Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) celebrated a significant milestone during its 35th convocation ceremony, held from July 21 to July 26, 2025, conferring degrees and diplomas on 14,861 graduands. The event, which coincided with the university’s golden jubilee, marked 50 years of academic excellence and innovation since its establishment in 1975.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Owunari Georgewill announced that 9,788 students would receive first degrees, with an impressive 363 earning first-class honours. In the postgraduate category, 2,008 graduands will be awarded Postgraduate Diplomas, 2,131 will receive Master’s degrees, and 934 will be conferred with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. The convocation covers students who completed their academic programmes during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions.
“This convocation is a symbolic season of harvest, reflecting our commitment to producing well-rounded graduates equipped to contribute meaningfully to society,” Prof. Georgewill stated during a press conference in Port Harcourt. He highlighted the university’s progress in infrastructure, including modern laboratories, a world-class convocation arena, and a 10.7MW solar hybrid power plant in partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency, aimed at ensuring energy independence for the university and surrounding communities.
The ceremony also featured the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on distinguished Nigerians, including First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, TETFund Chairman Aminu Masari, and Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, in recognition of their contributions to national development.
Georgewill noted the establishment of three new faculties—Computing, Allied Health Sciences, and Media and Communications—as part of UNIPORT’s academic expansion. However, he appealed for government intervention to address challenges such as land encroachment and the need for more hostels, staff quarters, and administrative buildings.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for its support, which has facilitated infrastructure upgrades through interventions from TETFund and other agencies. “UNIPORT remains a beacon of academic excellence, ranked first in Nigeria and 19th in Africa,” he added, emphasizing the university’s commitment to digital transformation with plans for STEM labs and cloud-based infrastructure.
The week-long celebration, held from July 21 to July 27, 2025, included various events, showcasing UNIPORT’s achievements and its vision for the future. The university community, alumni, and stakeholders were invited to join in commemorating this historic milestone.
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