The University of Uyo is set to celebrate its former Vice Chancellor, renowned economist Prof. Akpan Horgan Ekpo, alongside other distinguished Nigerians, during its 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremonies scheduled for November 9th and 10th. Ekpo will be conferred with the title of Professor Emeritus in recognition of his contributions to academia and economics on a global scale.
Other honorees include Chief Effiong Daniel, Mrs. Halima Suleiman Zakaria, and Dr. Itanwan It’s James. Additionally, former Uniuyo Vice Chancellor Prof. Enefiok Effiong Essien and other eminent scholars will receive honorary degrees for their impactful careers and dedication to educational excellence.
During a pre-convocation press briefing, current Vice Chancellor Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo shared that the combined ceremony will celebrate the graduation of 12,450 students from the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions. This year’s graduating classes include a record number of First-Class degree holders, with 56 students from the 2020/2021 session and 118 from the 2021/2022 session.
Further breakdowns of the graduation statistics reveal an impressive academic performance, with a total of 313 PhD graduates, 608 Master’s degree recipients, and 246 Postgraduate Diploma holders. Bachelor’s degree graduates are led by those achieving Second Class (Upper Division) honors, with 1,737 students from 2020/2021 and 2,306 students from 2021/2022 receiving this distinction.
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Highlighting Uniuyo’s advancements under his leadership, Prof. Ndaeyo noted that 90% of the university’s academic programs have received full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC). “The remaining 10% includes newly introduced programs currently undergoing NUC verification and accreditation,” he stated. The university now boasts 100 programs across 117 departments within 19 faculties, with several new programs awaiting NUC approval.
Prof. Ndaeyo also emphasized the university’s commitment to promoting a peaceful campus environment, attributing it to strong management-staff relations, effective welfare packages, and close collaboration with host communities. “This harmony has brought relative peace, fostering a conducive atmosphere for learning and growth,” he added.
