Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has awarded a significant cash prize of N10 million to Isioma Sybil Nwosu, the best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2023/2024 academic session. The award highlights Nwosu's remarkable academic achievements, with her graduating with an impressive Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93, having studied Biochemistry in the Faculty of Science.
The Governor made the announcement of the N10 million monetary gift during the 28th Convocation Ceremony of LASU, which took place on Thursday at the Buba Marwa Auditorium in Ojo. This prestigious event also featured the conferment of honorary degrees and distinguished professorships upon several prominent Nigerians, further elevating the ceremony's significance.
Among the distinguished honorees were Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who received a Doctor of Humane Letters in the field of Infrastructure, Security, and National Development. Another honoree was former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Otunba Olufemi Pedro, who was awarded a Doctor of Business in Banking, Entrepreneurship, and National Development, both Honoris Causa.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, took the opportunity to reiterate the state’s unwavering commitment to education as a central pillar of societal development. He emphasized the critical role that education plays in addressing the needs of society and fostering human development. He urged society to value academic achievements alongside success in other sectors, such as entertainment and sports, noting that academic success is vital for the progress of the nation.
The Governor also discussed the state’s ongoing investments in infrastructure and welfare in tertiary institutions. He added that education continues to be a top priority in his administration’s THEMES+ development agenda, which focuses on improving key sectors such as traffic management, health, education, and more.
“Education is the backbone of our society, and we must recognise its importance in addressing societal needs and human development,” he said, underscoring the state’s continued efforts to invest in expanding infrastructure and ensuring the safety and welfare of university staff and students. He also highlighted initiatives such as the Job Initiative Lagos, which is aimed at boosting the employability of final-year students across state-owned institutions.
LASU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, also praised Governor Sanwo-Olu and his administration for their steadfast support of the university. She revealed that, as a result of this support, 43 out of the 44 academic programmes offered by LASU successfully passed the accreditation exercise in the most recent review. Additionally, she disclosed that the university has expanded its postgraduate offerings, particularly under the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education, and has started admitting international students for the first time.
In his address, the Chancellor of the University, Prof. Gbolahan Elias (SAN), urged the graduates to uphold the values of the university and remain focused on innovation as they venture into their future careers. He emphasized that the graduates are not only representing themselves but also their families, the university, and Lagos State as a whole, and encouraged them to continue their academic and professional pursuits with dedication and passion.
A total of 11,917 students graduated during the ceremony, making it a historic moment for the university. The graduates included 971 Diploma holders, 8,711 first-degree graduates, 2,235 postgraduates, 302 Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,132 Academic Masters, 639 Professional Masters, 125 PhD recipients, and 37 Professional Doctoral Degree holders.