No fewer than 634 students on Thursday graduated from the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, during the institution’s 6th convocation.

With 34 of the graduates bagging first class, 539 students will graduate from the institution’s first degree, 95 will emerge from the postgraduate programmes, and 127 students will be graduating with unclassified degrees.

While disclosing this during the convocation ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, revealed that those with unclassified degrees consist of 41 medical doctors, 23 dental surgeons, and 64 physiotherapists.

According to Fatusi, the research portfolio of the university has expanded within the last five years as well as focus on community development initiatives.

He said, “This convocation marks the first time that UNIMED will be awarding its honorary degree, and the calibre of people for whom our Senate and Council have approved the award speaks volumes of its import. There are five awardees who cut across the three geographical regions of our country, including two women.

“This convocation is my last as the vice-chancellor of this university, and it signifies the end of the tenure of the second administration in the history of this fast-growing institution as I complete my tenure in the first quarter of 2025.

“UNIMED has produced three sets of medical doctors, three sets of dentists, four sets of nurses, four sets of physiotherapists, two sets of medical laboratory scientists, and six sets of graduates of various health sciences programs in just 10 years of existence. This is a remarkable feat in Nigeria’s history.”

Meanwhile, the former governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko clinched the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu prize for the best graduating student in Master of Health Law and Policy.

On his part, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who disclosed that his administration has committed N1 billion towards the construction of the university’s senate building, hailed the institution on the strides achieved within a decade.

“Each graduate has not only completed an academic journey but is now part of the pioneering spirit that this institution has been known for since its establishment. For many of you in professional courses, I am aware that you have had to take your professional examinations along the way to get to this point of graduation.

“I have been reliably informed that UNIMED has consistently recorded 100% in all professional examinations conducted by Regulatory Councils, including Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences and Community Health over the years.

“I am immensely proud of the remarkable achievements of this university, and without any doubt, UNIMED is our pride in Ondo State, and the institution has given us a great place of pride in the Nigerian health and education landscape.”