Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has graduated 2,194 students, with 286 earning first-class honours at its 14th convocation. Computer Engineering graduate Chukwurah Richard emerged as the overall best graduating student with a perfect 5.00 CGPA and a ₦10 million cash prize.
A total of 286 students have earned first-class honours as Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), graduated 2,194 students at its 14th convocation ceremony.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, disclosed this on Wednesday during her welcome address, noting that the graduating class comprised 1,759 undergraduates and 435 postgraduate students.
Olarinde highlighted the institution’s academic achievements, international partnerships, research development and accreditation successes, describing them as evidence of its continued commitment to quality education.
She said ABUAD was ranked first in Nigeria for the fifth consecutive year, second in Africa and 72nd globally in the 2026 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, scoring 90.8 per cent and remaining the only Nigerian university in the global top 100.
The vice-chancellor disclosed that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria had increased the university’s Medicine and Surgery admission quota from 200 to 250 and approved 25 slots for Dentistry.
She also announced that the university secured full accreditation for Sociology, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, which scored 93.6 per cent, Computer Science and Geology.
The institution also received favourable accreditation outcomes for its postgraduate Accounting and Business Administration programmes.
Olarinde said the achievements reflected the university’s efforts to strengthen academic standards and expand opportunities for students across different disciplines.
The vice-chancellor highlighted several international collaborations aimed at improving practical training, research and global exposure for students.
Through a memorandum of understanding with Zhejiang Polytechnic University in China, 37 Engineering students and two professors participated in three weeks of intensive training in Intelligent Manufacturing and Control Technology.
Another group of students undertook a 28-day study programme in Changchun, China, while the university’s partnership with King’s College London secured four places for ABUAD students in its 2026 Summer School.
She added that the university was developing a Digital Twin Laboratory in collaboration with Shenzhen University and had secured six months of industrial training for 20 Aeronautical Engineering students with United Nigeria Airline.
Olarinde said the university deployed a High-Performance Computing (HPC) facility in November 2025 to support genomic and artificial intelligence research.
The institution also implemented Turnitin for all academic staff to strengthen academic integrity and plagiarism detection.
According to her, eight ABUAD academics were listed among the world’s top two per cent of scientists in the Stanford-Elsevier rankings.
She said the developments demonstrated the university’s commitment to research, innovation and the adoption of technology in higher education.
A highlight of the convocation was the recognition of Chukwurah Richard of the Department of Computer Engineering as the overall best graduating student for the 2025/2026 academic session.
Richard recorded a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.00 and received a ₦10 million cash prize donated for the second consecutive year by agribusiness entrepreneur and ABUAD alumnus, Olasunkanmi Owoyemi.
Olarinde congratulated the graduating students and encouraged them to build on their academic achievements as they prepare for professional careers and other opportunities.
In his remarks, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji paid tribute to the university’s founder, Aare Afe Babalola, for his commitment to human development and contributions to society.
The governor commended ABUAD for maintaining high academic standards and its strong performance in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rankings.
He also acknowledged Babalola’s support for the Ekiti State Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, including funding for control tower equipment and a 100-car parking facility.
Oyebanji urged the graduates to remain creative, adaptable and pragmatic in navigating the changing employment landscape.
He emphasised the importance of continuous learning and skills acquisition, particularly as artificial intelligence continues to transform industries and professional careers.
The 14th convocation underscored ABUAD’s emphasis on academic excellence, research, international collaboration and practical skills development as the institution celebrated the achievements of its 2,194 graduating students.
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