UNILAG 56th Convocation Ceremonies: 4, 626 Bag First Degrees at Day 2

Congregation for the Award of First Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Prizes on graduating students across various faculties of the University of Lagos continued on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at the J. F. Ade. Ajayi (Main) Auditorium, UNILAG.

Statistics of Graduating Students

The graduating students, totaling four thousand, six hundred and twenty six (4, 626), are from the Distance Learning Institute (1,948) and Faculties of Engineering (613), Law (321), Management Sciences (1,163), Basic Medical Sciences (159), Clinical Sciences (93), Dental Sciences (20), Health Professions (163) and Pharmacy (146).

Held in two sessions (morning and afternoon), the spotlight was on Chukwuzubelu Benedict UMEOZO of the Department of Business Administration with a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.00. He was celebrated as the 2025 Overall Best Graduating Student, 2025 Best Graduating Student in Humanities and 2025 Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Management Sciences.

The list of the best graduating students of other faculties is as follows:

Engineering: MEKWUNYE Clinton (Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering) and OLUBUNMI Peace (Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering) with CGPA of 4.92.
Law: OSHO Mariam Adedolapo (4.61).
Pharmacy: Samuel Jeremiah (4.92)
Basic Medical Sciences: AIBU Anjolaade Amirah (4.81)
Health Professions: OYELEKE Joshua Timileyin (4.82)
Distance Learning Institute (DLI): FADIPE Sakiru Olanrewaju (4.87)

Inspiring Speeches

In her Convocation address, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, _{OON, FAS,} was full of gratitude to the University Governing Council led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, _SAN, members of Senate, Staff, Alumni, partners, and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to ensure increased brand recognition and impact of the university, nationally and globally.

Her words, “Last year has seen us make strides in our triple mandate of research, teaching and community service firmly anchored on our vision to increase brand recognition and the impact of the university both nationally and globally. The University has continued to strengthen collaborations, expand student exposure to competitions, internships, and global learning opportunities, and deliberately created environments that inspire innovation, critical thinking, and inquiry”.

The Vice-Chancellor shared some remarkable feats recorded by staff, students and alumni of the university. These include: the yearly $12,000 (twelve thousand dollars) Making A Difference (MAD) Research Grant sponsored by Sahara Group that was won by Professor Sunday Adebisi (Director, Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre), Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa (Director, NITDA IT Hub) and Professor Abdul-Hammed Adeola Sulaimon (Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences); and the 43 Law graduates from UNILAG who clinched first Class Honours at the 2024 Nigerian Law School Bar Examinations among others.

To the graduating students, Prof. Ogunsola commended them for pulling through the hurdles of their studies despite various challenges. She charged them to brace up for the real world especially in view of the ravaging impact of Artificial Intelligence in the work space.

While encouraging them to embody the Can-Do-Spirit of UNILAG, the Vice-Chancellor implored the graduating students to see themselves as an integral part of the university community; connect with and leverage the abundant network of resources which the university boasts of; and be shining ambassadors of UNILAG.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, University of Lagos Governing Council, Chief Wole Olanipekun,_SAN, in his goodwill message, congratulated the graduating students on their academic feats. He also identified with their parents and guardians on the successes of their children and wards.

While wishing the graduating students success in their endeavors, Chief Olanipekun charged them to soar like eagles above challenges, be of good conduct and utilize the valuable lessons acquired through their sojourn in UNILAG as they go into the world of work.

In his Valedictory Speech as the 2025 Overall Best Graduating Student, Chukwuzubelu Benedict UMEOZO appreciated the entire UNILAG community for the enabling environment, resources and opportunities for grooming. These strides, he noted, built the Class of 2025 into graduates of resilience, adaptability, perseverance, bridge-builders, trail blazers and conquerors in every sense of it.

His words, “I did not do this alone. Early on, I joined a group in my class called The Achievers. They taught me something powerful, that the people you surround yourself with matter. Being around focused and hardworking peers pushed me to aim higher. To The Achievers, and to every study group that became a support system, thank you. Our success was truly a shared effort.

When I started, my goal was simple: make my parents proud with a First Class. To graduate with a 5.0 CGPA, a record in my faculty, is humbling. It is not proof of extraordinary intelligence, but of consistency, faith, and the fact that our backgrounds do not limit our horizons. If a boy who waited years for admission can stand here today with a perfect score, then there is no limit to what any of you can achieve.”

Alumni Oath

The climax of the event was the formal presentation of the graduating students by the Deans of their respective faculties, announcement of awards and prizes to winners as well as the admission of all the graduating students into the UNILAG Alumni Association as performed by the President, UNILAG Alumni Association Worldwide, Engineer Ife Oyedele, _{FNSE, FAEng}.

…Celebration Continues

The 56^th Convocation Ceremonies continue on Thursday, January 22, 2026 with the conferment of Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters, and Doctoral degrees including DBA and EMBA on graduating students of the School of Postgraduate Studies and University of Lagos Business School (ULBS).

Highpoint of the day will be the recognition of various individuals for their outstanding contributions to scholarship and humanity. During the ceremony, two retired academics, Professor James Dele OLOWOKUJDEJO of the Department of Botany and Professor Duro ONI of the Department of Theatre Arts will be honoured as Emeritus Professors while Professor Akinsanya Olayide OSIBOGUN will be conferred with the title of Distinguished Professor.

Gold medals will go to Professor Ayoka Mopelola OLUSAKIN (Professor of Counselling Psychology) and Dr. (Mrs.) Taiwo Folasade IPAYE, _FNIM, (Director of the Office of Advancement, President of UNILAG of their sustained service to the University and the nation.

The University will also confer honorary degrees on:

Mr. Jubril Adewale Tinubu, _CON(Founder and Group Chief Executive of Oando PLC) and;
Barrister Kanu Godwin Agabi, _SAN.(Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation).