Tinubu Vows to Deepen Innovation, Skills, Research at UNILORIN 40th Convocation

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening innovation, research, and skill-based education across Nigerian universities, pledging increased investments in higher institutions to make graduates globally competitive.

Speaking on Thursday at the 40th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), President Tinubu — represented by the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Temidayo Oladiji — commended the institution for its consistent record of discipline and academic excellence.

“As the University of Ilorin approaches its 50th anniversary, it continues to stand tall as a centre of excellence,” the President said. “Nigeria must produce Nobel laureates, and I believe UNILORIN can lead that charge.”

Tinubu announced that UNILORIN had been selected as one of the host universities for the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) Digital Innovation Hub, a flagship project designed to promote digital skills, entrepreneurship, and research capacity among students.

“This initiative will position Ilorin as a key player in Nigeria’s knowledge-driven economy,” he added.

The President further revealed that the university is among 18 institutions benefiting from a ₦110 billion federal intervention for the upgrade of medical training facilities. He explained that the initiative aligns with government efforts to expand the nation’s healthcare workforce and reduce dependence on foreign medical services.

Tinubu also urged UNILORIN to sustain its agricultural research programmes and align them with federal projects such as the Livestock Development Programme and the Green Money Project, both of which aim to strengthen food security and rural productivity.

Acknowledging the nation’s economic difficulties, the President appealed for public patience, assuring Nigerians that ongoing reforms would yield lasting benefits.

“I know the pains many citizens are going through today, but these challenges are temporary,” he said. “The foundation we are laying will build a stronger and more inclusive economy.”

He also clarified the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the creation of new tertiary institutions, stressing that the move was intended to consolidate existing ones and enhance quality.

“We must prioritise quality over quantity,” Tinubu emphasized.

The President congratulated Sanusi Akanbi Kazeem, a UNILORIN student who recently set a Guinness World Record for the longest mathematics class, describing his achievement as a reflection of “youthful creativity and resilience.”

“Our young people continue to make us proud through innovation and determination,” Tinubu added.

He commended the university’s leadership under the Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), the Chancellor, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, and the Pro-Chancellor, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko, for maintaining academic stability and institutional progress.

Representing the NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Professor AbduLateef Folorunsho Oladimeji, lauded UNILORIN for attracting over ₦12 billion in research grants within two years, saying it proves that Nigerian universities can attain global standards when properly managed.

In his address, Professor Wahab Egbewole congratulated the 11,886 graduating students, including 316 First-Class graduates, urging them to uphold the university’s core values of discipline, hard work, and integrity.

“At 40, UNILORIN has come of age,” he said. “The future begins now — go out there and make a difference.”

Highlighting student achievements, the Vice Chancellor mentioned veterinary students Karimot Abisola and Idris Nahimah Opeyemi, who won a $5,500 Global Morris Foundation Scholarship, and engineering student Qudus Aduraghemi, whose team secured a €1,200 European innovation prize.

Pro-Chancellor Surveyor Abiodun Aluko described President Tinubu’s education policies as “revolutionary,” citing the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund and the payment of ₦50 billion in Earned.