The University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, has conferred first degrees to 634 students, with 34 of them earning first-class honors, according to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi.

This as a former Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, was awarded the best graduating Masters student for the 2024 session.

Speaking at the university’s sixth convocation ceremony on Thursday, Fatusi revealed that out of the 634 graduates, 539 were from undergraduate programs while 95 graduated from postgraduate programs.

“Out of those graduating from our undergraduate programs, 34 have first-class grades, 223 have second-class upper, 145 have second-class lower, 9 have third-class, and 127 will graduate with unclassified degrees,” Fatusi stated.

He further explained that the unclassified degrees included 41 medical doctors, 23 dental surgeons, and 64 physiotherapists.

The postgraduate graduates comprised 36 with postgraduate diplomas, 19 with Master of Public Health degrees, 38 with MSc degrees, 2 with MPhil degrees, and 1 with a PhD.

In his address, Fatusi praised the institution’s 10-year achievements, noting that UNIMED had produced medical doctors, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, and health science graduates, making a significant mark in Nigeria’s educational and healthcare landscape.

“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 from various health sciences programs in just 10 years of existence. This is a remarkable feat in Nigeria’s history,” he added.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the university’s Visitor, also commended the institution’s progress.

He disclosed that his administration had committed N1 billion to the construction of the university’s senate building and expressed pride in UNIMED’s achievements.

“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,” Aiyedatiwa said.

“UNIMED has consistently recorded 100% in all professional examinations conducted by Regulatory Councils, including Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Community Health.”

In a special recognition, Mimiko was awarded the best graduating Masters student for the 2024 session.

Mimiko, who graduated from the “Master of Health Law and Policy program,” was presented with the “Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu prize” for his outstanding achievement.