LASU to Honour Dangote, Alakija, Adebutu at 21th Convocation

LASU to Honour Dangote, Alakija, Adebutu at 21th Convocation

…Produces 26 First Class Graduands

By Collins U. Okobi

For contributing enormously to the development of the Nigerian society, the Lagos State University (LASU) will honour some eminent personalities, Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; the Executive Vice-Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, Chief Folorunsho Alakija, and popular businessman and betting entrepreneur, Sir Kesington Adebutu, with honorary doctorate at its 21st convocation ceremony next week.

Dangote will receive honorary doctorate degree of Business; Alakija will be honoured with doctorate of Arts and Human Letters, while Adebutu will receive honorary doctorate of Science and Communication. The university will graduate a total number of 36,489 students out of which only 26 bagged first class honours.
The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, who briefed journalists on Thursday, said the university has instituted an award of distinguished professor this year and has found Professor Peter Akinsola worthy of the rank, adding that though it had for several years refrained from giving honorary awards to individuals, but for their impact on humanity.

According to him, “The honorary degree is not targeted at money bags or for them to give the university money, but because of their impact and support for humanity. A lot of individuals were considered, but we had to limit it to three.”
Giving the breakdown of the graduands, he said a total number of 133 graduated with Diploma; 28,300 graduated with first degrees from the faculty of Arts, Education, Engineering, Law, Management Sciences, College of Medicine, School of Communication among others, while 8,056 finished in higher degrees.

“The reason we have a high number of graduates this year is because we had to clear the backlog of outstanding results of students in LASU external systems; and for the fewer number of first class graduates, we had to ensure that our standard is used the way it ought to be such that any of our students who graduates with second class honours, will be able to prove him or herself anywhere, “Fagbohun stressed.

Emphasising on other programmes lined up for the ceremony, the VC said there will be a convocation lecture, titled: ‘Bridging the gap for graduate employability’ to be delivered by Managing Director, UACN Property Development Company Plc, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran, on March 21.

According to him, award of first degrees and diplomas will hold on March 22; inauguration of the new Senate building, foundation laying of 6,000 capacity LASU hostel by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and award of higher, honorary doctoral degrees as well as conferment of distinguished Professor on Peter Okebukola, former acting LASU VC and Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) on March 23.
He assured the 36, 489 graduates that their certificates are ready but would be collected the next day after completing their clearance from Exams and Records office.