Fawaz Adebisi
Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, has rewarded its overall best graduating student, Amosu Oluwapelumi, with cash prizes worth over ₦10 million as the institution graduated 3,521 students at its 24th undergraduate convocation ceremony.
The graduation ceremony, held on Sunday at the university’s multipurpose stadium, produced the largest graduating class in the institution’s history, with 306 students earning First Class honours and more than 30 others graduating with distinctions across its full-time and part-time programmes.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole, unveiled the university’s five-year strategic development blueprint tagged the G.R.A.C.E. Agenda, designed to position the institution as a globally competitive, research-driven, entrepreneurial and Adventist-rooted university.
Ojewole said the university had made significant investments in digital transformation, security, infrastructure and research to improve learning and enhance its global standing.
He disclosed that the institution had commissioned a Security Operations Tower, expanded its surveillance network and deployed four drones to strengthen campus security and emergency response.
According to him, the university has also introduced modern alarm systems, smart classrooms and an extensive digital transformation roadmap aimed at improving teaching, research, administration and students’ learning experience.
“These investments are not cosmetic. They are strategic because excellence requires an environment where students, faculty and visitors can work with confidence and peace of mind,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor added that the institution had improved electricity supply, upgraded hostel facilities and expanded collaborations with universities and organisations in the United States, South Africa and Europe.
He further noted that Babcock had intensified efforts in artificial intelligence research, curriculum review, entrepreneurship development and strategic partnerships to equip graduates with skills required in the global labour market.
Delivering the commencement lecture, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged the graduating students to shun mediocrity and resist what he described as the increasing glorification of ignorance in society.
He challenged them to become ethical leaders, innovators and problem-solvers capable of driving national development.
The Chancellor, in his remarks, appreciated the Federal Government, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, members of staff, alumni, parents and development partners for their support towards the university’s growth.
He urged the graduates to uphold integrity, embrace lifelong learning and see graduation as the beginning of greater responsibility rather than the end of education.
Speaking after receiving cash prizes worth over ₦10 million as the overall best graduating student, Amosu attributed her academic success to consistency and discipline.
She said, “Think of excellence not as one extraordinary thing, but as tiny ordinary decisions made every day. It’s not that one day you wake up and you’ll be able to pull off a 24-hour reading binge. You just have to be dedicated and consistent.”
Among dignitaries at the ceremony were the Chief of Staff to the Ogun State Governor, Dr Oluwatoyin Taiwo; the Onisan of Ilishan; the wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat; the Onirolo of Irolo, Oba Sikiru Adenuga; members of the Governing Council, university management, alumni, parents and other guests.
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