the event included the Chancellor, the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III; Pro-Chancellor Professor Attahiru Jega; governors of Sokoto and Taraba States; and heads of tertiary institutions from across the country. “I have never seen a convocation where heads of tertiary institutions attended like this,” Governor Sule noted, commending the show of solidarity.
The Vice-Chancellor thanked the University’s partners, donors, and alumni for their support, which she said had strengthened infrastructure and research capacity over the past 25 years. She urged the new graduates to “brace up for the challenge of building our great country, which is today at a crossroads.”
The 8th Combined Convocation marks 25 years since NSUK’s establishment, capping a Silver Jubilee celebration that showcased the institution’s growth into a major hub for postgraduate training and research in North Central Nigeria.