UNIZIK to Graduate 16,842 Students at 20th, 21st Convocation

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, is set to graduate 16,842 students at its 20th and 21st combined convocation ceremonies scheduled to hold from November 15 to 20, 2026.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ugochukwu Anyaehie, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the university’s Council Chambers in Awka.

He said the graduands comprised 14,803 students receiving first degrees and 2,039 postgraduate students who had successfully completed their respective academic programmes.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, 194 students will graduate with First Class honours, while 4,230 will receive Second Class Upper Division degrees, 7,982 Second Class Lower Division degrees, 1,932 Third Class degrees and 65 Pass degrees. Another 482 degrees will be unclassified.

For the postgraduate category, Anyaehie disclosed that 603 students would receive Doctor of Philosophy degrees, 1,113 would graduate with Master of Science degrees, 29 would receive Master of Philosophy degrees, while 294 would obtain Postgraduate Diplomas.

He congratulated the graduating students, describing their academic achievements as evidence of discipline, hard work and perseverance.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university had equipped the graduands with the necessary knowledge and character to confront global challenges with competence, creativity and integrity.

He explained that the combined convocation would feature graduates from the 2025 and 2026 academic sessions who had fulfilled the institution’s academic requirements.

Speaking on the university’s development under his administration, Anyaehie highlighted several achievements in infrastructure, technology, research funding and institutional partnerships.

Among the major milestones, he cited UNIZIK’s selection for the Federal Government’s $617.7m investment in the Digital and Creative Enterprises programme, supported by the Bank of Industry and Agence Française de Développement.

He also highlighted ongoing digitalisation initiatives and efforts to strengthen the university’s technological capacity.

Reflecting on the institution’s history, Anyaehie noted that UNIZIK had evolved from its origins as an offshoot of the former Anambra State University of Technology into a federal university established in 1992 and named after Nigeria’s first President, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

He said the institution remained committed to building on that legacy through academic excellence, innovation, global relevance and sustainable development.

The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that UNIZIK had attained a joint fourth position among Nigerian universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

He further announced that the university’s debate team had won the 13th All Nigerian Universities Debate Championship for the first time in its history.

In sports, he said the institution’s athletes secured silver and bronze medals at the 12th Federation of African University Sports (FASU) Games held in Cairo, Egypt.

Anyaehie described the forthcoming ceremonies as an opportunity to celebrate the academic accomplishments of the graduands and showcase the institution’s progress.

He urged the graduating students to build their careers around discipline, self-reliance and excellence as they prepare to enter the wider world.

He added that their achievements represented the university’s vision of making a greater UNIZIK possible.