Sanwo-Olu Announces N20 Million Prize for LASU’s Best Graduating Students

OJO, Lagos— The Lagos State Governor and Visitor to the Lagos State University, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday announced a cash award of N20 million each for the institution’s best graduating students for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.

The announcement was made during the university’s 29th and 30th Combined Convocation Ceremony held at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Main Campus, Ojo.

The recipients are Mr. Ayilara Lawal Olawale of the 2024/2025 session, who graduated with a First Class degree and a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.96 in Project Management Technology, and Mr. Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide of the 2025/2026 session, who graduated with a First Class degree and a CGPA of 4.97 in Aerospace Engineering.

Addressing 20,604 graduands, the governor urged them to serve as worthy ambassadors of LASU, Lagos State, and Nigeria. He charged them to apply their knowledge, character, and resolve to solving societal problems.

“This convocation marks my sixth and final ceremony as Visitor to this university,” Mr. Sanwo-Olu said. “Some of you traded in the morning and read at night. You studied by phone light when power failed. Your certificates are not merely earned; they are testimonies. Rise today for every version of yourself that wanted to quit and did not.”

The governor noted that LASU, established more than four decades ago, has recorded significant progress in admissions, rankings, and research. He cited data showing the university was the most subscribed institution in Nigeria in 2025 and 2026, with over 84,000 first-choice applicants. He also referenced its ranking by Times Higher Education as the best state university and fourth-best overall in Nigeria, and its recognition for four consecutive years as the best university in West Africa on the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking.

Mr. Sanwo-Olu further highlighted infrastructure projects delivered under his administration, including the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, described by students as the “Theatre of Dreams,” the largest student union building in the country, new lecture theatres, and expanded student accommodation.

He also disclosed that the state had increased its tertiary institutions from one to three, with a specialised university for medicine and health sciences in development. He called on corporate organisations, alumni, and philanthropists to support LASU through endowments, research funding, and scholarships.

The ceremony also featured the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on three distinguished Nigerians: industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote, jurist Akin Kekere-Ekun, and banker Bola Adesola.

Speaking on behalf of Mr. Dangote, his daughter, Ms. Fatimah Dangote, announced that first-class engineering graduates of LASU would be offered employment opportunities at the Dangote Group upon completion of the National Youth Service Corps scheme.

In her valedictory address, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, presented a five-year scorecard. She reported that the university secured research grants, expanded academic programmes, improved accreditation outcomes, and completed more than 50 infrastructure projects. Internally Generated Revenue, she said, increased from approximately N3 billion in 2021 to N13 billion in 2025.

Professor Olatunji-Bello and Professor Rafiu Olaoluwa Okuneye were also conferred with the rank of Distinguished Professor by the university Senate.

The Chancellor of the University, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, who presided over his first convocation, and the Pro-Chancellor, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, SAN, commended the state government’s investment in education and urged graduates to focus on innovation and solution-driven leadership.