NSUK marks silver jubilee with landmark convocation, honours global figures
By Roseline Okafor, Nasarawa
Nasarawa State University Keffi has unveiled plans for a landmark 8th combined convocation ceremony as part of celebrations marking its 25th anniversary.
The ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, 11 April 2026, will bring together graduates from three academic sessions across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, the Vice-Chancellor, Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, said at a pre-convocation briefing held at the university’s Senate Chamber in Keffi on Wednesday.
She said the institution would also confer honorary doctorate degrees on distinguished personalities in line with the standards of the National Universities Commission. Among those to be honoured are the President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Nigerian industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu.
“This convocation is unique because we are bringing together three sets of graduates, while also celebrating 25 years of impactful existence,” Prof Liman said, adding that the awards recognise individuals who have distinguished themselves globally.
She also thanked stakeholders and partners for their role in the university’s growth, noting their contributions had driven its development and successes over the years.
The Vice-Chancellor said the convocation lecture would be delivered by Pan-African scholar P. L. O. Lumumba, while Umar Bindir would present the anniversary lecture.
The event is expected to attract senior dignitaries, including the Governor of Nasarawa State and Visitor to the university, Abdullahi Sule, alongside partners and stakeholders from within and outside Nigeria.
Established in 2001 by former governor Abdullahi Adamu, the university has expanded from two faculties to 11 across multiple campuses, including specialised faculties in agriculture in Lafia and engineering in Gudi.
More than 20,000 students are expected to graduate during the ceremony, including 63 first-class degree holders, Prof Liman said.
Highlighting its academic progress, she noted that the university ranked 36th in Sub-Saharan Africa, eighth in Nigeria and second among state universities in the 2024 Times Higher Education rankings.
NSUK Launches Sanitation Exercise Ahead of Silver Jubilee, Convocation
It also placed fourth nationally in 2025 under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting inclusive and quality education.
Activities marking the convocation and silver jubilee began earlier in the week with an interdenominational service, sanitation exercises across surrounding communities and a medical outreach at the Emir’s Palace in Keffi.
Further events include a novelty football match against Bingham University on Thursday, while key projects will be commissioned on Saturday alongside the main ceremony.
The convocation is expected to serve not only as a celebration of graduating students but also as a reflection of the institution’s growth and contributions to higher education over the past quarter-century.
