The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has conferred degrees on a total of 16,506 students at its 56th Convocation Ceremonies, with 10,584 students receiving first degrees and diplomas, 5,782 awarded postgraduate degrees from the School of Postgraduate Studies, and 140 graduating from the UNILAG Business School (ULBS).
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Folasade Ogunsola, disclosed this while addressing stakeholders during the three-day convocation programme, noting that the ceremonies commenced on Tuesday, January 20. She described the graduations as a celebration of academic excellence, resilience, and the university’s growing national and global impact.
Other highlights of the convocation included the conferment of emeritus professorships on James Olowokudejo of the Department of Botany and Duro Oni of the Department of Theatre Arts. A distinguished scholar of medicine, Akinsanya Osibogun, was also honoured with the title of Distinguished Professor.
Gold medals were presented to Ayoka Olusakin, Professor of Counselling Psychology, and Taiwo 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 further conferred honorary degrees on two eminent Nigerians—Jubril Tinubu, who received the Doctor of Business degree, and Kanu Agabi, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, who was awarded the Doctor of Laws degree—for their exemplary lives of service and achievement.
Ogunsola also announced the winners of the overall Best Postgraduate Ph.D Thesis Awards. Haruna Abubakar emerged Best Ph.D Thesis in Sciences for Civil and Environmental Engineering (Structures Option), while Beatrice Zuhunben won Best Ph.D Thesis in Humanities. The Best Ph.D Thesis (DBA) from ULBS was awarded to Oyeyemi Adebamowo.
The vice-chancellor highlighted inspiring examples of lifelong learning among the graduands, including Hammid Taju, who earned a Ph.D in French at the age of 78, making him the oldest graduating student, and Sulaimon Adekunle Bamgbade, the Olofin of Isheri, who graduated with an MSc in Systems Engineering as the institution’s graduating royal father.
Ogunsola expressed gratitude to members of the university’s senate, staff, alumni, partners, and stakeholders for their continued support, noting that the past year marked significant progress in UNILAG’s mandate of teaching, research, and community service. She added that the university had expanded collaborations, increased student exposure to internships and global learning opportunities, and deliberately fostered environments that encourage innovation and critical inquiry.
She further disclosed that UNILAG retained its joint first position in Nigeria in the 2026 Times Higher Education rankings, placed within the 801–1000 band globally out of 2,191 institutions. According to her, a detailed assessment showed the university ranked first nationally in research quality and industry income, while also emerging as the Most International African Institution (West Africa) 2025, an award presented by The International Education (TINE) at its Africa Summit for advancing international education opportunities.