Pomp and Glamour as Veritas University Convocates 1,475 Graduates

It was glitz and glamour on Saturday, 7th November 2026 as One thousand, four Hundred and seventy-five graduates, comprising one thousand One Hundred and Seventy-eight Undergraduates and two hundred and Ninety-Seven Post graduate students of Veritas University converged on the Convocation Arena of the University for the 15th Convocation Ceremony of the University. It was a moment of joy for the graduates and their parents and relations who had come in their numbers to partake in the celebration,

Out of the One thousand, One hundred and Seventy-Eight undergraduates, One Hundred graduated with first class degree, with Olivia Nneka of the software Engineering Department emerging as the overall best with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.98; Five Hundred and Twenty Six graduated with Second Class Upper Division, Four Hundred and Fifty One with Second Class lower division while a hundred and one students went home with a Third Class degree.

For the Post Graduate Degrees, the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy produced the highest number of Doctorate Degree holders at Eleven, closely followed by Accounting Department which produced Nine Doctorate Degree students, Business Administration Produced seven while the Departments of Educational Foundation, Entrepreneurial Studies and economics each produced one Doctorate Degree student each, bringing the total number of Doctorate Degree graduates to Thirty-Seven.

At the master's degree Level, One Hundred and Thirty-Four students Convocated with Psycho-Spiritual Healing topping the list with Thirty students. Accounting Department came second with twenty-seven students. The department of Educational Foundation came third with Thirteen students, Business Administration Department Convocated Eleven students.

Others were Public Administration Department, Nine Students; Political Science and Diplomacy, Seven Students, History and International Relations Eight students, Computer Science graduated Four students while Guidance and Counselling, Economics, Mass Communication, Pure and Applied Chemistry and Entrepreneurial Studies graduated six, Six, Five, Two and Two students respectively.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of Veritas University, Abuja, Most Rev. Prof. Augustine Echema, who was performing his role in that capacity for the first time since he emerged as the chairman of council expressed appreciation to his predecessor, Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah for providing the needed leadership upon which Veritas University is able to achieve the landmark progress it has made.

The Pro-Chancellor said the university had continued to record progress despite several challenges, thus commending the Vice-Chancellor, management, academic and non-academic staff for their commitment.

He disclosed that the university's Skills Booth and Innovation Centre, designed to equip students with practical skills and promote innovation, was under development and expected to be completed next year.

Bishop Echema urged the graduating students to uphold truth, integrity, competence and innovation, stressing that their certificates should translate into the ability to solve societal problems.

He described the Federal Government’s alleged neglect of private universities as a disservice to the country, urging the government to adopt inclusive policies and provide the necessary support for the institutions to thrive.

According to him, private universities had contributed significantly to the development of the country's education sector and should not be sidelined in government policies and programmes.

“It would be a great disservice to the nation if the Federal Government continues to pay poor attention to private universities like ours, which have contributed in no small measure to the development of our country,” he said.

He stressed that private universities were not asking for handouts but for support through fair and inclusive policies, infrastructural development and an enabling environment that would empower them to compete globally and contribute more effectively to national development.

According to him, with Nigeria's growing population and increasing demand for quality higher education, investment in both public and private tertiary institutions should be encouraged as a shared national responsibility.

In his address, the Chancellor of the university, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, urged the graduates to distinguish themselves through character, learning and ethical conduct.

Bishop Kaigama who is the Bishop of the Abuja Archdiocese said the graduands were entering a world filled with opportunities as well as formidable socioeconomic challenges, adding that the values instilled in them at the institution should serve as their moral compass.

He challenged them to become creators of employment rather than mere job seekers, agents of peace in divided communities and champions of truth in their respective professional fields.

The Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, also charged the graduates to deploy the education and moral guidance acquired at the university to make positive contributions to society.

He urged them to remain worthy ambassadors of the institution, irrespective of where they found themselves, and to uphold the values of discipline, integrity and excellence.

The Visitor to the university and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, described the convocation as a celebration of perseverance, resilience and dedication.

Bishop Ndagoso said Nigeria's challenges, including unemployment, insecurity, corruption and economic hardship, required a generation of courageous, competent and responsible citizens, while urging the graduating students to deploy their knowledge and skills towards building a more just, peaceful and humane society.

Bishop Ndagoso who is the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) t also appealed to the Federal Government to support private universities through inclusive policies and investments in tertiary education, noting that the task of educating the nation's young population required collective responsibility.

He further encouraged the graduates to remain connected to their alma mater, mentor younger generations and contribute to the institution's continued growth and development.