Sanwo-Olu awards LASU’s best graduate N10m cash prize

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gifted N10 million to Miss Isioma Sybil Nwosu for being the overall best graduate at Lagos State University for the 2023/2024 academic year with a CGPA of 4.93.

The governor presented the cash prize to Nwosu, a student from the Department of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Science, during LASU’s 28th Convocation Ceremony held at the Buba Marwa Auditorium in Ojo.

The event also honoured distinguished individuals with doctorate degrees, honorary doctorates, and professorship titles, including the Chairman and CEO of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), and former Lagos State Deputy Governor Otunba Olufemi Pedro.

Brigadier-General Marwa, once a Military Administrator of Lagos, received the Doctor of Humane Letters (Infrastructure, Security and National Development) Honoris Causa, while Otunba Pedro, a Governance Advisory Council (GAC) member, received the Doctor of Business (Banking, Entrepreneurship and National Development) Honoris Causa. Prof. Joseph Abayomi Omoniyi Olagunju was also recognized as a Distinguished Professor.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the governor spoke during the convocation, which celebrated 11,917 graduates from various departments, highlighting the need for Nigeria’s educational system to offer solutions to real-world challenges.

“Education is the backbone of our society, and we must recognise its importance in addressing societal needs and human development. As leaders, we must ensure our educational system remains relevant and effective in providing innovative solutions to real-life problems,” he said.

He emphasized that academic achievements should be regarded as highly as accomplishments in sports, fashion, or entertainment. “It’s our responsibility to foster a culture that hungers for knowledge and innovation,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s commitment to empowering students in state-owned higher institutions, fostering creative problem-solvers, innovators, and transformational leaders.

To further these goals and expand on previous efforts, he stated that the government plans to invest significantly in campus infrastructure while ensuring the protection and well-being of both students and staff.

He noted that education is a top priority in the THEMES+ development agenda, and the government has cultivated innovative youth through several programs, including the Job Initiative Lagos (JIL), which helps final-year students enhance their employability.

“These efforts demonstrate our commitment to improving the welfare of staff and students of this university, providing opportunities for educational advancement to indigenes and residents of our dear Lagos State. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the welfare of the staff and students of the university is prioritised. This, we believe, will ensure that LASU thrives for the benefit of the surrounding community, the state, and Nigeria as well,” the governor said.

Reflecting on the achievements of the graduating class, Sanwo-Olu said the 11,917 students had reached an important milestone, symbolizing the end of one chapter and the start of a new journey full of opportunity.

He praised LASU for its accomplishments and commended Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, whose leadership, he said, has introduced innovation and fresh ideas to university management in Nigeria, raising the school’s profile both nationally and internationally.

In her speech to the graduates, Prof. Olatunji-Bello expressed appreciation to the state government for its consistent and exceptional support to the university.

She outlined that 43 out of the 44 courses offered by LASU were accredited between October and November 2023. She also shared that the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education has, for the first time, launched academic and professional master’s and postgraduate diploma programs, noting that “the program involves international students.”

During his welcome address, Chancellor Prof. Gbolahan Elias (SAN) described the celebration as proof of the university’s commitment to developing future leaders.

He advised graduates to act as worthy representatives of LASU, their families, and the state, encouraging them to remain innovative, focused, and driven as they pursue their goals.

Altogether, the graduating class included 971 diploma students, 8,711 undergraduates, 2,235 postgraduate students, 302 with postgraduate diplomas, 1,132 academic master’s recipients, 639 professional master’s graduates, 125 PhD holders, and 37 who earned professional doctorate degrees across multiple disciplines.