The University of Lagos, UNILAG, set to award an Honorary Doctor of Science, D.Sc, degree to the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during its 55th convocation ceremony.
A total of 16,409 students are expected to graduate in a series of events that will begin with a Juma’at service at the university’s Central Mosque on January 10 and conclude on January 17.
At a pre-convocation press briefing on Wednesday, the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, announced that former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola would serve as the event’s Chairman.
The Vice-Chancellor also revealed that the convocation lecture, titled “Universities as Hubs for Development and Wealth Creation,” will be delivered by Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium.
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Prof. Ogunsola stated that the honorary degrees would recognize three individuals who have excelled in scholarship, achieved groundbreaking discoveries, or significantly impacted academic and societal development.
Other honorees include Mr. Fola Adeola, Co-Founder of Guaranty Trust Bank, GTBank Plc, and Kolawole Adesina, Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group.
The Vice-Chancellor outlined that the ceremony will include the award of first degrees, diplomas, certificates, and prizes to students from the Faculties of Arts, Education, Environmental Sciences, Science, and Social Sciences.
“Degrees will also be conferred on graduates from the College of Medicine, covering the Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, and Dental Sciences,” she added.
Additionally, graduates from the Faculties of Engineering, Law, Management Sciences, Pharmacy, and the Distance Learning Institute, DLI, will be honored. She noted that degree conferment ceremonies are scheduled for January 14 and January 15.
“Out of the 16,409 graduates, 9,684 will receive first degrees and diplomas, while 6,659 will be awarded postgraduate degrees. Sixty-six students will graduate from the UNILAG Business School,” Prof. Ogunsola explained.
She broke down the results as follows: 561 students earned first-class degrees and distinctions, 3,916 achieved second class upper, 2.1, and 763 obtained second class lower, 2.2, degrees.
The results also indicated that 1,143 students would graduate with third-class degrees, 78 with pass degrees, and 223 with unclassified degrees.
Prof. Ogunsola highlighted that two students from the Faculty of Science, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Mr. Damilare Adebakin and Samuel Badekale, have achieved notable academic records.
The Vice-Chancellor also announced that Olamide Emida, the best graduating student from the Faculty of Management Sciences, Department of Accounting, earned a CGPA of 4.95.
She further disclosed that the award for the overall best Ph.D. thesis in 2025 would go to Adetoun Alaba Akitoye, who completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry. Eniola Ladipo will receive the award for the best Ph.D. thesis in the Humanities.
Prof. Ogunsola mentioned other activities planned for the convocation, such as an exhibition of staff and students’ innovations at the Senate Car Park and the commissioning of three projects by the Pro-Chancellor, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, on January 13.
“These projects include the Centre for Herbal Medicine, Drug Recovery and Development; the Biomedical Toxicology, Regulatory Science, and Pharmacovigilance Analytical Laboratory, ACEDHARS Building; and a 120-bed extension to Moremi Hall,” she noted.
Additionally, the new ultra-modern Learning Commons, an extension of the university’s library, will be inaugurated. The facility aims to provide an environment for teamwork, creative engagement, research collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the School of Postgraduate Studies building, donated by Chief Tunde Fanimokun in honor of his 80th birthday, will also take place on the same day.
According to Prof. Ogunsola, the event will spotlight individuals’ achievements for their contributions to academia and humanity.
“We will recognize two retired professors who have continued to contribute to academia by awarding them the title of Professors Emeriti of the University of Lagos.
“These are Prof. Babajide Alo from the Department of Chemistry and Prof. Olukayode Amund from the Department of Microbiology,” she stated.
She also announced that Prof. Victor Ariole, from the Department of European Languages, would receive a gold medal for his continued contributions to the university and the nation.
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