Okada, Edo State , Nigeria – Igbinedion University Okada (IUO) celebrated a significant milestone on Saturday 29th November, 2025 as it conferred degrees and diplomas upon 1,050 deserving graduates during its grand 23rd Convocation Ceremony. The event, held at the university’s main auditorium, was a vibrant mix of academic pomp, heartfelt advice, and a forward-looking charge to the Class of 2024/2025.
Amidst cheers and applause, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lawrence Ezemonye, unveiled the impressive academic feats of the graduating class. He announced that 67 students graduated with First Class Honours, a testament to the high academic standards of the institution. They were joined by 408 who secured Second Class Upper divisions and 225 in other distinguished categories. Furthermore, the university awarded 188 higher degrees, including Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters, and Doctorates across various disciplines.
The ceremony served as a formal induction of the graduates into a global community of professionals and alumni. The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Ahmed Tijani Mora, OON, emphasized this, stating the convocation was a platform to “celebrate the successful completion of academic training… which serves as the foundation of their induction.”
In a poignant address delivered on behalf of the Chancellor, Sir Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, by the Deputy Chancellor and former Governor of Edo State, Chief Dr. Lucky Igbinedion, the graduates were given a powerful mandate. They were urged to become “Ambassadors of integrity, innovation, and compassion” as they advance in their chosen professions.
The collective spirit of the class was voiced by the Best Graduating Student, Egwu Isaac, who expressed profound gratitude to God, the university management, and the parents whose support was instrumental in their success.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to students who distinguished themselves in both character and learning, followed by the formal induction of the new graduates into the esteemed IUO Alumni association, marking not an end, but a new beginning for the 1,050-strong cohort.
