By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has praised and given a ₦10 million reward to Miss Isioma Sybil Nwosu, the top-performing student of the 2023/2024 academic session at Lagos State University (LASU).
Nwosu, who graduated with a remarkable 4.93 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in Biochemistry, was celebrated during LASU’s 28th Convocation Ceremony.
The ceremony, held at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Ojo campus, also saw the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees, academic doctorates, and the Distinguished Professorship award. Notable recipients includes Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd), Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who received a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) for his contributions to infrastructure, security, and national development. Also, Otunba Olufemi Pedro, former Lagos State Deputy Governor, who was conferred with a Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa) for his achievements in banking and entrepreneurship, and Prof. Joseph Abayomi Omoniyi Olagunju, promoted to the rank of Distinguished Professor.
In his speech, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized education’s transformative power and urged national leaders to prioritize reforms that make education more relevant and solution-driven. He said, “Education is the backbone of our society. We must cultivate a culture that values academic excellence as much as we value achievements in entertainment, sports, or fashion.”
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving education in Lagos State through initiatives like the Job Initiative Lagos (JIL), aimed at enhancing employability for final-year students. This effort falls under the broader THEMES+ agenda, focusing on infrastructure development and student welfare.
Sanwo-Olu congratulated the 11,917 graduates, describing the convocation as a testament to their dedication and a springboard to future success. He praised LASU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, for her impactful leadership and reforms that have elevated the institution’s national and international profile.
Prof. Olatunji-Bello revealed that 43 of LASU’s 44 academic programs were fully accredited in the 2023 exercise. She also announced the launch of new postgraduate diploma and master’s programs under the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education. 
