----As 145 UniJos graduands bags 1st class honours 

The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has stated that education remains a central pillar of his administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tinubu said this commitment is evident in their determination to transform Nigeria’s education sector through increased funding and comprehensive reforms. 

He also revealed that in recognition of the critical role of education in national development, the Federal Government allocated Three Trillion, Five Hundred Billion Naira (₦3.5 trillion) to the education sector in the 2025 Budget, representing 7.3 percent of the national budget and an increase from the previous year’s allocation. Noting "this is still below international benchmarks due to competing national priorities, we remain steadfast in our commitment to continuous improvement."

President Tinubu made this known on Saturday during the 35th and 36th combined convocation ceremony of the  University of Jos in which about 145 graduands bags first class honours.

Daily Champion reports that the 35th and 36th combined convocation which culminated with the institution's 50th golden jubilee saw a total of 60,000 graduands, comprising 9,236 diploma holders, 37,741 first degree recipients, and 13,023 postgraduate graduands respectively.

Represented by the Vice Chancellor ATBU, Professor Ibrahim Garba Hassan, Tinubu tasked graduands to deploy their knowledge towards nation building.

"Having gone through the rigorous processes of learning and earned your degrees, it is hoped that you will deploy the knowledge and experiences acquired for your personal development and, more importantly, for the development of our beloved country, Nigeria."

"As we celebrate the University of Jos at 50, it is important to reflect on its remarkable journey since its establishment in 1975. From a modest beginning as a campus of the University of Ibadan, UNIJOS has grown into a leading institution with seventeen faculties in 2025. Its ranking as ninth in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings is commendable, and we encourage the University to aim even higher", the president noted.

 Emir of Zazzau, His Highness Mallam Ahmed Bamalli, who doubled as the Chancellor of the University of Jos, expressed delight that the institution has transformed astronomically having had 17 faculties and 93 academic programmes, saying "our raising profile has gained international recognition."

The paramount ruler urged students to be dedicated and committed to their studies as the future of any nation lays on education.

Vice Chancellor University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya acknowledged that over the past five decades, the University of Jos has evolved from a modest campus into a globally recognised centre of learning, research, and innovation.

According to him, "Our achievements include world-class research in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, arts and humanities, law, natural sciences, engineering, security studies, artificial intelligence, and ICT. Our alumni serve with distinction as governors, judges, diplomats, ministers, legislators, captains of industry, academics, and innovators across the world."

A major highlight of the occasion is the conferment of honorary degrees on distinguished personalities who have contributed immensely to national development and humanity. These include Rev. Canon Sekcan Miner, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa), and Professor Phyllis Kanki, Doctor of Science (honoris causa).