Vice-Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University (KIU), formerly Borno State University (BOSU), Maiduguri, Professor Babagana Gutti, speaking during a press conference at council chamber in Maiduguri
Vice-Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University (KIU), formerly Borno State University (BOSU), Maiduguri, Professor Babagana Gutti, has announced that the institution is set to host its first combined convocation ceremony, marking nine years of academic progress and institutional growth.
Professor Gutti made the disclosure on Thursday during a world press conference held at the Council Chamber to herald the maiden combined convocation.
He said the ceremony represents not just the passage of time, but “a celebration of impactful and transformative service that touches on the lives of our future leaders, the immediate community and our nation as a whole.”
According to him, the maiden convocation will cover three academic sessions — 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
He explained that during the 2022/2023 academic session, the university graduated 523 students, with five earning First Class honours. In the 2023/2024 session, 489 students graduated, including 10 First Class degree holders across four faculties.
For the 2024/2025 academic session, Professor Gutti said the university will graduate 1,282 students, out of whom 13 made First Class across the four faculties.
“In all the three sets, there is a sizeable number of students that graduated with Second Class Upper Division, Second Class Lower Division, Third Class and Pass degrees, respectively,” he added.
Outlining activities lined up for the event, the Vice-Chancellor said a pre-convocation lecture will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026. The lecture will be delivered by Professor Michael O. Faborode, former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The lecture, titled “ _Insecurity and Environmental Fragility in the Lake Chad Basin Areas: Education, Health and Sustainable Agriculture Tripartite to the Rescue,”_ will take place at Block Three Lecture Theatre by 4 p.m., under the chairmanship of Professor Emeritus Abubakar Mustapha, mni, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri.
Professor Gutti said the main convocation ceremony, which will feature the conferment of degrees and presentation of prizes, is scheduled for Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the university’s Convocation Square by 10 a.m.
“The Special Guest of Honour is His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On this note, I wish to announce to you that the Visitor, His Excellency, Professor (Engr.) Babagana Umara Zulum, the Executive Governor of Borno State, has approved the appointment of a new Chancellor to our institution.
“His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), CFR, the Ooni of Ife. In line with academic tradition, the conferment of degrees and presentation of prizes will be preceded by the investiture of the new Chancellor.
“New Chancellor of the university, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), Dr. Alhaji Mohammed Indimi and two others,” Professor Gutti said.
Reflecting on his tenure, the Vice-Chancellor said, “When I assumed office as Vice-Chancellor, I pledged to reposition the University for excellence, embrace digital technology and innovation, and enhance our community impact.
“We have automated all our processes and our students access their results online. Once they are screened in their first year, and uploaded on the portal. They just start attending lectures.
“All their courses are uploaded on the portal, and their school fess are paid by NELFUND. On this journey, and within the span of 14 consecutive months of my stewardship, the University has established additional academic Departments, Directorates and Units.”
He added that deliberate efforts were made to raise academic standards, update curricula and expand access to inclusive, high-quality tertiary education.
“All these successes and many more were recorded between November 2024 and December 2025 using the meagre University’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
“Despite the fact that Kashim Ibrahim University is nascent, we will not relent in our effort to upgrade its standards for greater academic excellence in teaching, learning, research and community service.
“In line with this, the University will soon commence inaugural lectures, public lectures, hosting of international conferences and seminars,” Gutti said.
The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that, with the approval and support of the Borno State Government, the university will establish postgraduate programmes and new faculties, including Engineering, Law, Environmental Sciences and Computing.
“Alos, programmes like Arabic, Physical and Health education and Library Science will be established. We will split Faculties of Arts and Education will be split, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences will be split. Department of Maths and Computer will also be split,” he said.
Professor Gutti expressed appreciation to key stakeholders, saying, “At this juncture, I want to most sincerely thank the Borno State Government, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) and the National Assembly, individuals and organisations, including the mass media, for supporting us through this journey.
“As we conclude arrangements to host our First Combined Convocation Ceremony, I urge all stakeholders, particularly our dear graduands, students, parents, our friends and well-wishers to grace the occasion.”
He concluded by offering condolences to the media community, noting, “I cannot end this speech without extending our condolences to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the recent, painful loss of lives of some staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Gombe.”
