…Oyo Dep Gov’s wife among graduands
The Vice Chancellor of Lead City University, Prof. Kabiru Aderemi Adeyemo; and the institution’s Chancellor, Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola, have charged the 2025 graduating students of the institution on nation-building, innovation, ethical leadership and excellence.
Adeyemo and Ogunmola made the call during the grand finale of its 18th Convocation Ceremonies, which was held at Adeline Hall of the university, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The VC disclosed that a combined total of 3,379 students, including 2,162 undergraduates and 1,219 postgraduate students graduated in 2025.
According to Adeyemo, ‘’an impressive 290 students emerged with First Class honours across various faculties, reaffirming the university’s reputation for academic excellence, and the institution also celebrated its 20th anniversary’’.
The event, themed “The Launch of Enterprise Graduates,” brought together traditional rulers, policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and stakeholders.
It also featured the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on distinguished Nigerians, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Rashidi Ladoja, and pioneer President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu.
In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Adeyemo described the 2025 Convocation as the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and intellectual growth by the students. He said the ceremony also reflected the university’s two-decade journey of shaping leaders who positively impact Nigeria and the global community.
“Dear graduates, the world you are stepping into is dynamic, technologically driven, and globally competitive, but it is full of boundless opportunities for those who are prepared,” he said.
Adeyemo emphasised that Lead City University had equipped its graduates with the tools necessary to excel, including critical thinking, ethical leadership, entrepreneurial orientation, practical and digital skills, global awareness, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
He urged them to uphold excellence, integrity, discipline, and moral courage, stressing that Nigeria and Africa urgently need a new generation of innovators, reformers, scientists, thinkers, and nation builders.
“You have a responsibility to create solutions, not just identify problems; to build institutions of integrity; to use technology to transform communities; to become employers rather than job seekers; and to contribute meaningfully to global development,” he charged.
The VC disclosed that the university had submitted new academic programmes to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for approval across multiple faculties, part of efforts to expand LCU’s academic offerings.
He also highlighted remarkable strides in staff development, revealing that the university invested over ₦200 million in training and capacity building in the last academic year alone. A total of 120 academic staff and 23 administrative staff attended national and international conferences, while 300 staff members benefitted from in-house training programmes.
“These capacity-building initiatives have empowered staff with modern skills, strengthened professional competence, and ensured that Lead City University maintains the standards of a world-class academic environment,” Adeyemo said.
He added that the university’s 82 academic programmes currently enjoy 100 per cent full accreditation, with strengthened digital infrastructure, enhanced campus security, and an expanding student population.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of the university, Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola, congratulated the graduating students for their academic success and moral discipline, urging them to uphold values that will distinguish them in an increasingly competitive global environment.
At the ceremony, honorary doctorate degrees were conferred on eminent Nigerians for their contributions to national development.
Oba Ladoja received the Doctor of Science (Public Administration), while Comrade Sunmonu was honoured with the Doctor of Science (Public Administration) as well.
Also honoured were Olalekan Bello, Chairman, FCSL Asset Management Company, and Olakunle Williams, CEO of Tetracore Energy Group.
Speaking after receiving his award, Oba Ladoja lauded the institution’s tremendous growth and commended the management for “placing the university at the forefront of excellence.”
Bello, speaking for the honourees, described LCU as a citadel of learning committed to reshaping character and preparing graduates for global relevance. He urged graduands to remain principled and resilient in a rapidly evolving world driven by innovation.
The wife of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mrs. Ajibola Lawal, was among the graduating students. She bagged a Master of Philosophy in Business Administration.
