AGBOR/Nigeria: History was made at the University of Delta, Agbor on Saturday as the institution held its first-ever convocation, graduating its inaugural class with 30 students earning First-Class honours.
Addressing dignitaries and graduands, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State disclosed a series of bold incentives to promote academic excellence, headlined by a ₦5 million award for the overall best student and ₦500,000 each for all First-Class graduates.
The governor also approved a request by Vice-Chancellor Stella Chiemeke for the conversion of the Mother and Child Hospital, General Hospital Agbor, and the Diagnostic Centre in Owa-Alero into a university teaching hospital, a development expected to facilitate full accreditation of the institution’s medical programmes. He further pledged the donation of a coaster bus and the construction of a hostel block to strengthen transportation and accommodation infrastructure.
Describing the ceremony as a watershed moment, Oborevwori said the convocation symbolised not just the award of degrees but the triumph of vision, courage and purposeful leadership. He noted that the creation of UNIDEL and other state-owned universities, once criticised as misplaced priorities, had been vindicated by rising enrolment and measurable socio-economic impact.
“Today’s event celebrates a young institution that has moved decisively from conception to consolidation,” the governor said, adding that the state now hosts more than 100,000 students across its tertiary institutions, a development he said has stimulated commerce, job creation and service delivery.
He paid tribute to his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, for initiating the vision that led to the establishment of the university, and commended the Pro-Chancellor, Governing Council, Senate, management and staff for nurturing the institution into a fast-growing centre of learning. He urged the pioneer graduands to be bold, innovative and resilient, stressing that they occupy a unique place in the university’s history and must serve as worthy ambassadors.
In her address, Prof. Chiemeke disclosed that 1,606 students from seven faculties across the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions were awarded degrees, all adjudged worthy in character and learning. She announced that graduates received their certificates and transcripts on convocation day, describing the move as part of reforms to eliminate administrative delays.
Highlighting milestones recorded under her administration, she said all academic programmes had secured full accreditation from the National Universities Commission, while the institution had strengthened international partnerships, improved infrastructure, enhanced campus security and gained increasing global recognition. She revealed that about 4,000 indigent students benefited from loans under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund in the current session.
The vice-chancellor added that despite its young age, the university ranked third best in Nigeria for sustainability and placed within the 801–1000 band globally in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, while more than 180 academics were listed in the 2026 AD Scientific Index.
Also speaking, Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman Emmanuel Nwanze described the convocation as both a celebration and a moment of reflection, praising staff and students for their resilience and commending the vice-chancellor’s hands-on leadership and clarity of purpose.
Earlier, the governor was formally decorated as Visitor to the university in accordance with its establishing law and was later honoured with a special award alongside 17 distinguished Nigerians. Among the awardees were business leader Jim Ovia, Niger Delta Development Commission Chairman Chiedu Ebie, and former Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission Chris Maiyaki, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the honourees, former governor Okowa expressed appreciation for the recognition and praised the institution’s rapid growth, noting that sustained policy support from the current administration has strengthened the state’s universities and widened access to higher education.
The overall best graduating student, Victoria Uzoma of the Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, who graduated with a GPA of 4.97, attributed her academic success to divine grace in an emotional reflection on her journey.
