Amidst the backdrop of COVID-19 challenges, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) is poised to celebrate a remarkable academic achievement at its 54th convocation. Scheduled for January 17, the institution is set to graduate a record 379 students with first-class honours.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, shared these details at a recent news conference in Lagos. A total of 17,464 students will graduate, with David Akanmu from the Faculty of Engineering emerging as the best graduating student with a perfect score of 5.00 CGPA. Ibrahim Quadri from the Faculty of Management Sciences, with a CGPA of 4.94, leads in the Humanities.
In the breakdown, 10,578 students will receive first degrees and 6,886 postgraduate degrees. The first-class honours are spread across faculties, with Management Sciences, Science, and Engineering leading the tally.
Remarkably, the Faculty of Pharmacy boasts 24 distinctions out of 39 from Pharmacy, Basic Medical Sciences, and Clinical Sciences. Furthermore, 3,374 students will graduate with Second Class upper degrees, and 4,547 with Second Class lower. Additionally, 1,832 students are in the Third Class division, 188 with Pass, and 250 with unclassified degrees.
At the postgraduate level, 465 will be awarded diplomas, and 6,266 Masters degrees, including 377 distinctions. A highlight is the graduation of 31 international students, supported by a World Bank grant, marking a significant milestone in UNILAG’s history.
The institution will also award 155 Ph.D. degrees. Aminat Olawunmi Ige, a Ph.D. graduate in Mathematics, and Issa Akanji Afedokun, in Private and Property Law, have been named for the best Ph.D. thesis awards in Sciences and Humanities, respectively.
For the first time, the UNILAG Business School, now an autonomous entity, will graduate 62 students. Abiola Oluyemisi ITAKPE tops this group with a CGPA of 4.84 in the Master of Business Administration program.
Prof. Ogunsola commended the University’s Senate, staff, and stakeholders for their dedication, highlighting significant strides in research, collaborations, and exchange programs despite last year’s challenges. She proudly noted the graduation of four visually challenged students, reflecting the inclusive nature of the institution.
Under the ‘FUTURE READY AGENDA,’ UNILAG has focused on growing its finances, infrastructure, reputation, and manpower. The Vice-Chancellor confirmed that 2023 is a year of consolidation, growth, and the sowing of new seeds.
The convocation week will include a special Jumat service, an exhibition of student and faculty innovations, and a convocation lecture by Prof. Toyin Falola, titled ‘Decolonizing African Higher Education for Transformational Development’. Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, a notable figure in Nigerian academia and media, will chair the event.
Degrees will be conferred in various sessions, with honorary doctorates awarded to distinguished personalities, including Prof. Toyin Falola, Prof. Phyllis Kanki, and Prof. Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, in recognition of their contributions to scholarship and societal development.
This year’s convocation not only celebrates academic excellence but also signifies UNILAG’s resilience and adaptability in maintaining high educational standards amid global challenges.
