The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has awarded degrees to 16,506 students at its 56th Convocation Ceremonies, as Vice-Chancellor Prof. Folasade Ogunsola reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, global relevance, and sustainable development.
Speaking on Thursday at the J. F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium, Akoka, Prof. Ogunsola described the convocation as “a day of reward for hard work” and a celebration of the dedication of undergraduate and postgraduate students across the university’s faculties, the Distance Learning Institute, the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS), and the UNILAG Business School (ULBS).
“I warmly congratulate all our graduating students, their families, friends and loved ones who have supported them throughout their academic journey,” she said.
The three-day event saw 10,584 students awarded first degrees and diplomas, 5,782 postgraduate degrees from SPGS, and 140 graduates from ULBS. Additionally, 5,775 students earned postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees, while 147 students received PhD degrees.
Highlighting outstanding achievements, Prof. Ogunsola announced that Chukwuzubelu Benedict Umeozo of the Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, emerged as the overall best graduating student with a perfect CGPA of 5.0. She added, “The best graduating students in the sciences are David Afolabi Adebayo of the Faculty of Education and Jeremiah Opeyemi Samuel of the Faculty of Pharmacy, both with a CGPA of 4.92.”
On postgraduate achievements, Haruna Egbunu Abubakar (Civil and Environmental Engineering) won the overall best PhD thesis award, Beatrice Paul Zuhumben (Educational Psychology) was recognised for the best PhD thesis in the humanities, and Oyeyemi Idowu Adebamowo received the best PhD (DBA) thesis award from ULBS.
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Prof. Ogunsola also highlighted inspiring stories among the graduands, including Dr. Hammid Taju, who earned a PhD in French at 78, and Oba Sulaimon Adekunle Bamgbade (Olofin of Isheri), who obtained an MSc in Systems Engineering. “These are strong examples of lifelong learning,” she said.
The Vice-Chancellor announced that two retired academics — Prof. James Dele Olowokudejo (Department of Botany) and Prof. Duro Oni (Department of Theatre Arts) — would be honoured as Emeritus Professors, while Prof. Akinsanya Olayide Osibogun would be conferred with the title of Distinguished Professor.
Additionally, honorary doctorate degrees were set to be awarded to Mr. Jubril Adewale Tinubu, CON (Doctor of Business), and Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, CON, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (Doctor of Laws).
Reviewing UNILAG’s performance, Prof. Ogunsola said the university retained its joint first position in Nigeria in the 2026 Times Higher Education rankings alongside the University of Ibadan and was placed in the 801–1000 band globally out of 2,191 institutions. “A deep dive into the ranking showed that UNILAG ranked first in research quality and industry income,” she said, adding that the university was also named the “Most International African Institution (West Africa) 2025” by The International Education.
On infrastructure development, she highlighted projects such as the renovation of the J. F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium by the Lagos State Government, the Al-Unipod AI and innovation hub under the UNDP Timbuktoo project, the Window on America in partnership with the U.S. Embassy, and the commissioning of the Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Research Centre at the College of Medicine.
“We are grateful to our stakeholders, alumni and industry partners who have walked their talk in supporting infrastructure development and student welfare,” she said. UNILAG currently has about 10,599 bed spaces and aims to add 7,836 more by 2027 through TETFund interventions and public-private partnerships.
On digital transformation, Prof. Ogunsola noted progress in the “Automate UNILAG” initiative, including expanded fibre connectivity, improved Wi-Fi bandwidth, and the launch of the ITMO AI Chatbot, described as “the first digital intellectual property and patent registry of its kind in any Nigerian tertiary institution.”
In research and innovation, UNILAG attracted over $17.3 million (about ₦24 billion) in grants in 2025 from organisations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, TETFund, and the German Research Foundation. Over 14,000 students and youths participated in entrepreneurship programmes, with 61 startups funded and over ₦250 million awarded for prototype development.
Prof. Ogunsola also announced plans to establish a branch campus in Lagos in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, alongside ongoing joint programmes with the University of Dundee and Soochow University in China.
On environmental sustainability, she highlighted that UNILAG’s electric vehicle initiative reduced 120 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions in 2025, while a 7MW floating solar power project would be “the first of its kind in Nigeria.”
In her charge to graduands, Prof. Ogunsola urged them to embrace adaptability and lifelong learning. “The world is changing rapidly. AI is transforming how we learn, work and live. Survival and dominance will belong to the adaptable mind,” she said, encouraging graduates to embody the “UNILAG can-do spirit.”
She concluded by thanking staff, alumni, partners, and stakeholders for their ongoing support of the university.