Lagos Governor and Visitor to Lagos State University (LASU), Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged the institution’s 20,604 graduands to deploy their knowledge, character and courage to solve problems and contribute meaningfully to society.
Sanwo-Olu gave the charge on Wednesday at the 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremonies of the university, held at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, LASU Main Campus, Ojo.
The governor, who described the ceremony as his sixth and final convocation as Visitor, said the occasion marked both a celebration of LASU’s achievements and his farewell to the university community.
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Addressing the graduands from the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions, he urged them to “go and be the proof” that a state-owned university could compete with institutions anywhere in the world.
He said the world would ultimately judge them not by the institution from which they graduated but by what they were able to accomplish.
“Answer with your competence, your character and your courage — and the world will learn to respect your gown,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said the graduating cohort was the largest in LASU’s history, comprising 20,604 graduands, including 3,383 postgraduate students and 238 Doctor of Philosophy graduates.
He disclosed that 494 graduands finished with First Class honours, while Ayilara Lawal Olawale of the Department of Project Management and Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide of the Department of Aerospace Engineering recorded grade point averages of 4.96 and 4.97, respectively.
The governor commended the graduands for overcoming personal and academic challenges to complete their studies, noting that their certificates represented not only academic achievements but also testimonies of perseverance.
He also congratulated their parents, guardians, sponsors and lecturers for supporting them throughout their academic journey.
Reflecting on LASU’s growth, Sanwo-Olu traced the university’s establishment to the administration of the late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, saying it was founded on the vision of making university education accessible to Lagos residents.
He said the institution had since grown into a major university, recording significant achievements in student demand, rankings and research.
According to him, LASU was the most subscribed university in Nigeria in 2025 and 2026, attracting more than 84,000 prospective students who selected it as their first choice.
He also cited the university’s ranking by Times Higher Education as the best state university and fourth-best university overall in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu said LASU was equally ranked the best university in West Africa in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking for four consecutive years between 2022 and 2025.
He added that the university’s selection as the sole South-West host of the TETFund N3 billion Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Sciences further demonstrated its growing relevance in emerging technologies.
The governor highlighted infrastructure and educational investments made by his administration, including the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, which he described as the largest university library in West Africa.
He said the administration also constructed a student union building, invested in student accommodation and provided additional lecture theatres and halls.
Sanwo-Olu further said his administration had expanded access to tertiary education by increasing the number of state-owned universities from one to three, with another specialised university for medicine and health sciences in the pipeline.
He identified the Lagos State University of Education, with campuses in Ijanikin and Epe, and the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu, as products of the expansion.
He added that tuition for pioneer students of the new universities had been reduced by 65 per cent to improve affordability.
“Access without affordability is a promise with fine print. We removed the fine print,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu urged corporate organisations, alumni and philanthropists to support LASU through endowments, research funding, scholarships and infrastructure development.
He also paid tribute to the university’s academic and non-academic staff for their contributions to its growth.
The governor congratulated LASU’s Chancellor, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, on presiding over his first convocation as Chancellor and receiving a Doctor of Business Administration degree.
He also commended the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, describing her tenure as a period of growth and increased visibility for the institution.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the convocation was also Olatunji-Bello’s final ceremony in office, meaning both their tenures were ending at the same ceremony.
He congratulated Olatunji-Bello and Prof. Rafiu Olaoluwa Okuneye on their elevation to the rank of Distinguished Professor by the university’s Senate, urging the incoming administration to sustain LASU’s momentum and strengthen its reputation.
The governor also congratulated the three honorary graduands honoured by the university — Mr Akin Kekere-Ekun, Mrs Bola Adesola and Alhaji Aliko Dangote — describing their careers in banking, governance and industry as worthy examples for the graduands.
In his final charge as Visitor, Sanwo-Olu urged the graduands to remain committed to service wherever they found themselves.
“Degrees open doors, but only service builds a name,” he said, urging them to remain worthy ambassadors of LASU, Lagos State and Nigeria.
Reflecting on his relationship with the university, the governor recalled that the LASU Students’ Union conferred on him the title “Baba Aluta of LASU” when the university library was commissioned.
He said the title meant more to him than many official honours because it was conferred by the students.
Sanwo-Olu said that while he would eventually hand over the instruments of office as required by democracy, he would retain his memories and affection for the university.
“I bid you farewell as your Visitor, but never as your friend,” he told the university community.
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