Redeemer’s University Produces 52 PhDs, 213 First Class Graduates

By Tosin Olasunkanmi, Osogbo

Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, has graduated 2,471 students at its 18th Convocation Ceremony, with the institution recording its highest number of PhD graduates since inception.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, disclosed this on Thursday during the convocation ceremony held at the university auditorium.

Akindele said the graduands comprised 2,009 undergraduates, 21 diploma students and 441 postgraduate students who made up the 2026 Christ Ambassadors Set.

According to him, 213 undergraduate students graduated with First Class Honours, while 988 obtained Second Class Upper Honours, representing about 60 per cent of the undergraduate graduating class.

The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that 52 PhDs were awarded during the ceremony, describing the figure as the highest number of doctoral graduates produced by the institution in its history.

Describing the graduands as the “Christ Ambassadors Set,” Akindele charged them to combine competence with character and godly values as they begin the next phase of their lives.

“This ceremony belongs to all, and to all of us, and in particular to the graduating set, the Christ Ambassadors Set. That designation is deliberate; it affirms both spiritual calling and moral responsibility,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the university’s growing research capacity, saying five inaugural lectures were delivered during the year while researchers at the institution secured several grants.

He said the university invested N25 million in six staff-led research projects, while its research budget had been increased to N200 million in the current financial year.

Akindele further disclosed that 20 additional professors were appointed during the period, describing the development as a historic milestone for the university.

He said the institution had also continued to gain recognition beyond Nigeria, adding that it was selected by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to train lecturers from universities across the country for Master’s and PhD programmes.

The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that eight accounting students of the university recently qualified as Chartered Accountants while still undergraduates.

He said one of the students attained the professional qualification as early as the 200 level, describing the feat as evidence of the quality of education and training provided by the institution.

Akindele urged the graduands to deploy the knowledge and values acquired at the university towards solving societal problems and serving humanity.

“The world you enter needs people of knowledge, integrity, courage, and compassion. Take with you the values you have received here. Solve problems, serve humanity,” he said.

Also speaking, the outgoing Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, described the convocation as a day of joy and celebration for the graduands, their parents and the entire university community.

Ogundipe said the achievements of the graduands were the result of years of diligence, sacrifice, prayers and investment by their families and the university.

“During your time here, the university has imparted not only knowledge, but also various values: integrity, discipline, diligence, and faithfulness. I urge you to hold firmly to these values, for they will prove more valuable than your certificate or grade as you step into the larger world,” he said.

He urged the graduands to distinguish themselves through excellence and remain worthy ambassadors of the university wherever they found themselves.

The outgoing Pro-Chancellor also commended parents and guardians for their sacrifices and prayed that their investments in the education of their children would yield lasting rewards.

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, commended Redeemer’s University for its contributions to quality higher education and human capital development.

Ribadu said the true measure of a university extended beyond the degrees awarded to its students, stressing that it should also be assessed by the quality of its graduates, research output, innovation and impact on society.

He urged Nigerian universities to remain dynamic in response to rapid developments in science and technology, artificial intelligence and changing labour market demands.

“To the graduating class, your degrees provide an important foundation, but their real value will be demonstrated by how you apply your knowledge to solve problems, create opportunities, and serve society,” Ribadu said.

He charged the graduands to embrace emerging technologies responsibly while allowing competence, integrity and excellence to guide their professional and personal decisions.

Ribadu also called for stronger collaboration among government, regulatory agencies, universities, industry and other stakeholders to further strengthen Nigeria’s higher education system.

The valedictorian of the Christ Ambassadors Class of 2026, Oluwadamilola Alabi, who graduated with a perfect 5.0 CGPA in Accounting and also qualified as a Chartered Accountant, described her emergence as valedictorian as a privilege.

Alabi recalled her journey from entering the university as a young student to graduating as a chartered accountant and the best graduating student of her set.

“Four years later, I’m standing today as a chartered accountant, and as valedictorian of Class of 2026, set with a 5.0 CGPA in accounting,” she said.

She attributed her achievement to God, her parents, the university and her determination to pursue excellence despite the challenges she encountered during her undergraduate years.

Addressing her colleagues, Alabi reminded them of the academic pressure, examinations, disappointments and moments of self-doubt they overcame during their university years.

She urged the graduands to approach the next phase of their lives with confidence, stressing that their experiences at the university had equipped them with the capacity to succeed beyond the institution.

“You have all that it takes to win,” she affirmed.

Alabi challenged her colleagues to see themselves not merely as recipients of university certificates but as individuals capable of creating solutions, impacting their communities and pursuing ambitious dreams.

“The real world should prepare for us! Because as Christ Ambassadors, we know who we carry on the inside, and that is Christ Himself,” she said.