The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State is set to celebrate 120 students who have earned first-class degrees during its 36th combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Friday, June 5, 2026.
Graduation Statistics
Vice Chancellor Professor Owunari Georgewill announced that a total of 8,156 students will be graduating. This includes 510 postgraduate diploma recipients, 1,386 master's degree graduates, and 438 Doctor of Philosophy awardees. The ceremony will also feature the conferment of prizes and doctorate degrees.
Professor Georgewill stated, "We are delighted to announce that we are set to graduate a total number of 8,156 graduands, of which 510 are for the Post Graduate Diploma, 1,386 are for Master's Degrees, and 438 are for Doctor of Philosophy, respectively certified for graduation during the combined convocation ceremony. Among these graduands, we expect to graduate 120 first class degrees recipients, reflecting the university's sustained commitment to academic excellence."
Convocation Lecture and Events
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will deliver the convocation lecture. The vice chancellor disclosed, "Also, there will be a '36th Convocation Lecture by His Excellency Chief (Barr) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Conferment of Ph.D."
Other events include a Tree Planting Ceremony by the Best Graduating Student at the New Convocation Arena on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 10 am. A Red Carpet and Command Performance will take place at the new Arts Theatre, Delta Park by 6 pm.
Additional Activities
On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the Vice-Chancellor's Dinner with First-Class and Distinction Graduands will be held at the Vice Chancellor's Lodge at 6 pm. Thursday, June 4, 2026, will feature the Alumni Day Research Fair and Exhibitions at the CBN building and the University Library, starting at 10 am.
This achievement follows similar successes at other Nigerian universities, such as the University of Lagos, which recently graduated 617 first-class students out of 10,584 undergraduates.
