…..As UNILAG Releases 16,506 Graduates
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s resolve to protect the stability of universities academic calendar as no nation can build its future when its classrooms are closed and students are left in uncertainty.
He stated this during the University of Lagos (UNILAG)’s 56th convocation ceremonies held recently.
According to him, since the inception of his administration, Nigeria has witnessed two uninterrupted academic sessions without strike. This is a product of firm political will, sustained dialogue, and responsible leadership, “and in fulfilment of my commitment that Nigerian children must remain in school and that learning must never again be disrupted, I am proud to state that this promise has been kept.
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The Visitor to the institution represented by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa said that a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has resolved a crisis that undermined confidence in the country’s university system for decades.
“It guarantees industrial harmony, secures a stable academic calendar, restores dignity to teaching and learning, and signals that the era of perennial strikes has come to an end,” he added.
He added: “Beyond this, we are pursuing far-reaching reforms to prepare our youth for a technology-driven future by strengthening quality assurance, promoting skill-based learning, and encouraging curricula that integrate digital literacy, data competence, artificial intelligence awareness, and innovation-led problem solving.”
President Tinubu added that the government is aware of the socio-economic challenges confronting the nation, ranging from inflationary pressures and fiscal constraints to unemployment, poverty, food insecurity, and inequality. “Yet, I stand before you today to reaffirm without equivocation that education remains the bedrock of my administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are convinced that no nation can rise beyond the quality of its human capital, and no sustainable development can be achieved without a skilled, educated, and empowered citizenry. Accordingly, my administration is implementing comprehensive system-wide reforms aimed at expanding access to education, improving the quality of education, and ensuring that learning outcomes are aligned with the demands of a modern, digital, knowledge-driven global economy.
He further explained: “My administration is also putting a lot of emphasis on the welfare of both our academic and non-academic staff and our students and several legacy projects have been undertaken by my administration, and many more will be done.”
He listed the projects to include the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) which he said reflects a firm resolve that no Nigerian student should be denied access to higher education on account of financial limitations, adding that since its operationalization, over 1.3 million applications have been received nationwide, with about 900,000 students benefiting today.
“The cumulative disbursement so far is over 200 billion Naira. These are not abstract numbers. They represent restored hope, expanded opportunities, and deliberate investment in Nigeria’s future human capital,” he stated.
“We have budgeted and spent over 120 billion Naira targeted at doubling medical school enrolment in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and quadrupling admission into nursing schools. We have rehabilitated or are rehabilitating 18 medical schools across the six geopolitical zones, with plans to follow with another six to twelve medical schools under the 2026 TETfund spending guideline.
“Eight medical simulation laboratories have been built across the six geopolitical zones. Over 27 billion Naira has been earmarked for new hostels in these medical schools. We will also spend over 100 billion Naira targeted at rehabilitating federal universities of technology and faculties of engineering and technology.”
In the area of welfare he said that the Federal Government started the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund, a targeted initiative to improve the financial well-being of academic and non-academic staff. “Over 6,000 staff benefited last year, and we have continued the programme this year.
“In empowering young citizens, we deployed a student venture capital plan to stimulate entrepreneurial thinking among students, especially in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical sciences. The fund will support students with grants to develop business ideas, inventions, and innovations, helping them to commercialize solutions and become leaders of jobs and industries for the future.”
President Tinubu stated further that for entrepreneurial development, the government is deploying the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification programme in universities, supported by TETfund.
Congratulating the university on the Governing Council, University Management, Senate, staff, students, alumni, and the entire UNILAG community for sustaining a legacy of excellence that continues to place this great institution within Nigeria and beyond, President Tinubu said the ceremony is far more than the formal conferment of degrees and honors but a solemn affirmation of the power of knowledge, the dignity of hard work, and the enduring promise of our nation’s future.
“Since its establishment in 1962, the University of Lagos has remained one of Nigeria’s most strategic national assets, producing generations of leaders, innovators, professionals, and public servants whose contributions have shaped our national journey.
“I commend the University of Lagos for its commitment to academic distinction, impactful research, innovation, and service to society. I particularly acknowledge the transformative stewardship of the University’s first female Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunshola, whose tenure has further strengthened UNILAG’S standing as a centre of excellence.
He commended the graduating students for enduring intellectual rigour, personal sacrifice, and the challenges of a rapidly changing world to arrive at this defining milestone. “You are graduating at a moment of national renewal, when Nigeria is undertaking broad reforms to reposition its economy, strengthen its institutions, and secure a more inclusive and prosperous future.
“Your education has equipped you not merely for employment, but for leadership, innovation, and nation building,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola in her speech said the three-day programme was for the conferment degree to 16,506 students and of these 10,584 students received first degrees and diplomas, while 5,782 received the postgraduate degrees from the School of Postgraduate Students (SPGS) and 140 from the UNILAG Business School (ULBS).
We conferred first degrees, diplomas, certificates, and prizes on graduands from the Faculties of Arts, Architecture, Communication and Media Studies, Creative Arts, Education, Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical and Earth Sciences, Computing and Informatics, and Social Sciences.
This was followed on Wednesday, January 21, by degree awards for graduands from the Institute and Faculties Engineering, Law and Management Sciences Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dental Sciences, and Health Professions-as well as the Faculties of Engineering, Law, Management Sciences, Pharmacy, and the Distance Learning Institute (DLI).
She explained that the overall best graduating student who is also the best graduating student in the Humanities is Chukwuzubelu Benedict Umeozo from the faculty of Management Sciences, Department of Business Administration with a perfect score of 5.0. “The two best graduating student in the Sciences are David Afolabi Adebayo – Faculty of Education and Jeremiah Opeyemi Samuel – Faculty of Pharmacy with a CGPA of 4.92.
“The overall best Ph.D. Thesis award for this year goes to Haruna Egbunu Abubakar who obtained his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Structures option) while the best Ph.D. thesis (Humanities) is Beatice Paul Zuhumnen in Educational Psychology while the best Ph. D thesis (DBA) from the ULBS is Oyeyemi Idowu Adebamowo.
She also disclosed further that amongst the graduating students, Dr. Hammid Taju, who obtained Ph. D in French at age 78 years is the oldest graduating student at this year’s convocation, “while Oba Sulaimon Adekunle Bamgbade (Olofin of Isheri) obtained MSc Systems Engineering is our graduating Royal Father. These are good examples of lifelong learning.”
Various individuals which include two retired academics, Professor James Dele Olowokujdejo of the Department of Botany and Professor Duro Oni of the Department of Theatre Arts were honoured as Emeritus Professors and Professor Akinsanya Olayide Osibogun, a distinguished scholar of medicine, will be conferred with the title of Distinguished Professor.
Gold Medals were also awarded to Professor Ayoka Mopelola Olusakin, Professor of Counselling Psychology, and Dr. Taiwo Folasade Ipaye, Director of the Office of Advancement, President of the University of Lagos Women society and former Registrar, in recognition of their sustained service to the University and the nation.
The University also conferred honorary degrees on two outstanding Nigerians whose lives exemplify hard work, and service. Mr. Jubril Adewale Tinubu, received the Doctor of Business degree and Barrister Kanu Godwin Agabi, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation and former Minister of Solid Minerals Development will be awarded the Doctor of Laws degree.
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