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561 obtained First Class as Okonjo-Iweala, others bag honorary degrees
By Gabriel Dike
Two male students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, have emerged as the overall best graduating students with a perfect score of 5.00 CGPA. The two students, Damilare Haroun Adebakin and Samuel Akinade Badekale, are both from the Faculty of Science and the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, announced the academic achievement at the 55th pre-convocation briefing on Wednesday for the 2022/2023 academic session. She disclosed that the university would graduate 16,409 students, with 9,684 receiving first degrees and diplomas on January 14 and 15.
According to her, UNILAG produced 561 First Class graduates, with the Faculty of Management Sciences producing the highest number, 125. Other faculties include Arts with 24, Education 38, Engineering 61, Environmental Sciences 21, Science 121, Social Sciences 56, Law 3, and Distance Learning 18. The breakdown of distinctions includes Basic Medical Sciences 17, Pharmacy 38, Clinical Sciences 14, and Dental Science 1.
Ogunsola also revealed that the overall best graduate in Humanities was Olamide Idris Emida, with a 4.95 CGPA from the Department of Accounting, while 213 students would be conferred with PhDs, and 6,659 with postgraduate degrees. She further disclosed that the overall best PhD thesis award went to Adetoun Alaba Akitoye, who obtained her PhD in Chemistry, while the best PhD thesis in Humanities was awarded to Eniola Niniola Ladipo.
The Vice-Chancellor defended the high number of First Class graduates, stating, “The students with 561 First Class deserve it. It was obtained on merit. It is not that we dashed them marks.”
She revealed that UNILAG would confer honorary degrees on three prominent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in scholarship, made groundbreaking discoveries, or contributed significantly to academic and societal development. She said, “This year we have the privilege of honouring two men and a woman who have shown that integrity, hard work, and service to the nation work.”
The three awardees are Mr. Fola Adeola, a businessman and Co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB Plc); Mr. Kolawole Adesina, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Sahara Power Group, an alumnus of UNILAG and chairman of several boards, including Ikeja Electric Distribution Company; and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a distinguished economist renowned for her integrity and significant economic reforms in Nigeria’s financial sector and her role in the Paris Club negotiations, which resulted in the cancellation of Nigeria’s $30 billion debt.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that the convocation lecture, titled “Universities as Hubs for Development and Wealth Creation,” would be delivered by Dr. Tayo Aduloju, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), at J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium on Monday, January 13, 2025. “We are looking forward to a very thought-provoking lecture that will add to the discussion on funding tertiary education and positioning them as drivers of economic and social development.”
Ogunsola explained that the chairman of the lecture would be the former Governor of Lagos State and former Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, whose clarity in addressing issues was pivotal to innovative reforms and development in the country.