The Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, is set to hold one of the most significant convocations in its history as the institution prepares to graduate a remarkable 8,119 students across various levels. The 13th convocation ceremony marks a major milestone for the university, showcasing not only academic accomplishments but also a season of unprecedented expansion, infrastructural transformation, and renewed commitment to community development.
According to the university’s management, a total of 7,618 students will receive first degrees, while 501 others will bag postgraduate qualifications, including Master’s and Doctorate degrees. This year’s graduating class stands out not just for its sheer size, but for the demonstrated academic excellence, breakthroughs in research, and advancements in institutional capacity that underline KWASU’s growing national relevance.
Among the first-degree graduates, 82 distinguished themselves with First Class honours, representing one of the strongest first-class outputs the university has recorded in recent years. In addition, 1,986 students finished with Second Class Upper Division degrees, 4,195 with Second Class Lower Division, and 1,355 with Third Class honours. At the postgraduate level, 75 candidates will receive Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees, while 426 students are slated for Master’s degree awards. These figures reflect the academic intensity and expanding postgraduate research culture within the institution.
Beyond the academic numbers, this year’s convocation is occurring at a time when the university is experiencing rapid infrastructural growth. KWASU recently secured a N1 billion intervention from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for the completion of its Library Annex, a facility that is expected to significantly enhance research capacity, digitalization, and access to academic resources. In addition, all eleven faculties, along with major academic units, now boast state-of-the-art smart classrooms equipped with modern digital technology to support improved teaching and hybrid learning models.
Other key infrastructural projects nearing completion include an ICT Experience Centre, developed in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady and TETFund; a new Central Laboratory funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); and the Faculty of Law complex, which is currently under construction. The university also recently commissioned a new 150-room, 600-bed hostel built through a Public-Private Partnership, significantly addressing accommodation needs and improving student welfare.
KWASU’s physical expansion is not limited to the Malete main campus. Its newer campuses in Osi and Ilesha-Baruba are rapidly gaining momentum, housing major faculties such as Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences, and Environmental Sciences. This multi-campus model is part of the university’s strategic plan to foster development across different regions of the state, promoting access to quality education and strengthening socio-economic ties between the institution and host communities.
This commitment to community impact is further demonstrated through the university’s Women Development Centres located in Ilorin, Osi, Ilesha-Baruba, and Malete. Through these centres, at least 125 women have been trained in specialized skills, including ready-to-wear clothing and the production of traditional men’s caps. Beneficiaries were empowered with industrial sewing machines, smartphones for digital marketing, and mentorship support to help them launch small businesses and improve their incomes.
The university has also recorded important achievements in research and innovation. Several academic staff secured competitive research grants from the National Research Fund, while others won international fellowships valued in tens of thousands of dollars. One of the highlights of this year’s convocation exhibition is a prototype electric vehicle developed entirely by KWASU engineers—an innovation that underscores the institution’s growing emphasis on practical research, sustainability, and engineering advancement.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh, the 2025 convocation is a reflection of KWASU’s steady transformation into a research-driven, technologically advanced, and community-centered institution. He noted that the progress recorded in the past year was made possible through strong support from the Kwara State Government, TETFund, and collaborative agencies, all of whom have enabled the university to expand its academic footprint while remaining committed to transparency, accountability, and excellence.
Professor Jimoh expressed pride in the institution’s increasing national visibility, emphasizing that KWASU’s growth trajectory is anchored on a vision to provide education that blends academic excellence with entrepreneurship, innovation, and societal impact. He highlighted the critical partnership between the university and host communities, describing the town-and-gown relationship as one of the major drivers behind the success of the multi-campus system.
As the university prepares to release over eight thousand graduates into the Nigerian labour market and global opportunities, expectations are high regarding the contributions these newly minted degree holders will make. With strengthened research structures, expanding campuses, new digital learning facilities, improved student accommodation, and a renewed commitment to skills development, KWASU is positioning itself as a model of academic growth, community empowerment, and institutional resilience.
