LASU to graduate 11,917 students as 315 emerge with first-class

Lagos State University (LASU), situated in Ojo, will award degrees to 11,917 students during its 28th convocation for the 2023/2024 academic session. Of these graduates, 315 have attained first-class honours, representing a key achievement in the university’s dedication to academic excellence.

LASU Vice Chancellor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello revealed this information during a press briefing on Thursday ahead of the convocation.

She also declared, “I am delighted to announce that Nwosu Isioma Sybil from the Biochemistry Department, with a CGPA of 4.93, is our overall best-graduating student for the 2023/2024 academic session.”

She noted that 2,235 postgraduate students will be graduating, which includes 302 with postgraduate diplomas, 1,132 with academic master’s degrees, 639 with professional master’s degrees, 125 with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, and 37 with professional doctoral degrees.

In addition, 971 students will graduate with diploma certificates. The breakdown is as follows: 123 students earned distinctions, 550 had upper credits, 287 got lower credits, and 11 finished with a pass.

Concerning undergraduate programs, 8,711 students will receive their first degrees. Among these, 192 achieved first-class honours, 17 obtained unclassified degrees (MBBS/BDS), 3,076 earned second-class upper division, 4,397 got second-class lower division, 990 graduated with third class, and 39 were awarded passes.

According to the vice chancellor, “Among the 8,711 students graduating with first degrees from the university, 192 achieved first-class honours, 17 received unclassified degrees (MBBS/BDS), 3,076 graduated with second-class upper division, 4,397 with second-class lower division, 990 with third class, and 39 with passes.”

The university’s Senate will also award honorary doctorate degrees to Buba Marwa, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and former Military Governor of Lagos State, and Olufemi Olusegun Pedro, the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, in recognition of their support and service to the institution. Long-serving academic Joseph Abayomi Olagunju will also be elevated to the rank of professor.

“This year’s Convocation, like previous editions, is organised into two segments: pre-convocation events and the main convocation events. The press conference, marking the first pre-convocation event, will be followed by the Convocation Staff Sports Competition later today at the LASU Sports Centre,” Olatunji-Bello said.

As part of the activities, a special Jumat prayer took place at the University Central Mosque on Friday, April 4th, 2025, to mark the second day of the ceremony. The pre-convocation events will end with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, April 6th, 2025, at the University Chapel of Light in Ojo, Lagos, at 10:00 AM.

The main convocation will begin on Monday, April 7th, 2025, with the Coconut Breaking and Cultural Festival at the Badagry Gate on the main campus at 9:00 AM.

“This coconut-breaking ceremony is traditionally organised by the Alumni Association as a contribution to the Convocation ceremony,” the VC noted.

On Tuesday, April 8th, 2025, the fifth day of the celebration, will feature a lecture titled “Patriots, Citizenship, and National Ownership: The Imperative of Collective Responsibility for Nigeria’s Future” at 11:00 AM in the Buba Marwa Auditorium on the main campus in Ojo.

The lecture will be delivered by the Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, while Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and former Governor of Kano State, will serve as the chairman of the occasion.

“On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, which marks Day 6 of the ceremony, diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and master’s degrees will be conferred upon deserving graduates at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Ojo, at 10:00 AM,” the VC highlighted.

The final day of the convocation, Thursday, April 10th, 2025, will feature the award of doctorate degrees (PhDs), distinguished professorships, and honorary doctorate degrees at 10:00 AM, also at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Main Campus, Ojo.

Olatunji-Bello, now serving her fourth year as vice chancellor, also shared the institution’s major accomplishments over the past year. These include the full accreditation of 43 out of 44 academic programs presented to the National Universities Commission (NUC) during the 2023 exercise, partnerships with both local and international bodies, and a strong ranking performance that sees LASU recognised as the top state university and the leading university in Sub-Saharan Africa for the third year running in the 2024 UI Greenmetric World University ranking.