The University of Abuja (now Yakubu Gowon University) has declared a firm crackdown on land encroachment, even as it honoured 17,300 graduates at its combined 29th and 30th convocation ceremony held in Abuja. Speaking at the event, the Pro-Chancellor, Sen. Olarenwaju Tejuosho, said the institution would take full control of its land, stressing that illegal occupation and unauthorised use would no longer be tolerated.

He directed those occupying university property unlawfully to either regularise their status or vacate without delay. Addressing the graduates, he cautioned that academic success must be matched with character. The university’s chancellor, Dr.

Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, described the ceremony as a “proud moment of achievement” born out of hard work, discipline, and sacrifice, while echoing the need for practical impact. Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, in his goodwill message, thanked President Bola Tinubu for renaming the institution after him, noting that building a world-class university requires collective effort.

He called on stakeholders to support the institution through innovation, discipline, and high academic standards. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, said the university was proud of the graduates, who had been trained in both “character and learning,” reaffirming its commitment to excellence and unity.

Providing a breakdown of the combined convocation, Fawehinmi said that for the 2022/2023 academic session, 48 students graduated with First Class honours, 2,048 obtained Second Class Upper, 4,418 earned Second Class Lower, while 644 finished with Third Class degrees. For the 2023/2024 session, he disclosed that 29 graduands attained First Class honours, 1,395 secured Second Class Upper, and 3,091 graduated with Second Class Lower. In the postgraduate category, covering March 2024 to March 2026, a total of 815 students received Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,724 earned Academic Master’s degrees, 1,244 obtained Professional Master’s degrees, while 729 were awarded Doctor of Philosophy degrees and 64 earned Professional Doctorates.