UNILORIN Credits Research Investment for Ranking Rise

ILORIN, Nigeria – The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has attributed its improved position in international university rankings to increased investment in research, academic excellence and the quality of its staff and students.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the university’s Governing Council, Surveyor Abiodun Jacob Aluko, disclosed this on Thursday, October 22, 2026, during the second day of the institution’s 41st convocation ceremonies.

Aluko said the university’s progress reflected sustained efforts to improve research output, academic visibility and citation impact. He cited the 2026–2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings, which placed UNILORIN fifth among Nigerian universities, compared with 37th in the previous year.

He also said the 2026 SCImago Institutions Rankings placed the university first in Nigeria and 18th in Africa for aquaculture. According to Aluko, the results reflect deliberate institutional investment rather than chance. He also described UNILORIN as a “leadership factory”, pointing to its record of academic development and graduate training.

The Pro-Chancellor expressed confidence in the competence and employability of the university’s graduates, saying the institution’s emphasis on excellence and integrity would prepare them for opportunities in Nigeria and abroad.

He described the university’s Golden Jubilee as an opportunity to celebrate its core values, including discipline, integrity and academic excellence.

Aluko also commended the institution for maintaining uninterrupted academic calendars for more than two decades, while acknowledging the contributions of past university leaders, staff, students and supporters.

He praised the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for supporting infrastructure and research, as well as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for helping to ease students’ financial burdens.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, urged graduating students to approach the next stage of their lives with humility, compassion and a commitment to their principles.

In his convocation address, titled “What Next”, Egbewole encouraged the graduates to pursue opportunities and personal success without abandoning their values.

The university graduated 16,152 students for the 2025/2026 academic session.

Of the graduating cohort, 365 earned first-class degrees, while 4,367 received second-class upper degrees. Another 5,102 graduated with second-class lower degrees.

The graduates also included 19 students in Medicine and Surgery, 89 in Nursing, 73 in Pharmacy, 41 in Optometry, 89 in Physiotherapy and 32 in Veterinary Medicine.

In addition, 4,939 students received higher degrees and diplomas, including 251 newly awarded Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

The university’s leadership said its academic progress reflected a combination of institutional commitment, research support and efforts to maintain high standards. The ranking figures, however, relate to specific ranking systems and subject areas and should not be interpreted as a universal position across all global university rankings.