DELSU Graduates 6,401 Students at 17th Convocation, Appeals for Greater Funding Support
By Emmanuel Enebeli
ABRAKA/Nigeria: Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, on Saturday, April 26, 2025, celebrated its 17th Convocation Ceremony with the graduation of 6,401 students across First Degree, Diploma, Affiliate, and Postgraduate programmes, marking another major milestone in the institution’s drive for academic excellence and service to society.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Asagba, expressed pride in the achievements of the graduates, describing them as individuals “found worthy in character and knowledge” to receive their various degrees. Professor Asagba, who assumed office in December 2024, noted that convocation remains a solemn academic tradition, honouring students who have distinguished themselves through discipline, dedication, and hard work.
He emphasized that beyond celebrating academic accomplishments, the ceremony also formally released the graduates into society to fulfil the roles for which they had been rigorously prepared. “As fledglings stepping into the wider society, you must confront and overcome the hurdles that await you,” he charged the new graduates.
Highlighting the university’s growing reputation, Professor Asagba disclosed that DELSU had attained full accreditation for all its programmes and was ranked 20th among over 300 universities in Nigeria and 3rd among state-owned institutions, according to the global SciVal Ranking tool of Elsevier. He attributed the achievement to the steadfast commitment of the university’s staff and students.
Of the 6,401 students who graduated, 830 were awarded postgraduate degrees, including 154 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, 438 Master’s degrees, and 238 Postgraduate Diplomas, further affirming DELSU’s commitment to producing highly skilled manpower for national development.
Despite the achievements, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the challenges confronting the institution, particularly in the area of funding. He revealed that of the 20 development projects recently initiated, only the construction of a Fire Service Station Building at Site 3 of the Abraka Campus was funded by the Delta State Government, with the remaining 19 projects executed through the university’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Professor Asagba reiterated the university’s commitment to upholding its academic standards but stressed the need for increased government and stakeholder support to consolidate and expand on the gains recorded. He appealed for enhanced funding, completion of ongoing projects, and recruitment of additional manpower to meet the growing demands of the institution.
“We remain committed to upholding academic glory and integrity, but we need more support to achieve even greater feats,” he said, urging all stakeholders to invest in the future of DELSU.
