The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, is set to confer first-class degrees on 561 out of 16,409 graduating students during its 55th convocation ceremony.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola (OON), disclosed this during a press briefing held on Wednesday at the Senate Chambers.
In addition to the first-class honorees, 3,916 students will receive second-class upper degrees, 3,763 will graduate with second-class lower degrees, 1,143 will bag third-class degrees, 78 will earn pass degrees, and 223 will graduate with unclassified degrees.
The overall best-graduating students are Damilare Adebakin and Samuel Badekale from the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, each achieving a perfect CGPA of 5.0.
They are closely followed by Olamide Emida from the Department of Accounting.
The university will also confer honorary degrees on notable individuals, including Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO); Fola Adeola, Co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank Plc); and Kolawole Adesina, Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group.
A convocation lecture titled “Universities as Hubs for Development and Wealth Creation” will be delivered by Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), and chaired by Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, CON, SAN, former Governor of Lagos State and former Minister of Works.
The convocation ceremony will commence on January 10 with a Jumat service at the central mosque. Highlights include the commissioning of three major projects by Pro-Chancellor Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, including a 120-bed extension at Moremi Hall and an ultra-modern Learning Commons.
Degree awards and prize presentations will occur on January 14 and 16, with a long-service award ceremony on January 17. The event will conclude with a thanksgiving service on January 19.
Prof. Ogunsola also highlighted several 2024 milestones, including the establishment of the MED-AFRICA Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Laboratory—the first of its kind in a West African university—the launch of the Green Air Initiative featuring eight electric buses, and international collaborations, such as research with Bank of America on climate change.
The university’s accomplishments further span sports, infrastructure, innovations, boot camps, and recognition in the Guinness World Records, marking 2024 as a year of transformative achievements for UNILAG.
“As we eagerly anticipate celebrating the conferring and award of prizes, awards, and degrees on our graduates and honourees at the 55th Convocation Ceremonies, I encourage everyone to embrace the spirit of meritocracy. Reflecting on the words of former US Secretary of State Colin Powell, ‘There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.’
“Let us, therefore, take this moment to celebrate the achievements of our graduates—achievements that are the direct result of their dedication, resilience, and the hard work they have invested in their academic journeys.May God bless the University of Lagos. May God bless Lagos State, May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, May God bless us all,” she noted.