A landmark graduation ceremony has seen 400 Nigerians receive UK degrees through a partnership with Unicaf and the University of Suffolk.

The partnership recently celebrated the graduation of approximately 400 students who have completed their Master’s and Bachelor’s programmes online at the University of Suffolk, UK.

Stuart Agnew, an associate professor and director of the centre for academic & international partnerships at the University of Suffolk, commended the graduates for their hard work, dedication, and resilience in completing their programmes.

He mentioned some recent achievements of the University of Suffolk, including being named ‘University of the Year,’ winner for Lectures and Teaching Quality and winner for Student Support at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025, among others.

Agnew empahsised that Suffolk is proud of its partnership with Unicaf, which is based upon shared values, like the belief in the power of inclusive higher education to bring transformational change to individuals and communities.

This, according to him, will generate new ideas, advance the boundaries of knowledge and resolve real-life issues.

He advised the graduates to be creative and forward thinking, urging them to use their life experiences together with their knowledge and skills to make a positive difference to people around them.

“Be bold and proactive. Support those who can benefit from you, as a friend, family member, colleague, or business leader. You are the future, so be bold with your positive actions,” he said.

In his address to the graduates, Kevin Andrews, chief academic officer of Unicaf, underlined the importance of celebrating their academic success in their own country and in the presence of their loved ones.

Referring to the partnership of Unicaf with the University of Suffolk, Andrews stressed that world-class education can and must be accessible to the talented and determined, wherever they are in the world.

“This ceremony is a celebration, but it is also a message. It says: achievement deserves to be honoured properly. It says: success should be visible. And it says: your education will travel with you into every future opportunity you pursue,” he added.

Oyebamiji Daniel, a medical doctor who was among the graduates and obtained a Master’s in Public Health degree, gave a vote of thanks on behalf of all Unicaf scholars in Nigeria, who have graduated from the University of Suffolk.

Oyebamiji expressed the graduates’ collective pride for joining the University’s international alumni community, saying, “I knew that a British Master’s would empower me with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to contribute even more to the prevention of infectious diseases.”

“I believe I speak for all my fellow graduates when I say that we couldn’t have chosen better partners than Unicaf and the University of Suffolk in the UK.”

He noted that the teaching was comprehensive, the assessments were rigorous, the tutors and lecturers were knowledgeable and cordial, adding that feedbacks were always constructive and helpful.

“The generous scholarships that we all received from Unicaf made it possible for us to earn a UK degree without breaking the bank, and for this, we are all extremely grateful.”