Redeemer’s University Moves to Band A, Expands Academic Frontiers as First-Class Graduates Shine at 18th Convocation

 

Oriontimes Newsroom | October 5, 2026

VC explains rising electricity costs, reveals criteria for Ede indigene scholarships; Basic Medical Sciences leads first-class production

EDE, Osun State — Redeemer’s University, Ede, has highlighted significant developments in infrastructure, academic programmes, student achievement and community engagement as it prepares for its 18th Convocation Ceremony, with the institution reporting an improved electricity supply regime on campus and a strong performance by graduating students.

Speaking at the press briefing for the 18th Convocation on Monday, October 5, 2026, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, said the university's progress over the past year reflected its continuing effort to provide a conducive environment for teaching, learning and research.

Electricity supply improves as university moves to Band A

One of the issues that attracted attention during the briefing was electricity supply on campus.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, students who resumed for the current academic session have been able to observe a significant improvement in electricity availability. He explained that the university had moved from its previous electricity supply arrangement to Band A, resulting in substantially higher monthly electricity expenditure.

The development, he noted, has come with a financial implication, with the university now spending about three times what it previously paid for electricity every month.

The improvement is particularly significant for a modern university where laboratories, computer facilities, research equipment, lecture facilities and other academic infrastructure depend heavily on reliable electricity.

Rather than presenting infrastructure only as a physical development issue, the university's experience illustrates an important reality in higher education: the quality of learning is closely connected to the reliability of the systems supporting it.

10 new programmes approved for 2026/2027 session

Academic expansion also featured prominently in the Vice-Chancellor's presentation.

The university disclosed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved 10 new full-time undergraduate programmes for commencement from the 2026/2027 academic session following a resource verification exercise.

The programmes listed in the briefing include Broadcasting, Public Relations, Advertising, Information and Media Studies, Journalism and Media Studies, Film Production, Criminology and Security Studies, Biotechnology, Software Engineering, and Information Systems.

The expansion is significant because it takes the university into additional areas of communication, digital technology, security and the life sciences—fields increasingly connected to the changing demands of the Nigerian and global economy.

The university's official communication also confirms that the NUC approval takes effect from the 2026/2027 academic session. 

The Vice-Chancellor stressed, however, that programme approval comes with responsibility. Students entering the programmes must have qualified lecturers, appropriate facilities and curricula capable of preparing them for professional realities.

That emphasis is particularly relevant to the media programmes, where technological change is rapidly transforming journalism, advertising, public relations, broadcasting and film production.

Basic Medical Sciences produces highest number of first-class graduates

Another major academic highlight from the briefing was the performance of the graduating class.

According to the university management, the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences produced the highest number of first-class graduates in the 2026 graduating class.

It was followed by:

1. Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences

2. Faculty of Computing and Digital Technologies

3. Faculty of Management Sciences

The ranking provides an interesting picture of the areas in which exceptional academic performance was recorded among the graduating students.

The strong performance in Computing and Digital Technologies is particularly noteworthy given the university's simultaneous expansion into technology-driven programmes such as Software Engineering and Information Systems.

Professional examinations add another layer to academic achievement

Beyond conventional university examinations, Redeemer's University also highlighted students' performance in professional examinations.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that Physiotherapy and Nursing students have recorded 100 per cent pass rates in their external council examinations over several years.

The university's record is independently reflected in its recent report that all 89 candidates presented for the 2026 Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria professional examination in Physiotherapy passed, representing a 100 per cent success rate. 

The university also disclosed that eight Accounting students passed the May 2026 ICAN examinations, with some already qualifying as Chartered Accountants while still undergraduates.

The institution's official news platform similarly reported the success of eight Accounting students in the May 2026 ICAN qualifying examinations.

These outcomes demonstrate the importance of measuring university education not only by graduation but also by how effectively students perform when assessed by professional bodies outside the institution.

How Redeemer's University selects Ede indigene scholarship beneficiaries

The university also provided clarification on the selection process for its Ede Indigenes Scholarship Scheme, following the announcement that six Ede indigenes would receive full scholarships for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The Vice-Chancellor explained that the process begins with engagement with the traditional institution. The university writes to the palace seeking nominations, while chiefs also have their own criteria for identifying prospective beneficiaries.

Names are subsequently submitted for consideration, while the university also considers the candidates' Post-UTME results.

There is a minimum academic benchmark that candidates must meet. In other words, being an indigene of Ede alone does not automatically guarantee the scholarship; the candidate must satisfy the required academic conditions.

The university's official announcement confirms that six Ede indigenes received full scholarships for the 2026/2027 session. It also states that the merit-based scheme, which began in 2015, has so far benefited 53 indigenes of Ede, covering tuition and other compulsory fees for the normal duration of their studies. 

The six beneficiaries are studying Computer Science, Nursing Science, Economics, Mass Communication and Computer Engineering, according to the university. 

This makes the scheme more than a financial intervention; it represents a deliberate effort by a private university to maintain a relationship with its host community through education.

Relationship with host community

The press briefing also emphasised the university's relationship with Ede and its traditional institution.

The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the support of the Kabiyesi, His Royal Majesty Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, the Timi of Edeland, the chiefs and the people of Ede, stressing that the university and its host community share a common future.

The university said it intends to strengthen the relationship through respectful engagement and opportunities through which members of the host community can see and benefit from the institution's presence.

The scholarship programme is one of the clearest examples of that philosophy.

Research, health and future expansion

Research, health and future expansion

Redeemer's University also announced further expansion into Pharmacy, Medicine and Surgery, and Dentistry.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the university has received NUC approval to commence the programmes and is awaiting approval from the relevant professional bodies before actual take-off.

The university plans to use Redeemer's Health Village at Redemption City as its teaching hospital for the programmes.

The institution has also continued to attract external recognition and research partnerships. Its Institute of Genomics and Global Health, under the leadership of Distinguished Professor Christian Happi, was reported in the briefing to have secured a MasterCard Foundation grant to train African scholars through short courses, M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes in genomics.

Leadership beyond the classroom

Professor Akindele also used the briefing to emphasise that institutional development goes beyond constructing buildings and introducing programmes.

He pointed to a management retreat held from August 10 to 13, involving management staff, heads of directorates and deans, where issues including continuous learning, collaboration, accountability and practical leadership were discussed.

His message was particularly direct: occupying a senior position does not mean an individual has finished learning.

That philosophy, he suggested, should extend to the way university officials interact with students, staff and other stakeholders.

Convocation programme

The 18th Convocation activities began with the meeting between graduating students and the Visitor, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, following the Holy Ghost Service at the RCCG New Arena, Redemption City.

The programme continues with the awards and recognition ceremony, convocation lecture, convocation play and the two-day convocation ceremonies.

The first convocation ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, October 8, will feature graduates from the Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Built Environment Studies, Computing and Digital Technologies, Engineering and Technology, Management Sciences, and Natural Sciences.

The second day, Friday, October 9, will cover the Faculties of Humanities, Law and Social Sciences, alongside affiliate institutions and the College of Postgraduate Studies.

A university balancing expansion with responsibility

The developments presented at the briefing collectively point to a university attempting to balance academic expansion, infrastructure, affordability, professional competence, community responsibility and institutional sustainability.

From moving to Band A electricity and absorbing the resulting increase in energy expenditure, to securing NUC approval for 10 new programmes; from producing high-performing graduates to providing full scholarships for Ede indigenes, the issues raised at the briefing demonstrate that university development is not measured by academic programmes alone.

It is ultimately measured by whether students have a conducive environment in which to learn, whether graduates can compete professionally, whether research addresses real problems and whether the institution maintains a meaningful relationship with the society around it.

For Redeemer's University, the 18th Convocation therefore represents not merely the celebration of another graduating class, but also an opportunity to take stock of where the institution is coming from, how far it has moved and what responsibilities accompany its next phase of growth.

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