By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, announced a N10 million cash award to Miss Isioma Sybil Nwosu, the overall best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2023/2024 academic session. Nwosu, from the Department of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Science, graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93.
The announcement was made during the institution’s 28th Convocation Ceremony held at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, LASU, Ojo. The ceremony marked the graduation of 11,917 students from various academic programmes, including diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to strengthening the educational sector, stressing that education remains the cornerstone of sustainable development.
“Education is the backbone of our society, and we must ensure it remains relevant and effective in providing innovative solutions to real-life problems,” Sanwo-Olu said. He added that academic excellence must be celebrated and positioned on par with achievements in entertainment, fashion, or sports, urging young Nigerians to strive for knowledge and innovation.
The governor further highlighted his administration’s continued investment in infrastructure, safety, and welfare within state-owned tertiary institutions. He noted that initiatives such as the Job Initiative Lagos (JIL) have been launched to improve the employability of students and ensure their smooth transition into the workforce.
He added that the government’s THEMES+ agenda places education at the forefront of Lagos State’s developmental priorities.
As part of the convocation event, LASU also conferred Honorary Doctorate degrees and Distinguished Professorships on select distinguished Nigerians. Among the honorees were the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), and former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Otunba Olufemi Pedro.
Brigadier-General Marwa, a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, received a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) in Infrastructure, Security, and National Development, while Otunba Pedro was conferred with a Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa) in Banking, Entrepreneurship, and National Development. Professor Joseph Abayomi Omoniyi Olagunju was also elevated to the prestigious rank of Distinguished Professor.
Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, in her address, praised the state government for its unwavering support. She highlighted recent achievements, including the accreditation of 43 out of 44 courses in the 2023 exercise and the launch of new academic and professional programmes at the university’s Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education, which now admits international students.
In his welcome remarks, LASU Chancellor, Professor Gbolahan Elias (SAN), urged the graduating students to be exemplary ambassadors of the institution. “You are not only representing yourselves but your families, your university, and your state. Be innovative, be focused, and carry the LASU spirit into the world,” he charged.
The convocation ceremony saw the graduation of:
971 Diploma students
8,711 students with first degrees
2,235 Postgraduate students
302 Postgraduate Diplomas
1,132 Academic Masters
639 Professional Masters
125 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) holders
37 Professional Doctoral Degrees
Governor Sanwo-Olu also commended the leadership of Prof. Olatunji-Bello for her transformational impact on university administration, stating that her innovations have elevated LASU’s standing both nationally and internationally.
