137 Bag First Class As LAUTECH Graduates 10,223 Students

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, will graduate a total of 10,223 students at its 18th convocation with 137 emerging with First Class honours from the 7,641 first-degree graduates.

The institution’s vice chancellor, Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, who disclosed this during a press conference to herald the week-long convocation activities, said 137 students made First Class, while 1,889 graduated with Second Class Upper Division and 3,549 with Second Class Lower Division, indicating that the bulk of the graduating class fell within the middle category.

He explained that the outcome reflects both the institution’s academic standards and the realities within the nation’s higher education system.

“Our grading process remains rigorous and transparent. We are not in the business of inflating results, but of producing graduates who are truly qualified,” he said.

The vice chancellor identified Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga, of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, as the overall best graduating student, with a CGPA of 4.89.

Also speaking on the Federal Government’s student loan scheme managed by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, he said, “About 19,000 of our students applied for the NELFUND scheme. Out of this, over 15,000 have been approved, but the funds are yet to be disbursed.”

Kalilu also pointed to growing institutional stability, revealing that LAUTECH is on course to complete its fourth uninterrupted academic session.

“This is significant because for the first time in about 12 years, the university was able to observe a long vacation. Stability in the academic calendar will ultimately reflect in better academic performance,” he said.

In the area of research and academic development, the vice chancellor disclosed that the university recently promoted 43 professors across various disciplines and established the Sunday Adewusi Institute of Security and Strategic Studies to deepen research in security, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution.

He further revealed that the university is expanding its academic scope, with plans to upgrade its Department of Architecture into a full-fledged faculty and introduce new programmes, including Medical Biotechnology and Mechatronics.

On infrastructure, Kalilu said interventions from philanthropists have led to the construction of major facilities, including a 1,000-seat lecture theatre, a smart research hub, and a bakery.

He added that the institution has secured approval-in-principle from the Central Bank of Nigeria to establish a microfinance bank, while its campus radio station is nearing completion and expected to commence operations soon.

Addressing staff welfare, the vice chancellor stated that over 200 staff members benefitted from local and international training opportunities in the past year, while more than ₦3.1 billion has been paid to settle outstanding emoluments, pensions and third-party deductions.

Beyond academics, he noted that LAUTECH students have continued to distinguish themselves in competitions.

“Our students secured second position at an AI and Digital Music Hackathon in Abuja and also won the NASA Space Apps Challenge in Benin City, demonstrating their innovative capacity,” he said.

Looking ahead, Kalilu reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to global competitiveness through academic expansion and innovation-driven programmes.