The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, will on Tuesday, April 22, graduate a total of 11,528 students during its 17th convocation ceremony, with 94 students emerging with First Class honours.
This was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, during a pre-convocation press conference held at the Council Chamber of the A.M. Salau Senate Building on Tuesday. The ceremony also coincides with the 35th anniversary of the university’s establishment.
According to Prof. Kalilu, graduates from 12 out of the institution’s 13 faculties will receive their degrees. Of the total graduands, 8,102 will receive bachelor’s degrees, with 2,086 in Second Class Upper, 3,494 in Second Class Lower, 756 in Third Class, and 12 with a Pass. In the Nursing Science programme, 7 students bagged Distinction, 1,741 had Upper Credit, and 145 earned Lower Credit. Additionally, 133 students from the College of Medicine successfully passed in the Medicine and Surgery category.
Adeladun Badirat Adeduntan, a student of the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, emerged as the overall best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.86. She also served as the chairperson of the Caretaker Committee of the Students’ Union during the 2023/2024 academic session.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted recent achievements of the university, including full accreditation of all academic programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other professional bodies. He announced that six new academic programmes—Theatre Arts, Psychology, Mass Communication, Linguistics, Yoruba, and Political Science—have successfully commenced. Similarly, five new programmes in the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) platform have become fully operational.
Kalilu said LAUTECH is expanding its global partnerships, citing collaborations with institutions like the University of Kentucky and University of Utah (USA), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the Bayer Foundation (Germany). These efforts have led to the establishment of the Humboldt Research Hub Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases.
The university has also partnered with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to sponsor postgraduate students in various fields, including PhD in Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, and Crop Protection, as well as Master’s in Biochemistry. Locally, it collaborates with LUSHY Agricultural Limited, Kajola, Oyo State, on Greenhouse Technology and Drone Farming.
In research, LAUTECH scholars continue to make strides. Twenty-three researchers have secured grants from the TETFund Institution Based Research programme. Two research teams, led by Professors J.A. Badmus and E.A. Adebayo, recently won National Research Fund grants for innovative projects in herbal medicine and mushroom-based immune boosters. Additionally, a team led by Professor Kalilu developed ceramic glazes from horticultural and animal waste.
On the sports front, LAUTECH athletes won 4 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze medals at the 11th All Africa University Games (FASU) in September 2024, placing 11th out of 69 universities. Two students, Asimiyu Aminat Ajoke and Oladimeji Abeeblahi Abiodun, have qualified to represent Nigeria at the World University Games in Germany in July 2025.
Kalilu noted that the institution remains the top-ranked state university in Nigeria according to the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Ranking and placed second nationally in the 2025 Interdisciplinary Science Ranking (ISR).
Despite these achievements, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the pressing need for infrastructure expansion, improved pedagogy, and further internationalisation of the university community. He appealed to stakeholders for continued support.
The convocation and founder’s day celebrations will span a week and include a documentary on LAUTECH at 35, commemorative tree planting, a research fair, convocation play and cultural performances, convocation lecture and alumni day, Jumat and church services, and the awarding of degrees and prizes.
