Lagos varsity to honour Sanwo-Olu, four others at maiden convocation
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa; and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), are among six prominent individuals scheduled to receive recognition awards at the maiden convocation of the Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin.
The Vice-Chancellor of LASUED, Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, disclosed this on Thursday during a pre-convocation press conference held at the university.
Other award recipients include former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Olufemi Bamiro; Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab; and Chairman of the Lagos House Committee on Tertiary Education, Owolabi Ajani.
Lafiaji-Okuneye said the recipients were selected in recognition of their outstanding achievements in scholarship, leadership and public service.
She explained that their contributions to the institution’s evolution from a college of education into a university also influenced the decision to honour them.
Speaking on the awards, she said, “They have attained exceptional distinction in their respective fields, influenced lives through scholarship, leadership and public service, and contributed to the progress of Lagos State.
“Their support and contribution to the historic transformation of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education into Lagos State University of Education make this recognition particularly meaningful to our institutional story.”
The Vice-Chancellor also acknowledged Sanwo-Olu’s contribution to the establishment of the institution, noting that he signed the university’s establishment bill on February 2, 2022, after it was passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly on November 15, 2021.
She disclosed that 2,486 students would graduate in the 2025/2026 academic session. The graduating class comprises 84 First Class graduates, 891 Second Class Upper Division, 1,286 Second Class Lower Division, 224 Third Class and one Pass.
Blessed Olawunmi from the Department of Home Economics, College of Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, emerged as the overall best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.98.
According to the VC, Olawunmi would receive a cash prize of N250,000 and a plaque in recognition of her achievement.
Other top-performing graduates across the university’s colleges would also be rewarded with plaques and cash prizes.
Lafiaji-Okuneye further announced that graduates would collect their certificates immediately after returning their academic gowns.
Highlighting the university’s achievements in the five years since its establishment, she listed improvements in academic accreditation, programme expansion, postgraduate education, infrastructure, staff development and sports.
She said LASUED achieved a 100 per cent success rate in the National Universities Commission’s 2023 resource verification exercise, while all 66 programmes submitted for accreditation in the last quarter of 2024 received full accreditation.
The university’s admission quota has also increased from 3,300 to 5,500, while its student population has risen to over 15,000.
According to her, the institution has established additional colleges and introduced more undergraduate and diploma programmes. Its Postgraduate College has equally expanded its offerings to include several postgraduate diploma courses.
She also highlighted completed and ongoing infrastructural projects across the university’s Epe and Oto/Ijanikin campuses, including lecture theatres, a Senate Building, a Creative and Cultural Arts Building and a Public Health Building.
On staff development, the Vice-Chancellor revealed that 49 full professors and over 82 associate professors had been appointed, while more than 38 academic staff members obtained doctoral degrees following the institution’s transition to university status.
Despite the progress, Lafiaji-Okuneye appealed for additional support from the government and private individuals to address some of the institution’s pressing needs.
She identified the provision of fully equipped broadcast and photojournalism studios as a major requirement for the university’s communication and media training programmes.
The VC also raised concerns about the need to secure the boundary of the Oto/Ijanikin campus, warning that the proposed expansion of the Lagos–Badagry Expressway could affect its perimeter fencing.
Another challenge she identified was the swampy nature of a significant portion of the Oto/Ijanikin campus land, which she estimated at nearly 70 per cent.
“As we pursue new laboratories, teaching facilities and other infrastructure, we require technically sound and environmentally responsible drainage, reclamation and land-development interventions.
“We are hopeful that these priorities can be addressed through sustained engagement with the relevant state agencies and development partners,” she said.
She further stressed the need to complete two 750-capacity auditoriums at the Oto/Ijanikin and Odo-Noforija, Epe campuses to cater to the growing student population and increasing demand for accommodation and learning spaces.
