Lagos State University (LASU) is preparing to award degrees to 20,604 students during its 29th and 30th Combined Convocation Ceremonies covering the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, made this announcement on Wednesday during a media briefing hosted at the Senate Chamber inside the Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building at the LASU Main Campus in Ojo.

The combined convocation events, slated to run from August 14 through August 23, represent the final graduation ceremonies to be overseen by Olatunji-Bello, who is finishing her five-year term as Vice-Chancellor.

She explained that the graduating class includes diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate candidates spanning both academic years.

Regarding the 2024/2025 session, she stated that 947 students completed diploma courses, while 7,621 candidates earned first degrees.

Breaking down the first-degree outcomes for that year, 262 achieved First Class honours, 3,155 graduated with Second Class Upper Division, 3,439 received Second Class Lower Division, 622 earned Third Class, and 37 finished with Pass degrees, in addition to 106 students who completed unclassified MBBS/BDS programs.

Ayilara Lawal Olawale from the Department of Project Management emerged as the top overall graduating student for the session after securing a CGPA of 4.96.

For the 2025/2026 academic year, Olatunji-Bello detailed that 44 students completed diploma requirements, alongside 8,653 individuals who completed first-degree programs.

She noted that 232 of these undergraduate degree recipients obtained First Class honours, 3,545 attained Second Class Upper Division, 4,157 earned Second Class Lower Division, 678 finished with Third Class, and 31 graduated with Pass degrees.

Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide of the Department of Aerospace Engineering claimed the title of top overall graduating student for the session by recording a CGPA of 4.97.

The Vice-Chancellor added that 3,383 postgraduate candidates will also be awarded higher degrees across the two sessions, comprising 618 Postgraduate Diploma recipients, 1,508 academic Master’s degree holders, 900 professional Master’s degree holders, 238 PhD graduates, and 119 professional doctorate awardees.

Olatunji-Bello stated that the convocation calendar will encompass various academic, cultural, and social activities, opening with a staff sports tournament on Wednesday.

She indicated that Thursday will serve as Staff Celebration Day, whereas the formal convocation lineup commences Friday with the Coconut Breaking and Cultural Day, followed by a Jumat prayer service.

On Monday, August 17, diplomas, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and master’s degrees across Engineering and Agricultural Sciences will be conferred at the Olatunji Bello Auditorium on the Epe Campus.

During the proceedings, the institution will likewise bestow the rank of Distinguished Professor upon Prof. Rafiu Olaoluwa Okuneye and Olatunji-Bello herself.

The convocation lecture, centered on “From LASU to the World: Harnessing the Nigerian Diaspora as the 7th Region for National Development,” will be delivered on Tuesday by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

Additionally, the university plans to present honorary doctorate degrees to prominent figures Aliko Dangote, Akin Kekere-Ekun, and Bola Adesola in recognition of their contributions to commerce, finance, governance, industrial advancement, and humanitarian endeavors.

Looking back on her administration, Olatunji-Bello reflected that the institution recorded major strides in academic expansion, research initiatives, innovation, infrastructural growth, digital integration, international partnerships, and student achievement.

She highlighted that LASU received approval for 17 new degree programs from the National Universities Commission, alongside securing full accreditation status for numerous other courses.

The Vice-Chancellor also noted that LASU maintained its standing as Nigeria’s most sought-after university for two consecutive years, securing over 84,000 first-choice applications in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

She mentioned that the institution preserved its ranking as the Best University in West Africa according to the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings for four straight years.

Olatunji-Bello pointed to additional achievements, such as opening the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, which she described as the largest and most digitized academic library facility in West Africa.

She revealed that the institution obtained clearance for a ₦3 billion TETFund Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Sciences, characterizing it as the sole facility of its kind across South-West Nigeria.

Furthermore, she stated that building work has begun on a 1,500-bed student accommodation project under a TETFund-backed public-private partnership valued at roughly ₦4 billion.

The university equally received Federal Government approval for a 15-megawatt Independent Power Project intended to stabilize power availability, lower energy overheads, and boost operational efficiency.

Addressing research and entrepreneurial successes, she noted that two LASU students earned consecutive ₦50 million venture capital awards in 2026 through a competitive national initiative drawing over 30,000 applicants.

Olatunji-Bello added that LASU athletes achieved their strongest performance ever at the Nigerian Universities Games, capturing 10 gold, 14 silver, and 15 bronze medals.

She emphasized that the progress accomplished during her leadership reflects the institution’s commitment to academic quality, innovation, and institutional strength.

“This combined convocation is particularly historic for me. It is the final convocation ceremony over which I will preside as Vice-Chancellor of this great University,” she remarked.

Olatunji-Bello conveyed her gratitude to the Lagos State Governor and University Visitor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside the Governing Council, Senate, academic and non-academic staff, students, alumni, institutional partners, and members of the press for their support throughout her term.

She encouraged the outgoing students to apply their training and values to bring positive change to their communities, Nigeria, and the wider world.

The week-long events will officially wrap up on August 23 with a Special Convocation Thanksgiving Service at the University Chapel, Chapel of Light, located at the Ojo Campus.