Omotayo Adigun
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced a cash reward of ₦10 million for Miss Isioma Sybil Nwosu, who emerged as the overall best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Nwosu, graduating from the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, achieved an outstanding Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93.
The announcement was made during LASU’s 28th Convocation Ceremony, held at the Buba Marwa Auditorium on the university’s Ojo campus.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, lauded Nwosu for her exceptional academic achievement and encouraged other students to strive for similar levels of excellence.
The ceremony also saw the conferment of doctorate degrees, honorary doctorates, and the title of Distinguished Professorship upon eminent individuals. Notably, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and former Military Administrator of Lagos State, received a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) for his significant contributions to infrastructure, security, and national development.
Former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Otunba Olufemi Pedro, was awarded a Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa) recognizing his impact in banking, entrepreneurship, and national development.
Additionally, Professor Joseph Abayomi Omoniyi Olagunju was elevated to the esteemed rank of Distinguished Professor.
In his address delivered by Dr. Hamzat, Governor Sanwo-Olu underscored the fundamental importance of education in societal progress. He urged Nigerian leaders to prioritize maintaining a dynamic and effective educational system capable of addressing real-world challenges.
READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu Approves Release of 55 Inmates from Lagos Prisons
“Education is the backbone of our society. We must foster a culture that values knowledge and innovation just as much as success in entertainment, fashion, or sports,” he stated.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing strategically in state-owned institutions, focusing on infrastructure development and student welfare to empower future leaders, citing the Job Initiative Lagos (JIL) under the THEMES+ agenda as an example. He commended the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, for her transformative leadership which has enhanced LASU’s national and international reputation.
A total of 11,917 students graduated across various programmes during the convocation.
This figure includes;
971 Diploma certificates, 8,711 First degrees, and 2,235 Postgraduate degrees (comprising 302 Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,132 Academic Masters, 639 Professional Masters, 125 Doctor of Philosophy degrees, and 37 Professional Doctoral Degrees).
Prof. Olatunji-Bello, in her address, thanked the Lagos State Government for its consistent support and highlighted recent achievements, including the accreditation of 43 out of 44 academic programmes and the launch of new postgraduate programmes attracting international students under the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education.
The university’s Chancellor, Prof. Gbolahan Elias (SAN), congratulated the graduates, urging them to be exemplary ambassadors of LASU and to remain innovative, focused, and resilient in their future endeavors.