Babcock University has recorded a major academic milestone, with 243 students graduating with First Class honours at its 23rd convocation, signalling steady growth in academic performance and teaching quality.
The ceremony, held on Sunday at the university’s main campus in Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, witnessed the graduation of 3,568 students across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including 217 PhD candidates — one of the highest doctoral outputs by a private university in the country.
Among the top achievers was Fatimah Lawal of the Department of Economics, who emerged as the overall best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.97 on a 5.0 scale. She also swept multiple awards for academic excellence, leadership, and community service.
In the postgraduate category, Dr Oladele Alabi and Dr Emmanuel Okpechi emerged joint best PhD graduates with a CGPA of 4.91, while Oluwabamise Adeniyi led the Master’s degree class with a CGPA of 4.89.
The event also marked a milestone for the university’s Centre for Open and Distance Learning, which graduated its first set of students since its establishment. The development reflects the institution’s move into flexible, technology-driven learning, in line with global trends in higher education.
President and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ademola Tayo, congratulated the graduates, parents, and staff, describing the occasion as a reflection of Babcock’s commitment to academic excellence and values-based education.
He noted that all the university’s academic programmes are now fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), alongside approvals for new courses such as Cybersecurity, Information Systems, and Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
“Our faculty members have won significant research grants in the past year for life-changing projects,” he said. “Babcock graduates continue to assume leadership roles in diverse sectors.”
Tayo, who is set to complete his tenure on December 1, 2025, after nearly a decade in office, urged the graduating class to contribute meaningfully to national development.
“As you step out, remember that Nigeria’s challenges await your solutions,” he said. “Focus on impact, not just personal success.”
Guest speaker, Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei from Zimbabwe, encouraged the graduates to harness the opportunities within Nigeria’s economy and contribute to Africa’s transformation through innovation and knowledge.
“Nigeria is Africa’s largest market,” he said. “With the right mindset and skills, you can drive technology and development across the continent.”
In his remarks, Chancellor Professor Bassey Idoh commended the university’s leadership for maintaining a strong academic culture and urged the graduates to be worthy ambassadors of the institution.
With its expanding academic reach, rising research capacity, and the successful graduation of its first distance learning cohort, Babcock University is positioning itself as a leader in private tertiary education in Nigeria.
