Industrialist Aliko Dangote has pledged ₦600 million through the Aliko Dangote Foundation to support the construction of a hostel for female students at Lagos State University.
The university management also announced that first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from its latest graduating classes would receive preferential consideration for employment with the Dangote Group after completing their National Youth Service Corps programme.
The commitments were disclosed on Friday through LASU’s Facebook page following Dangote’s participation in the university’s combined 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.
Dangote, who was represented at the ceremony by his daughter, Hajia Fatima Aliko Dangote, received an Honorary Doctor of Business Honoris Causa in Entrepreneurship, Industrial and Human Capital Development.
According to the university, the foundation’s ₦600 million intervention is targeted at improving accommodation for female students, while the employment initiative is aimed at creating opportunities for outstanding graduates in key disciplines.
The university said, “First-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the graduating class would receive preferential consideration for employment with the Dangote Group after completing their National Youth Service Corps programme.”
The commitments formed part of measures announced at the convocation to promote student welfare, academic excellence and employment opportunities for graduates.
Information presented at the ceremony showed that the Dangote Group employs more than 52,000 people in Nigeria and 11 other African countries. Its Dangote Academy also provides practical training for graduates seeking careers in the industrial sector.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation operates an education scholarship programme and has plans to commit $70 million annually for the next decade to secondary and tertiary education, teacher development, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, as well as technical and vocational education.
The convocation marked the graduation of 20,604 students across the two academic sessions, with 494 of them earning First Class honours.
For the 2024/2025 session, Ayilara Lawal Olawale of the Department of Project Management emerged as the university’s overall best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.96.
Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide of the Department of Aerospace Engineering took the top position for the 2025/2026 session after recording a CGPA of 4.97. Both students graduated with First Class honours.
LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, disclosed that 262 students obtained First Class honours in the 2024/2025 academic session, while another 232 achieved the distinction in 2025/2026.
The Dangote Foundation’s announcement came alongside a separate reward from Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for the university’s two overall best graduating students.
Sanwo-Olu approved ₦20 million for each of the two students who emerged as the best graduating students for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 sessions.
In his final convocation address as Visitor to LASU, the governor congratulated the graduates, their families, sponsors and lecturers while highlighting his administration’s contributions to the institution.
He cited projects including the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, lecture theatres, halls and student accommodation as part of the investments made in the university.
LASU has also increased its accommodation capacity, while more than 50 infrastructure projects have been completed through funding from the Lagos State Government, Federal Government, TETFund, private-sector contributions and internally generated revenue.
Dangote was one of three prominent Nigerians conferred with honorary doctorate degrees at the ceremony.
The university also recognised Akin Kekere-Ekun, OFR, and Harriet-Ann Omobola (Bola) Adesola for their contributions to leadership, business and societal development.
The Chancellor of LASU, Oba Dr Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Telade IV, described the convocation as a time of “joy, humility and gratitude.”
He commended the Lagos State Government for its sustained backing of the institution, particularly in the areas of education, human-capital development, technology and infrastructure.