Unilorin secures 8 awards worth N260m under research fund

The University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has secured eight awards worth N260,291,695 under the 2026 National Research Fund (NRF).

The institution also emerged as the fourth best-performing university in the country in the latest Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) ranking cycle.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, disclosed this on Monday in Ilorin at a news conference heralding the 41st convocation ceremony of the university.

Egbewole said in the 2026 SCImago Institutions Rankings, Unilorin was ranked Nigeria’s number one university in Aquatic Science.

He added that the university placed fifth among the seven Nigerian universities featured in the 2026-2027 U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings and joint fourth in the World University Rankings 2027.

According to him, the results are encouraging indicators of the university’s growing research strength and institutional standing, driven by sustained investment and continuous improvement.

The vice-chancellor listed other notable accomplishments in the SCImago ranking to include Animal Science and Zoology, where the university ranked second in Nigeria and 50th in Africa, and Surgery, where it ranked second in Nigeria and 10th in Africa.

He said others were Veterinary Science, third in Nigeria and 36th in Africa; Mathematics, third in Nigeria and 43rd in Africa; Library and Information Science, third in Nigeria and 10th in Africa; and Computer Science, fourth in Nigeria and 73rd in Africa.

He added that the ranking also placed the university sixth in Nigeria and 69th in Africa in Physics and Astronomy, and sixth in Nigeria and 47th in Africa in Arts and Humanities.

Egbewole said the university remained focused on its goals and committed to its aspirations, noting that the results would be leveraged to reposition the institution to achieve its vision.

He said the 41st convocation would provide an opportunity to celebrate graduating students who have successfully completed their programmes across faculties, institutes, and centres.

”These graduands, numbering in the thousands, are products of the distinctive ‘Unilorin way’, a tradition founded on discipline, diligence, intellectual excellence, resilience, and service.

”As they proceed into the wider world, we are confident that they will continue to uphold the values for which the University of Ilorin is renowned and contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria and the global community,” Egbewole said.

It was reported that the university would award degrees, diplomas and other academic qualifications to 16,152 graduands, including 365 First Class, 4,367 Second Class Upper Division, 5,102 Second Class Lower Division, 1,006 Third Class and 30 Pass.