Abia varsity holds triple convocation, highlights research gains

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The Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, Professor Ndukwe J. Okeudo, has said that research efforts by scholars at the institution are yielding promising results, including studies on the use of medicinal plants for disease treatment, innovations in biomass energy production, and policy frameworks for sustainable industrial practices.

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Professor Okeudo made the remarks on Tuesday during a pre-convocation press briefing ahead of the university’s combined 30th, 31st, and 32nd convocation ceremonies.

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He described the unprecedented triple convocation as a defining moment in the university’s history, reflecting both the clearance of a backlog and a strategic reset under a new administration.

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The ceremonies, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, will culminate in the conferment of degrees and honorary awards on Friday, March 27, at the university’s main campus in Uturu, Abia State.

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Professor Okeudo hailed the occasion as “epoch-making,” noting that the institution is repositioning itself to compete globally through improved academic standards, staff welfare, and research output.

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He said honorary doctorate degrees will be conferred on prominent figures, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; business leader Allen Onyema of Air Peace; and pharmaceutical executive Dr. Stella Okolie.

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The Vice Chancellor highlighted significant administrative reforms, including the clearance of longstanding staff promotion backlogs through four appraisal exercises conducted between 2022 and 2025.

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“A total of 951 staff members across teaching and non-teaching cadres were promoted within the period, alongside 41 elevations to professorial ranks,” he said, attributing sustained industrial harmony within the institution to proactive engagement with staff unions and the implementation of worker-friendly policies.

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On admissions, the university recorded a steady increase in student intake, rising from 4,756 in the 2023–2024 academic session to 7,509 for 2025–2026, a development linked to expanded infrastructure and renewed public confidence.

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Professor Okeudo also announced the restoration of access to TETFund interventions after years of sanctions due to unretired grants. He said the university had cleared all outstanding obligations, enabling the approval of 33 research proposals, with funding already disbursed.

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“More than 200 academic staff are currently engaged in research spanning health sciences, renewable energy, agriculture, and social development,” he added.

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The Vice Chancellor noted the reactivation of the alumni network, culminating in a major reunion in December 2025 that drew participants from across Nigeria and abroad, many of whom pledged support for institutional development.

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On academic quality assurance, he disclosed that the university secured full accreditation for key programmes in 2024, with additional professional accreditations in engineering and other disciplines completed in 2025, while results of further accreditation exercises are awaited.

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The convocation events will feature a series of activities, including exhibitions, a novelty football match, and a pre-convocation lecture to be delivered by Professor Barth Nnaji, a former Minister of Power and chief executive of Geometric Power Group.

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In total, the university will graduate 10,255 students across the three convocation cycles, covering undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional degrees.

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Professor Okeudo also credited recent infrastructural and policy interventions by the Abia State Government for accelerating the university’s transformation. These include large-scale hostel renovations, ongoing construction of new student accommodation, improved road networks, enhanced campus security, and plans for a 10-megawatt solar power project.

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He further highlighted the clearance of salary arrears, prompt payment of wages, and increased budgetary allocation to education as key factors supporting institutional stability.

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“The triple convocation and accompanying reforms underscore a broader institutional recovery and repositioning effort, reflecting how targeted governance, funding interventions, and academic renewal can reshape public universities in emerging economies for global relevance,” he said.

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Professor Okeudo also urged the media to uphold responsible journalism, emphasising the need for accurate and verified reporting in an era of widespread digital information.

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Founded in 1981 as Imo State University and later renamed following the creation of Abia State in 1991, the university now hosts about 27,000 students across 16 faculties and 68 departments spread across Uturu, Umuahia, and Aba campuses. It was recently ranked among the top state universities in Nigeria, reflecting steady academic progress.

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