One of Nigeria’s foremost privately-owned tertiary institutions, Lead City University, Ibadan, on Wednesday graduated a total of 2,162 students across various faculties as it marked the grand finale of its 18th convocation ceremony.
At the academic event, 290 of the graduands earned first class honours.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Kabiru Adeyemo, disclosed this during the event held at the university’s multipurpose hall. He said the ceremony reflected years of “dedication, perseverance, and intellectual growth” by the students.
“A total of 2,162 graduands were conferred with first degrees, while 1,219 graduands were conferred with higher degree awards, making a total of 3,379.
“The 2025 convocation marks the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and intellectual growth by our students, supported by their families, mentors, and the entire university community,” he said.
Adeyemo noted that the convocation spanned several days of academic celebration.
“We celebrate excellence across different faculties and reflect on the legacy of a university that continues to impact lives, inspire leadership, and contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor also announced the institution’s move to secure approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to introduce new programmes across multiple faculties.
On staff development, Adeyemo said: “The university has been able to sponsor both teaching and non-teaching staff for both international and local conferences. The university sponsored 120 academic staff and 23 administrative staff to attend national and international conferences, workshops, and training programmes.
“Furthermore, in-house training programmes were organised for 300 staff members in collaboration with Fortune Royal Multiconcepts, reinforcing skills in administration, teaching, and research.”
He emphasised the impact of the training initiatives, noting: “The continuous training and retraining of our teaching and non-teaching staff have yielded remarkable improvements in performance, efficiency, and overall service delivery. These capacity-building initiatives have empowered staff with modern skills, enhanced professional competence, and strengthened their ability to meet the dynamic demands of a world-class university environment.”
Adeyemo disclosed that the university had invested over ₦200 million in staff development.
“This substantial investment has not only elevated the quality of teaching and administrative operations but has also positioned our staff to compete favourably with their counterparts globally.
“This deliberate commitment to staff development underscores our belief that a well-trained workforce is essential to sustaining academic excellence, institutional growth, and the global reputation of Lead City University,” the VC added.
At the ceremony, the university conferred honorary doctorate degrees on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; the pioneer president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu; Chairman of FCSL Asset Management Company, Olalekan Bello; and Chief Executive Officer of Tetracore Energy Group, and an alumnus, Olakunle Williams.
Speaking, Oba Ladoja expressed admiration for the institution’s growth, adding that he was impressed by “the level of development in the school.”
Olubadan also commended the management for “its outstanding efforts in putting the institution at the front-burner.”
In his remarks, Bello praised Lead City University as “a citadel of learning whose vision and excellence have continued to illuminate the educational landscape of Nigeria.”
He added: “Today, we the honourees remain grateful for the timeless opportunities and life journey which, to a large extent, are unpredictable. But with the grace of God, discipline, and unwavering commitment to service, great things are possible.
“Lead City University has not only committed itself to academic excellence but has also taken the responsibility of reshaping character, instilling values, and preparing men and women for meaningful global impact.”
Bello urged the graduands to remain focused and principled as they begin new chapters.
“Anchor your lives with integrity, diligence, and moral courage. Be exceptional. The world you are entering is dynamic, innovation is reshaping industries, and redefining work and transforming societies,” he said.
Credit: newspeakonline.com
