The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is set to graduate 16,409 students during its convocation ceremony, scheduled to begin with a Juma’at service on January 10 and conclude on January 17, 2025. The week-long activities will feature the conferment of degrees, diplomas, and honorary awards, as well as academic recognition for exceptional students and distinguished individuals.
Addressing journalists at a pre-convocation briefing, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Folasade Ogunsola announced that former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola would chair the ceremony, while the convocation lecture will be delivered by Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group. Honorary degrees will be conferred upon three distinguished individuals: Fola Adeola, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank; Kolawole Adesina, Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group; and another yet-to-be-named awardee.
Prof. Ogunsola detailed the breakdown of the graduating students, noting that 9,684 would receive first degrees and diplomas, while 6,659 would be awarded postgraduate degrees. The UNILAG Business School will graduate 66 students. Among the first-degree recipients, 561 students earned first-class honors, 3,916 achieved second-class upper degrees, 763 earned second-class lower degrees, and 1,143 were awarded third-class degrees.
Notable achievements highlighted include record-breaking performances by Damilare Adebakin and Samuel Badekale of the Faculty of Science, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics. Olamide Emida, the best-graduating student from the Faculty of Management Sciences, achieved a CGPA of 4.95. In the postgraduate category, Adetoun Alaba Akitoye will receive the award for the overall best PhD thesis in Chemistry, while Eniola Ladipo will be recognized for the best humanities thesis.
The convocation underscores UNILAG’s commitment to academic excellence and societal contribution, celebrating the achievements of its students and honoring individuals who have made significant impacts in their fields.