The Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has described the institution’s graduates as repository of knowledge imbued with the right ethics needed in the 21st century.
The LASU vice chancellor spoke in Lagos Wednesday during the university’s 25th convocation.
The ceremony witnessed 7,232 graduands who earned diploma, first degree, postgraduate diplomas and Masters degrees.
Olatunji-Bello disclosed that 112 graduands were awarded First-Class degrees during the convocation.
The vice chancellor said LASU has imbibed the right ethics and requisite intellectual capacity needed by today’s graduates to excel.
“The total number of students graduating today is 7,237, which comprises 451 diploma, 4,994 first degree, 1,716 postgraduate degree and 76 PhDs.
“Our best graduating student – Benjamin Olowu – graduated with a record-breaking CGPA of 4.97 in the Department of Engineering.
“I heartily congratulate you all for your effort, which is being crowned with success today,” she said.
Olatunji-Bello urged the graduands, as ambassadors of the university, to conduct themselves in ways that would bring glory to themselves, their families and the alma mater.
“They have achieved what will make them succeed in life; go and explore the world, do not limit your capabilities, be focused on whatever you do and involve God in your endeavours.
“Always remember that we are LASU and we are great.
“I appreciate the Lagos State government, our dear Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education.
“We appreciate them for their immense support and contributions towards the growth and development of LASU,” she said.
Also, Olowu said consistency and determination helped him to maintain best results throughout his five years in the institution.
He said: “Fortunately, I started with a perfect GPA of 5.0 and I was afraid because my name went viral across faculties.
“My sister, who was in the School of Mass Communication at the time, confirmed that my result was sent to their class group.
“I said to myself: I have to be consistent with this. So, I held on to a quote by Dwayne Johnson: ‘Success is not always about greatness, It is about consistency which leads to success’.”
Prof Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello
The best graduating student expressed appreciation to his father, a lecturer in LASU, whom he said challenged him every semester to have a 5.00 CGPA and also promised him gifts in return.
“That was a source of motivation for me and it always put me on my toes throughout my stay at the university, because I know he will fulfill his promise.
“Moving forward, I stayed on the course, and here I am today. I will state here today that to be successful at anything is not an easy task.
“With discipline and, most importantly, perseverance, you can do things you would not have thought is possible,” Olowu said.
– NAN