Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, will confer degrees on 16,842 graduands at its 20th and 21st combined convocation ceremonies scheduled for November 15 to 20, 2026.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Anyaehie, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the university’s Council Chambers, saying the graduands comprise students from the 2025 and 2026 academic sessions who have completed their programmes and met the institution’s requirements.

Of the total, 14,803 students will receive first degrees, including 194 First Class, 4,230 Second Class Upper, 7,982 Second Class Lower, 1,936 Third Class and 65 Pass degrees. Another 2,039 graduands will receive postgraduate qualifications, comprising 603 PhDs, 1,113 Master of Science degrees, 29 Master of Philosophy degrees and 294 Postgraduate Diplomas.

Anyaehie said the convocation would also provide an opportunity to highlight administrative, technological and infrastructural developments recorded under his administration. He listed the university’s multi-million-dollar grants, digitalisation efforts and its selection for the Federal Government’s $617.7 million Digital and Creative Enterprises programme, supported by the Bank of Industry and Agence Française de Développement, among the milestones.

The vice chancellor said UNIZIK had also recorded achievements in global rankings, debate and sports, noting that the university was ranked joint fourth in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. He said the institution’s debate team won the 13th All Nigerian Universities Debate Championship, while its athletes won silver and bronze medals at the 12th FASU Games in Cairo, Egypt.