Lagos State Governor and Visitor to Lagos State University, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced a N20m cash reward each for the two overall best graduating students of Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.
Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Wednesday during LASU’s 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremonies held at the university’s main campus in Ojo, Lagos.
The beneficiaries are Ayilara Olawale, who emerged as the best graduating student for the 2024/2025 academic session, and Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide, the overall best graduating student for the 2025/2026 session.
Olawale, who studied Project Management Technology, graduated with a 4.96 CGPA and First Class Honours, while Oluolamide, who studied Aerospace Engineering, achieved a 4.97 CGPA, also graduating with First Class Honours.
The governor described the N20m award as a personal donation, saying each of the outstanding graduates would receive the cash reward in recognition of their academic excellence.
The recognition adds another dimension to the achievements of Oluolamide, who had earlier received a separate N10m cash prize from the Sunbeth Excellence Partnership Programme after emerging as LASU’s overall best graduating student for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The latest reward is significant not only because of its financial value but also because it places academic achievement at the centre of public recognition. Such incentives can encourage students to pursue academic excellence while demonstrating the potential benefits of dedication, discipline and sustained commitment to education.
The combined convocation also highlighted the scale of LASU’s academic output, with more than 20,000 students graduating across the two academic sessions, including 494 first-class graduates.
The performance of the two best graduating students also reflects the diversity of academic disciplines producing outstanding graduates at the university. While Olawale distinguished himself in Project Management Technology, Oluolamide achieved the highest graduating result in Aerospace Engineering, an emerging field with relevance to Nigeria’s technological and industrial development.
Their achievements demonstrate the importance of providing students with learning environments that encourage academic excellence across both management-oriented and highly technical disciplines.
For the university, the recognition of its top-performing graduates during the convocation provides an opportunity to celebrate academic achievement while encouraging other students to pursue higher standards in their studies.
Oluolamide’s 4.97 CGPA out of 5.00 and Olawale’s 4.96 CGPA place both graduates among the university’s highest academic achievers, with their performances serving as examples for students currently pursuing their degrees.
The development also reinforces the broader role of universities in identifying and nurturing talent. Beyond awarding degrees, institutions such as LASU are expected to develop graduates capable of contributing to professional practice, innovation, entrepreneurship and national development.
The governor’s gesture therefore comes at a moment when Nigerian universities are increasingly emphasising academic excellence, employability and the development of highly skilled graduates who can contribute meaningfully to the economy.
For the two beneficiaries, the N20m awards provide financial support at the beginning of their professional journeys while also placing public attention on their academic accomplishments.
Their success is expected to inspire other LASU students to remain committed to academic excellence and demonstrate that outstanding performance can attract recognition and opportunities beyond the university environment.
