Industrialist Aliko Dangote, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, has pledged ₦600 million towards the construction of a girls’ hostel at the Lagos State University (LASU), while also offering employment opportunities to first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences.
The commitments were announced during LASU’s combined 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions. Dangote, who was represented by his daughter, Hajia Fatima Aliko Dangote, was also conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Business Honoris Causa in Entrepreneurship, Industrial and Human Capital Development.
According to the university, the ₦600 million intervention will support the construction of accommodation for female students as part of efforts to improve student welfare and the institution’s learning environment.
LASU also disclosed that first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the graduating classes would receive preferential consideration for employment with the Dangote Group after completing their National Youth Service Corps programme.
The university said the commitments formed part of interventions aimed at promoting academic excellence, improving student welfare and creating career opportunities for outstanding graduates.
The announcement came as LASU celebrated 20,604 graduates across the two academic sessions, including 494 students who graduated with First Class honours. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, said 262 students obtained First Class honours in the 2024/2025 session, while 232 achieved the feat in the 2025/2026 session.
Ayilara Lawal Olawale of the Department of Project Management emerged as the overall best graduating student for the 2024/2025 academic session with a CGPA of 4.96. Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide of the Department of Aerospace Engineering was named the overall best graduating student for the 2025/2026 session after recording a CGPA of 4.97. Both graduated with First Class honours.
The Chancellor of LASU, Oba Dr Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Telade IV, described the convocation as a moment of joy, humility and gratitude. He also commended the Lagos State Government for its continued support for the university, particularly in education, human-capital development, technology and infrastructure.
The Dangote Group, according to information presented at the ceremony, employs more than 52,000 people across Nigeria and 11 other African countries, while its Dangote Academy provides practical industrial training for graduates.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation also operates education scholarship programmes and plans to invest $70 million annually over the next 10 years in secondary and tertiary education, teacher training, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, as well as technical and vocational education.
