Why UNN Graduates Are Called 'Lions': Inside Nigeria's First Indigenous University

Walk into any gathering of University of Nigeria alumni, shout "Lion!" and watch what happens. You'll hear a collective roar that would make actual lions jealous. This isn't some random party trick - it's a badge of honor earned through four (or five, or six - no judgment) years at Nigeria's pioneering indigenous university.

But why lions? And why do UNN students wear this identity with such fierce pride? The story is equal parts inspiring legacy and survival badge.

The Origin: When Zik Had a Vision

In 1960, when Nigeria was finding its feet as an independent nation, Nnamdi Azikiwe (fondly called Zik) established the University of Nigeria as the country's first fully indigenous university. The idea was bold: create an institution that would produce leaders - not followers, not imitators, but genuine Nigerian intellectuals who could stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone globally.

The lion was chosen as the symbol because, well, lions are biologically the head of the animal kingdom. And UNN was meant to be the head of Nigerian education. Subtle? No. Effective? Absolutely.

But Here's Where It Gets Real

The lion moniker isn't just about legacy and pride. According to UNN lore (and every single UNN graduate you'll ever meet), when you graduate from UNN, you're called a lion or lioness "to show that the person has gone through thick and thin and is still standing."

Translation: UNN doesn't play. The university has built a reputation for being academically rigorous. Students joke that UNN doesn't just teach you calculus and chemistry - it teaches you survival skills you didn't know you needed.

The Academic Jungle

UNN operates on a simple philosophy: if you want it easy, go elsewhere. The university's 60:40 JAMB-to-Post-UTME scoring ratio means you can't coast on your JAMB score alone. That Post-UTME screening? It carries 40% of your admission fate. And once you're in, the real work begins.

Courses that would be "challenging but manageable" elsewhere become legendary obstacles at UNN. Medicine students with 314 cut-off marks? That's just the entry ticket. The actual journey is where the lion training happens.

Life in the Pride

Campus life at UNN's main Nsukka campus is its own ecosystem. With over 100 student organizations, you're not just studying - you're living in a community that shapes you. There's Miss UNN (the beauty pageant that everyone somehow has an opinion about), STEP UP (the dance competition), Theatre Arts productions that sell out, and enough cultural activities to keep you busy until final exams remind you why you're actually there.

The campus even has a lion sculpture - because why just tell students they're lions when you can literally show them one?

The Hierarchy of Roars

Here's how the lion ranking works:

• Undergraduates: Lions and Lionesses (still in training)
• Graduates: Lions and Lionesses (certified jungle survivors)
• Postgraduates: Super-Lions and Super-Lionesses (went back for more, respect)

And when lions gather and someone shouts "Lion!", the roar that follows isn't just noise - it's decades of shared experience, struggle, triumph, and an unshakeable belief that if you survived UNN, you can survive anything.

The Modern Lion: Still Relevant?

Fast forward to 2025, and UNN still holds its ground. According to the July 2025 Webometrics rankings, UNN ranks #3 in Nigeria and #1008 globally. Not bad for a 65-year-old institution that's weathered everything from civil war to ASUU strikes.

The university continues to produce notable graduates - from Peter Obi (yes, that one) to Charles Soludo (Central Bank Governor turned Anambra Governor) to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (author who made the world pay attention to Nigerian storytelling). These aren't just successful people; they're lions who took what UNN taught them and applied it on bigger stages.

What Actually Makes a UNN Lion?

According to students and alumni, it's not just about the academics. It's about:

• Resilience: Learning to adapt when the curriculum changes mid-semester
• Community: Building bonds with students from every corner of Nigeria
• Resourcefulness: Figuring out solutions when systems don't work perfectly
• Pride: Representing Nigeria's first indigenous university legacy
• Survival Skills: Emerging stronger from challenges (academic and otherwise)

One student review put it perfectly: "UNN does not just teach you how to read and solve calculations but also how to survive outside of school."

The Lion Network

Perhaps the most underrated benefit of being a UNN lion? The network. When you meet a fellow lion in the job market, at a conference, or randomly at the airport, there's instant recognition. You both know what it took. You both survived the same jungle. And that creates a connection that goes beyond just "we went to the same school."

The campus even named its Wi-Fi network LIONET. Because of course they did.

Want to Join the Pride?

If you're considering UNN, here's what you need:

• JAMB Score: Minimum 160 (but competitive courses need much higher - Medicine requires 314)
• O'Level: Five credits including English and Mathematics
• Post-UTME: Register and pass the screening (it counts for 40% of your admission)
• Mental Preparation: UNN will challenge you - that's the point

Ready to start your journey? Visit www.unn.edu.ng for admission information and practice JAMB on Ulearngo to boost your scores.

Also See: Top 10 Universities in Nigeria - 2025 Rankings

So when you hear UNN students roar, remember: they're not just making noise. They're announcing that they survived the jungle, earned their stripes, and joined a legacy that started in 1960 when one man dared to dream that Nigeria could have its own world-class university. And sixty-five years later, the lions are still roaring.