Sanwo-Olu awards N10m to LASU’s best graduating student

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has awarded a cash prize of N10 million to Isioma Sybil Nwosu, the best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2023/2024 academic session.

Nwosu, who studied Biochemistry in the Faculty of Science, finished with an impressive Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93.

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The Governor announced the monetary gift on Thursday during LASU’s 28th Convocation Ceremony, held at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Ojo. The event also featured the conferment of honorary degrees and distinguished professorships on several eminent Nigerians.

Among the honourees were the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), and former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Otunba Olufemi Pedro. Marwa received a Doctor of Humane Letters (Infrastructure, Security, and National Development), while Pedro was conferred with a Doctor of Business (Banking, Entrepreneurship, and National Development), both Honoris Causa.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, reiterated the state’s unwavering commitment to education as a cornerstone of societal progress.

“Education is the backbone of our society, and we must recognise its importance in addressing societal needs and human development,” he said, urging society to value academic achievements as much as success in fields like entertainment and sports.

He emphasized the state’s continued investment in infrastructure and welfare in tertiary institutions, adding that education remains a top priority in his administration’s THEMES+ development agenda.

“We are committed to providing more significant financial investment towards expanding infrastructure within and around, ensuring the safety and welfare of the staff and students of the University,” he stated.

Sanwo-Olu also highlighted initiatives such as the Job Initiative Lagos, aimed at boosting the employability of final-year students across state-owned institutions.

LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, praised the governor and his administration for their unwavering support. She revealed that 43 out of the 44 academic programmes offered by the university were successfully accredited in the last accreditation exercise.

She also disclosed the expansion of postgraduate offerings under the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education, which now includes international students for the first time.

Chancellor of the University, Prof. Gbolahan Elias (SAN), in his address, charged the graduates to uphold the values of the university.

“You are not only representing yourselves but also your families, your university, and your state,” he said, encouraging them to remain innovative and focused in their future pursuits.

A total of 11,917 students graduated in the ceremony, including 971 Diploma holders, 8,711 first-degree graduates, 2,235 Postgraduates, 302 Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,132 Academic Masters, 639 Professional Masters, 125 PhD recipients, and 37 Professional Doctoral Degree holders.