On a crisp Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, the University of Jos (UNIJOS) celebrated a milestone: its 34th and 35th Combined Convocation and Golden Jubilee, marking fifty years since its founding. Among the sea of graduates, one name stood out—Chine-me Rueben Esor, a 30-year-old Computer Science student from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, who emerged as the overall best graduating student. Esor’s journey, marked by relentless discipline and a quiet determination, captivated the audience and inspired her peers, faculty, and dignitaries alike.
Esor’s achievement is nothing short of remarkable. Graduating with a First Class degree and a cumulative grade point average of 4.82, she swept several top honors, including the Chancellor’s Prize, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council’s Prize, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Prize. In an interview with PUNCH Online in Jos, she revealed the driving forces behind her success: unwavering hard work, daily study, and the steadfast support of her family, especially her mother.
“I’m really, really excited, and I cannot fully express how I feel physically because I’m more of an introvert. But deep down, I’m truly overwhelmed,” Esor told PUNCH Online. She credited her mother’s encouragement as a key motivator during her academic journey. “My mother would always tell me, ‘You know where you’re coming from. I do not come from a wealthy background. I came all the way from Port Harcourt to Plateau just to study. I’m not expecting you to come back home empty,’” Esor recalled, her voice tinged with both gratitude and humility.
Esor’s story is not just one of personal triumph but also of grit and sacrifice. She described her routine with a candor that resonated with many students. “I read virtually every day, almost all the time, to the extent that some of my colleagues felt I had no life outside my studies. But I do. I do other things. I go shopping. You need hard work combined with consistency,” she explained to Legit.ng, dispelling the myth that academic excellence requires abandoning all semblance of a social life.
Her academic diligence was matched by a clear sense of purpose. Esor’s ambitions stretch far beyond the walls of UNIJOS. “After my education here at UNIJOS, I want to go further. I have a strong interest in robotics. Last year, I applied for further studies in various schools, and when I’m done, I intend to use the knowledge acquired to help Nigeria address its security challenges, which are quite significant at the moment,” she told PUNCH Online. Her words echo the aspirations of a generation seeking to leverage technology for national progress.
The convocation ceremony itself was a grand affair, with over 60,000 graduands receiving certificates and degrees, according to PUNCH Online. The event drew dignitaries from across the country, including President Bola Tinubu, who, though unable to attend in person, sent a message delivered by Professor Ibrahim Garba Hassan, Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. President Tinubu’s remarks underscored the government’s expectations of the new graduates: “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.”
The President acknowledged the sacrifices made by the students and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to education, highlighting the ₦3.5 trillion allocated to the sector in the 2025 budget. He cited initiatives such as the Student Loan Scheme, mechanized farming programs, grants for medical education, and entrepreneurship schemes as part of a broader effort to equip students with modern skills. “The Renewed Hope Agenda places education at the heart of economic and social renewal, linking learning to job creation, poverty reduction, democratic stability, and national security,” Tinubu stated, according to PUNCH Online.
UNIJOS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, welcomed guests and reflected on the university’s evolution. He proudly noted that UNIJOS now boasts 17 faculties and 93 academic programmes—a far cry from its humble beginnings with just four faculties in 1975-76. The university’s recent selection as one of six Technology Centres of Excellence in Nigeria, focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, further cements its role as a leader in higher education. “This significant achievement places UNIJOS alongside four other renowned Nigerian institutions within the global ranking bracket of 1201–1500,” Ishaya said, referencing the institution’s position among the top ten Nigerian universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Yet, the celebrations were tinged with a note of realism. Professor Ishaya lamented the university’s ongoing struggle with funding, pointing out that UNIJOS is the only second-generation university in Nigeria that never received a take-off grant at its inception. “We have continued to play catch-up with sister institutions,” he admitted, citing infrastructural deficits and stunted development as persistent challenges. Despite these hurdles, the university has managed to expand and innovate, a testament to the resilience of its staff and students.
The convocation also included moments of recognition for those who have contributed to national development and humanity. Honorary degrees were conferred upon Rev Canon Sekcan Miner and Professor Phyllis Kanki, with the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Governing Council, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, celebrating the university’s Golden Jubilee and acknowledging alumni and stakeholders for their roles in UNIJOS’s growth.
But amid the jubilation, the university community was not untouched by tragedy. On Thursday, December 11, 2025, just days before the convocation, at least eight UNIJOS students lost their lives in a fatal road crash, according to Legit.ng. The accident cast a somber shadow over the festivities, a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the challenges facing students not just in the classroom, but on the roads and in society at large. The Federal Road Safety Corps, through Public Education Officer Peter Longsan, shared details of the incident, which left the university community in mourning.
Elsewhere in Nigeria, stories of academic excellence continued to emerge. At Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, 32 students graduated with first-class honors in the 2025/2026 academic session, with each offered automatic employment at the state-owned university. These achievements, reported by Legit.ng, reflect a broader trend of rising academic standards and opportunities for Nigeria’s brightest minds.
As the sun set on the convocation, the message was clear: the pursuit of excellence, though fraught with challenges, is both possible and necessary. For students like Esor, the path forward is illuminated by the twin lights of hard work and hope, with the promise of making not just their families proud, but their nation as well.
