UNILAG graduates 561 first class students, as two bag 5.0 CGPA
…To confer honorary degrees on Okonjo-Iweala, Adeola, Adesina
By Sodiq Adelakun
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has graduated a total of 561 First Class students, including two exceptional students who have achieved a perfect CGPA of 5.00.
Damilare Haroun Adebakin and Samuel Akinade Badekale, both from the Faculty of Science and the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, are the top graduates for the 2022/2023 academic session, setting a new benchmark for excellence.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, announced the record-breaking achievements during the university’s 55th pre-convocation briefing held on Wednesday at the institution premises.
She revealed that the university would confer degrees to a total of 16,409 students, including 9,684 receiving first degrees and diplomas on January 14 and 15.
In her address, Professor Ogunsola expressed immense pride in the academic performance of the graduating students, particularly the 561 First Class graduates.
The distribution of First Class graduates across various faculties was also shared. The Faculty of Management Sciences produced the highest number, with 125 First Class degrees.
The Faculty of Science followed closely with 121 graduates, while the Faculty of Engineering had 61, Social Sciences 56, and Arts 24. Other faculties such as Education, Environmental Sciences, and Law had 38, 21, and 3 First Class graduates, respectively.
Also, Olamide Idris Emida emerged as the best graduate in Humanities, graduating with a CGPA of 4.95 from the Department of Accounting. Additionally, a total of 213 students will be conferred with PhDs, and 6,659 will graduate with various postgraduate degrees.
The Vice-Chancellor also announced the recipients of the best PhD thesis awards: Adetoun Alaba Akitoye for her work in Chemistry and Eniola Niniola Ladipo for her exceptional research in Humanities.
In a bid to celebrate outstanding contributions to society and academia, UNILAG will also confer honorary degrees on three distinguished Nigerians.
These awardees are Mr. Fola Adeola, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB Plc); Mr. Kolawole Adesina, Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group; and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), celebrated for her role in global economic reform and her efforts in alleviating Nigeria’s debt burden through the Paris Club negotiations.
In the same vein, Professor Ogunsola also unveiled plans for the convocation lecture, which will be delivered by Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG).
The lecture, titled “Universities as Hubs for Development and Wealth Creation,” will be held on January 13, 2025, at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium.
The lecture will be chaired by Mr. Babatunde Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State and ex-Minister of Works, known for his contributions to innovative reforms in Nigeria.
