Dangote Pledges ₦600 Million LASU Girls’ Hostel, Jobs for First-Class Graduates as Sanwo-Olu Rewards Excellence

The 29th and 30th Combined Convocation Ceremonies of Lagos State University (LASU) have ended on a high note, with major announcements focused on student welfare, academic excellence, graduate employment and the continued development of the institution.

One of the major highlights of the convocation was a ₦600 million pledge by Aliko Dangote, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, for the construction of a girls’ hostel at LASU.

The Dangote Group also announced employment opportunities for outstanding LASU graduates in Engineering and Sciences, further strengthening the connection between academic excellence and opportunities in the industrial sector.

Dangote Pledges ₦600 Million for LASU Girls’ Hostel

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, who was honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa) in Entrepreneurship, Industrial and Human Capital Development, was represented at the convocation by his daughter, Hajia Fatima Aliko Dangote.

During the ceremony, she announced the ₦600 million donation to support the construction of a hostel for female students of Lagos State University.

The intervention is expected to contribute significantly to improving student accommodation and welfare at the university, particularly for female students.

Dangote Group Offers Jobs to First-Class Graduates

In another major announcement, the Dangote Group disclosed that first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the graduating class would receive preferential consideration for employment with the group after completing their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

The initiative provides an important pathway for outstanding LASU graduates to transition from university education into the industrial sector.

According to the announcement, the Dangote Group currently employs more than 52,000 people across Nigeria and 11 other African countries.

The Dangote Academy also provides practical training for graduates seeking to build careers in the industrial sector.

Dangote Foundation Announces Education Investment

The Aliko Dangote Foundation was also highlighted for its commitment to education and human capital development.

The foundation runs an education scholarship programme and has plans to invest $70 million annually over the next ten years in secondary and tertiary education, teacher training, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as technical and vocational education.

The commitments announced at LASU’s convocation therefore extend beyond infrastructure to include education, skills development and employment opportunities.

Sanwo-Olu Rewards LASU’s Best Graduating Students

The Dangote intervention came alongside another major recognition of academic excellence by the Lagos State Government.

Governor and Visitor to LASU, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, announced a ₦20 million cash reward each for the best graduating students of the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.

The two students recognised were:

• Ayilara Lawal Olawale — Department of Project Management, 4.96 CGPA, First Class Honours.
• Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide — Department of Aerospace Engineering, 4.97 CGPA, First Class Honours.

The two graduates will collectively receive ₦40 million from the Lagos State Government.

LASU Produces 20,604 Graduates

In his final convocation address as Visitor to LASU, Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the University produced 20,604 graduates across the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.

The graduating classes included 494 first-class graduates, reflecting the academic achievements recorded across the institution.

The Governor congratulated the graduates, their parents, sponsors and lecturers, while encouraging the new graduates to combine their academic qualifications with competence, discipline, character and a commitment to service.

He also paid tribute to students whose achievements may not necessarily have been reflected in academic distinctions, acknowledging the sacrifices and challenges many students overcame to complete their education.

Sanwo-Olu Highlights Investment in LASU

Governor Sanwo-Olu also highlighted his administration’s investments in LASU and education across Lagos State.

Among the projects referenced were the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, new lecture theatres and halls, student accommodation and other infrastructure projects.

According to the university’s records, LASU’s student accommodation capacity has expanded to approximately 8,000 beds, while more than 50 infrastructure projects have been executed through funding from the Lagos State Government, Federal Government, TETFund, private-sector contributions and internally generated revenue.

The Governor also noted the expansion of Lagos State’s university system from one university to three, with the establishment of Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), while another university is being proposed.

LASU Vice-Chancellor Ends Five-Year Tenure

The convocation was also significant for Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, as it marked the final convocation ceremony of her five-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor of LASU.

In her final convocation address, Professor Olatunji-Bello described LASU as a university of “proven excellence” and highlighted achievements recorded under her administration.

These included improvements in academic accreditation, research and innovation, digital transformation, infrastructure, financial sustainability, staff and student welfare, and global visibility.

She disclosed that the university secured full accreditation for 31 of the 37 programmes presented during its first accreditation exercise under her administration, while all professional programmes presented achieved full accreditation.

She also highlighted the expansion of student accommodation to 8,000 beds, scholarships running into tens of millions of naira, employment opportunities for qualified staff and improvements in the University’s internally generated revenue.

According to her, LASU’s internally generated revenue increased from ₦3 billion in September 2021 to ₦13 billion by September 2025.

LASU Strengthens Research and Innovation

The Chancellor of LASU, His Royal Majesty Oba Dr Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Telade IV, also highlighted the University’s growing role in research, innovation and human capital development.

He noted that LASU emerged as the sole South-West beneficiary of a ₦3 billion TETFund Grant for a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Sciences.

The Chancellor urged the University’s new scholars and graduates to use their expertise to address economic, social and technological challenges facing Lagos State and Nigeria.

He also received a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from LASU during the convocation.

LASU Honours Prominent Nigerians

The University conferred honorary doctorate degrees on notable Nigerians in recognition of their contributions to leadership, business, education and societal development.

The recipients included:

• Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON
• Mr Akin Kekere-Ekun, OFR
• Mrs Harriet-Ann Omobolanle (Bola) Adesola

The University described the recipients as individuals whose careers and contributions reflect excellence, leadership and service to society.

Mrs Bola Adesola, who received a Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa) in Corporate Finance and Governance, also spoke on the importance of women’s empowerment, sustainable institutions and human capital development.

LASU Expands Strategic Partnerships

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr Babatunde Ogala, SAN, OFR, disclosed that LASU was exploring opportunities arising from Lagos State’s position as a maritime and aviation hub.

He also revealed that the University had entered into a strategic partnership with the University of Illinois in Chicago, covering potential collaboration involving students, lecturers and research institutions.

The partnership is expected to further strengthen LASU’s international academic and research outlook.

Epe Campus Hosts Convocation for First Time

Another historic development was the hosting of a convocation ceremony at the LASU Epe Campus for the first time in the University’s history.

Graduates from Engineering and Agricultural Sciences were among those celebrated at the campus.

The development further reflects the University’s expansion and efforts to strengthen its presence across its various campuses.

The LASU 29th and 30th Combined Convocation Ceremonies featured a series of major announcements covering student accommodation, employment, academic excellence, research, infrastructure and human capital development.

Aliko Dangote’s ₦600 million pledge for a girls’ hostel and employment opportunities for outstanding Engineering and Science graduates, alongside Governor Sanwo-Olu’s ₦20 million reward for each of LASU’s two best graduating students, provided some of the biggest highlights of the ceremony.

With 20,604 graduates and 494 first-class graduates produced across the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions, the convocation further showcased LASU’s growing contribution to higher education and human capital development in Nigeria.

The ceremony also marked the end of Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello’s five-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor and Governor Sanwo-Olu’s final convocation as Visitor to the University.

The various interventions and achievements highlighted during the ceremony point to a continued focus on academic excellence, student welfare, innovation, infrastructure and graduate employability.

We are LASU. We are Great!