The Governors of Kano and Borno States, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Babagana Umara Zulum respectively were Thursday awarded honorary doctorate degrees at the 25th convocation ceremony of the Lagos State University (LASU).
Ganduje, who was decorated by the visitor to the university, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Letters (Educational Development, Healthcare Development and Community Development) in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of humanity.
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His Borno counterpart, Zulum, who was represented by his deputy, was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (Community Integration, Youth, Urban and Rural Development), also in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of humanity.
Also, the Chairman of Ikeja Hotel Plc, Mr Goodie Ibru, was awarded an honorary Doctorate Business Degree in Commerce, Hospitality and Tourism.
Other honorary degree awardees are Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (Doctor of Arts in Broadcasting, Community Integration and Rights Advocate) and a former Chairman of First Bank Plc, Mrs Ibukunoluwa Abiodun Awosika (Doctor of Entrepreneurship and Human Capacity Development).
The rank of Emeritus Professor was conferred on a foremost scholar, Chairman of Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Distinguished Professor Peter Akinsola Okebukola.
At the 25th convocation ceremony, LASU graduated a total of 7,232 students out of which 451 obtained a Diploma; 4,994 obtained their first degrees while 1,792 obtained higher degrees. Also, 76 graduands bagged Doctorate Degrees.
Out of the 4,994 students who obtained their first degree; 112 bagged First Class Degree, while 21-year-old Olowu Benjamin Damilare of the Department of Mechanical Engineering emerged as the overall best graduating student for the academic session with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97, which is a new record in the University.
Also, three of the best graduating students from the Faculty of Science had the same CGPA of 4.81 while two best Masters Degree students graduated with a perfect CGPA of 5.0.
‘Best state university’
In his remark at the ceremony, Kano State Governor, Ganduje, described LASU as the best State University in the country while he commended the institution for the award conferred on him.
Mr Goodie Ibru also described entrepreneurship as the most potent tool to fight poverty while he promised to contribute to mentor the youths on leadership and a visionary future.
He urged LASU to take entrepreneurship study to the next level.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his speech, described technology as a strong enabler, disclosing that the State Government has awarded the contract for the construction of the first-ever LASU Technology hub as a measure to achieve the vision for sustainable education and technology in line with his administration’s development agenda.
He said that LASU had evolved from its humble beginnings to attain a world-class status, noting that the quality of graduates churned out by the school testified to LASU’s tenacity of purpose, teamwork, drive for innovation in teaching, learning and research.
