UNILAG 56th Convocation Ceremonies: 5,665 Graduating Students Step Into Alumni League At Day One of Congregation For Awards of Diplomas, Certificates, First Degrees And Prizes

A total of Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty Five (5,665) graduating students stepped into the alumni league of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as the 56^th Convocation Ceremonies gathered momentum with Day One of the Congregation for the awards of dipomas, certificates, first degrees and prizes on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Held at the J.F. Ade. Ajayi (Main) Auditorium in two sessions (Morning: 9 a.m to 12 noon and Afternoon: 1p.m. to 3p.m.), the event featured the 2025 graduating class of the Faculties of Architecture, Arts, Creative Arts, Communication and Media Studies, Computing and Informatics, Education, Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical and Earth Sciences, and Social Sciences.

Statistics of Day One of the Congregation for the Awards of dipomas, certificates, first degrees and prizes

A breakdown of the figure indicates as follows:

FACULTY	1^st	2¹	2²	3^rd	PASS	TOTAL
Architecture	41	128	18	N/A	1	188
Arts	16	317	348	43	2	726
Creative arts	13	112	55	7	–	187
Communication andMedia Studies	25	205	41	3	–	274
Computing & Informatics	3	33	27	6	–	69
Education	42	789	750	148	6	1735
Education Sandwich	9	206	151	22	1	389
Environmental Sciences	16	80	72	33	1	202
Life sciences	43	317	216	52	5	633
Physical & Earth sciences	35	227	194	61	7	524
Social Sciences	42	376	266	46	8	738
Total	285	2790	2138	421	31	5665

A run-down of the best graduating students in the ten faculties is indicated below:

Arts: Omolola Blessing OLABODE and Rasheedat Modupeola SANUSI ( 4.71).
Architecture: Deborah OLOTON (4.91)
Creative Arts: Double-Honour Princess Oghenekaro UMUKORO (4.78).
Communication & Media Studies: Tosin Iyanuoluwa ODUNEWU (4.89).
Computing & Informatics: Deborah Oluwasemilore ADEMOLA-MURAINA (4.74).
Education: David Afolabi ADEBAYO who is also the joint best graduating student in the Sciences (4.92)
Environmental Sciences: David Oluwatobi ADETUNJI and Ayomide David AKINSEYE (4.82)
Life Sciences – Oluwatofunmi Favour ISHOLA (4.90).
Physical & Earth Sciences: Chinedu Victor SAMUEL (4.88).
Social Science: – Baki Ifeoluwa ADAMS ( 4.85).

For the Sandwich Programme, the best graduating student is Stella Ngozi OKEKE with a CGPA of 4.91.

Vice-Chancellor’s Address

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, OON, FAS, in her address, described the ceremony as a celebration of the diligence, resilience and academic excellence of the Class of 2025. She congratulated the graduating students and their families for successfully navigating the rigours of university education, and urged latest UNILAG alumni to carry the “UNILAG can-do spirit” into the world.

Her words “As you go into the world, I encourage you to brace up for the challenges you will face. The world is changing even more rapidly than we envisioned. AI is changing not only the learning landscape but how we work and live. Survival and dominance will be for the adaptable mind and lifelong learner. Embrace the UNILAG Can-do Spirit. In the words of the 32nd president of the United States of America, Theodore Rosevelt ‘The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today’. So, face the future with courage, It is yours for the taking.

Professor Ogunsola used the occasion to highlight the University’s sustained rise in national and global visibility. She pointed out that UNILAG retained its first position (jointly shared with University of Ibadan) in Nigeria in the 2025 Times Higher Education Rankings, and ranked first nationally in research quality and industry income.

She detailed developmental efforts in various areas including students’ housing, digital transformation and research, completion of new academic and research facilities expansion to 19 faculties among others. While celebrating the numerous success of students and staff in the last one year, the Vice Chancellor revealed that the University attracted over $17.3 million in research grants

Pro-Chancellor, Alumni President Inspire Graduates

For the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, the ceremony provided a platform for him to inspire the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of the University, ready to be national and global leaders. He advised the graduating students to pursue excellence and meaningful impact beyond academic laurels.

Similarly, the President of the UNILAG Alumni Association, Engr. Ife Oyedele, FAEng, outlined several alumni-driven initiatives aimed at supporting students and strengthening the university. These include the construction of a students’ hostel and launch of UNILAG Alumni App designed to improve engagement and connectivity.

Ovation Galore

The event climaxed with the administration of the Alumni Oath to the graduating students, a moment that sparked excitement and loud ovation across the auditorium.

The UNILAG 56^th Convocation Ceremonies continue with the:

Congregation for the Award of First Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Prizes to Graduating students of Distance Learning Institute (DLI) and Faculties of Engineering, Law, Management Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, Basic Clinical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dental Sciences, Health Professions, Pharmacy on Wednesday, January 21 (Day Two); and
Congregation for the Award of Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters Degrees, Ph.D. and Best Ph.D. Award of the University of Lagos Business School (ULBS), and School of Postgraduate Studies as well as Conferment of Emeritus Professors, Distinguished Professors, Award of Gold Medals and Honorary Doctorates Degrees on Thursday, January 22, 2026 (Day Three)

Report: Bayo Salau

Photographs: Samuel Dosunmu, Ayo Oloyede, Michael Joshua, / Tobi Gisanrin and Samuel Oludare (Student Volunteers)