By Deborah Adeko-jinadu
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) will graduate 16,506 students at its upcoming convocation, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Folashade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, announced, highlighting the week-long programme and the university’s recent achievements.
The Vice-Chancellor said the graduating students include 10,584 first degree and diploma holders, 140 students from the University of Lagos Business School, and 5,782 postgraduate students.
The overall best graduating student, who is also the best graduating student in Humanities and in his faculty, Management Sciences, Department of Business Administration, is Umeozor Chukwuzule Benedict, graduating with a perfect CGPA of 5.0. The best graduating student in Science is Deborah Olotun from the Faculty of Architecture, with a CGPA of 4.91.
Convocation week will begin with an opening exhibition on January 19 at the Senate Car Park, showcasing innovative and creative works by students and staff. This will be followed by the Convocation Lecture at noon, delivered by Orondaam Otto, CEO of Slum2School and pioneer of the first virtual learning platform in Sub-Saharan Africa.
As part of the convocation ceremonies, Prof. Duro Oni of the Department of Theatre Arts and Prof. James Dele Olowokudejo will be honoured as Emeritus Professors in recognition of their contributions to Nigerian scholarship and the humanities. Prof. Ayoka will receive a Gold Medal, while Dr. Mrs. Fayose, former Registrar of UNILAG, and several other distinguished individuals will be honoured on Thursday, January 22.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the academic statistics of the graduating class. A total of 1,211 students will graduate with First Class and Distinction, representing 7.3% of all degrees awarded. This includes 617 undergraduate First Class graduates and 594 Distinction holders. Also graduating are 4,544 Second Class Upper, 3,910 Second Class Lower, and 1,025 Third Class degree holders. A total of 5,568 students recorded a pass, including 69 undergraduates, 249 unclassified degrees, 108 from the University of Lagos Business School, and 330 undergraduates, bringing the total to 16,506 students.
For postgraduate programmes, 41 distinctions will be awarded to 479 Diploma students, 429 distinctions to 5,184 Master’s degree graduates, 119 for Master of Philosophy, 32 distinctions out of 112 MBA graduates, and 28 distinctions for DBA graduates, totaling 502 distinctions out of 5,922 postgraduate students.
In her speech, Prof. Ogunsola expressed gratitude to members of the University Senate, staff, alumni, partners, and stakeholders for their continued support. She thanked the Lagos State Government for the renovation of the J. F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, with special recognition for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a proud UNILAG alumnus.
Acknowledging corporate support, she highlighted SHELL for the Geosciences Building and UBA, the oldest bank in UNILAG, for its continued support and donation towards an ongoing three-storey building project, with the second and third floors set to be occupied by university management.
On infrastructure, the Vice-Chancellor said UNILAG currently has 10,599 bed spaces, managed through public-private partnerships (PPP). The rehabilitation of Makama, Biobaku, Eni Njoku, Madam Tinubu, Moremi, Kofo, and Fagunwa hostels was funded by TETFUND, while an additional 7,836 bed spaces are expected by 2027, through collaboration between TETFUND and PPP, including three hostels located outside the campus.
She also highlighted donations for renewable energy: solar inverters for the university, 120kV solar panels to the Medical Centre from the World Bank, solar panels donated by Pastor Tunde Bakare to the Faculty of Law, and additional solar panels to the Senate Building, also donated by the World Bank.
Prof. Ogunsola noted that the university received research grants totaling $17.375 million (over ₦24 billion), with a significant portion allocated to health-related research.
She congratulated 43 UNILAG Law students who graduated with First Class honours from the Nigerian Law School, as well as six UNILAG alumni recruited by the Bank of America across Africa.
The convocation promises to celebrate academic excellence, innovation, and institutional growth, reflecting UNILAG’s commitment to quality education, research, and student development.
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