PRESS CONFERENCE-18TH CONVOCATION CEREMONIES
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LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
OGBOMOSO, NIGERIA
ADDRESS OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR
AT PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE
18TH CONVOCATION CEREMONIES OF THE UNIVERSITY,
HELD ON THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER,
A. M. SALAU SENATE BUILDING
Protocols
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Strategy and Development),
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and Innovation),
Members of the University Governing Council,
The Registrar,
The Bursar,
The University Librarian,
Provosts of Colleges,
Deans of Faculties and Postgraduate School,
Professors and Members of Senate
Heads of Academic Departments,
Acting Dean of Students,
Directors and Heads of Units,
Members of Staff and Students,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Introduction
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this press conference, to share with you the remarkable achievements and milestones of our university as we flag off the 18th Convocation Ceremonies. We are delighted to highlight the University achievements, share
updates on key initiatives, and provide insights into our plans and aspirations for the future. Today’s event is an opportunity for us to communicate directly with you, our valued media partners and we really appreciate your presence.
18TH Convocation Ceremonies
The 18th Convocation Ceremonies had been scheduled to run for a week, starting with this Press Conference, Research fair and Exhibition on Thursday, 16 April 2026; Jumat Service on Friday, 17 April, 2026; Church Service comes up on Sunday, 19 April 2026; and Alumni Day and Convocation Play on Monday, 20 April 2026. Convocation Lecture is on Tuesday, 21 April 2026. On Wednesday, 22 April 2026 there is the admission to first degrees and presentation of prizes. The ceremonies will climax on Thursday 23rd April, 2026 with the award of postgraduate diplomas, admission to higher degrees, conferment of higher degrees, and the 36th Founders Day celebration.
This year’s convocation ceremonies feature a grand total of 10,223 graduands. A total of 7,641 graduands from 11 faculties will be admitted to various bachelor’s degrees and 2,582 are in the postgraduate category.
Graduands by Category
- Postgraduate: 2,582
- 1st Degree: 7,641
Out of the 7,641 in the first-degree category, 137 of them are in the First-class category, 1,889 of them are in the Second-class upper category, 3,549 of the graduands are in the Second-class lower category, 1,008 of them are in the Third-class category, and 37 graduands are in pass category.
For the degree in Nursing Science, there are 17 of them in Distinction, 973 of them are in Credit category, and 31 of the graduands are in pass category. For the bachelor’s degree, the graduands have been variously produced through three modes of study: regular, part-time and distance learning.
Classification of Degree by Class
- Distinction: 17 (0%)
- Credit Pass: 973 (13%)
- Pass: 31 (0%)
- 1st Class: 137 (2%)
- 2nd Class Upper: 1889 (25%)
- 2nd Class Lower: 3549 (46%)
- 3rd Class: 1008 (13%)
- Ordinary Pass: 37 (1%)
I am delighted to inform you that Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga who will be graduating with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.89 from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering is the overall best graduating student, and he will be awarded the prize on Wednesday 22 April, 2026.
In the postgraduate category, 2,582 individuals will be severally awarded the postgraduate diploma and be admitted to various higher degrees. Of this number, 596 graduands will be awarded academic and professional postgraduate diplomas in various disciplines. A total of 1,850 will be admitted to academic and professional master’s degrees in various disciplines, nine of them will be admitted to the Master of Philosophy degree, and 127 of them will be admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Graduands by Postgraduate Diplomas and Higher Degrees
- Master of Technology: 414
- Master of Philosophy: 9
- Doctor of Philosophy: 127
- Professional Postgraduate Diploma: 538
- Academic Postgraduate Diploma: 38
- Professional Master Degree: 1209
- Master of Science: 22
Academic Calendar as Sustenance of Peace
I am pleased to inform you that after years of instability and turbulence the University now enjoys stability. We will be completing the fourth uninterrupted academic session since I came on board at the helm of affairs of the University almost three years ago. For the first time in about 12 years, the University gave its students long vacation after the last session. The uninterrupted academic calendar and sustenance of peace is due to dedication and sacrifices of members of staff, and the cooperation of staff unions as well as our firmness commitment to providing strategic and all-inclusive administration. The credit for this goes to the staff and the students.
Organizational Innovation
Gentlemen and ladies of the Press, before this administration came on board, you will recall that the University was always in the news for the wrong reasons over the issue of inability to issue transcript and certificate promptly. Apart from other steps taken to address the problem, we introduced, in 2024, a system whereby before the convocation ceremony the Certificates were ready and given to the graduands. Since last year’s convocation, the trio of Notification of Result, the certificate and the students copies of transcripts were ready and given to the graduands during convocation. This system has been perfected and will continue.
Also, as part of our ongoing galvanisation of the University administration and against the background of the hitherto delays in staff promotions, which usually leads to cumulation of arrears, I am also happy to inform you that since effective from the promotion of 2024, letters of promotion were prepared as each case is being concluded and those promoted were called on phone to pick up their letters same day. Many things were streamlined to achieve this. This will be sustained. The 2025 promotion will soon be concluded. The administration will strive to complete the 2026 promotion before the October due date. This administrative strategy is aimed to free the University from the accumulation of promotion arrears.
Similarly, for financial probity, the faculties and departments were stopped from collecting faculty and departmental dues by cash. What they charge is now regulated and were paid into the University purse. The amount collected was made available to the faculties and departments. Furthermore, we have created stabilisation funds for the University.
These four developments are unprecedented in the history of this University. The Administration requires the support of every stakeholder to optimize the system.
Research Activities
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, I am proud to inform you that between last year’s convocation and now, the University upended its repertoire of scholars with an addition of 43 newly promoted professors in various fields. Also, our scholars’ profiles keep rising. The top twenty of our researchers with the highest Google Scholar Citation listed below are to be recognized and honoured during the Convocation Ceremony.
Top Researchers Table (Page 5 & 6)
S/No | Name | Department | Citation To-Date |
1 | Professor Olugbenga Solomon BELLO | Pure and Applied Chemistry | 11044 |
2 | Professor Agbaje LATEEF | Pure and Applied Biology | 8346 |
3 | Physiology | 5507 | |
4 | Professor Musibau Adewuyi AZEEZ
| Pure and Applied Biology | 4196 |
5 | Professor Julius Kola OLOKE
| Pure and Applied Biology | 4054 |
6 | Dr.Adejoke Yetunde ONAOLAPO
| Anatomy | 3680 |
7 | Pharmacology | 3669 | |
8 | Professor Beatrice I. ADE-OMOWAYE | Food Science | 3606 |
9 | Professor Omotayo Sarafadeen AMUDA | Pure and Applied Chemistry | 3510 |
10 | Professor Taofeek Akangbe YEKEEN | Pure and Applied Biology | 3233 |
11 | Professor Tesleem Babatunde ASAFA | Mechanical Engineering | 3091 |
12 | Professor Simeon Olatayo JEKAYINFA | Agricultural Engineering | 3042 |
13 | Professor Ayodeji Folorunsho AJAYI | Physiology
| 3018 |
14 | Professor Adeseye Abiodun AKINTUNDE | Medicine | 2970 |
15 | Professor Olugbenga E. AYODELE | Medicine | 2949 |
16 | Professor Wasiu Babatunde AKANBI | Crop Production and Soil Science | 2881 |
17 | Professor Akeem Ayinde RAHEEM | Building | 2708 |
18 | Professor Olusola OJURONGBE | Medical Microbiology and Parasitology | 2631 |
19 | Professor Iyabo Christianah OLADIPO | Science Laboratory Technology | 2401 |
20 | Professor Elijah Adegoke ADEBAYO | Pure and Applied Biology | 2332 |
Expansion of Academic Sphere and Programme
Late last year, the Sunday Adewusi Institute of Security and Strategic Studies was established. The mandate of the Institute of Security and Strategic Studies shall include research; documentation; provision of learning; dissemination of knowledge; development of skills for conflict resolution and sustenance of peace; cultivation of advanced skills in security matters; and development of technologies for prevention, maintenance and enforcement of security.
Also, we are expanding the Department of Architecture, to Faculty of Architecture. The Faculty will have three departments for a start. The programmes in these three departments shall be presented for resource verification of the National Universities Commission soon, for these programmes to be able to admit students in the next academic session.
Expansion of Facilities
Gentlemen of the press, I have the privilege of informing you that at the inception of this administration, we called on different stakeholders to support the University. Three philanthropists came to our rescue and donated a 1000-seater lecture theatre, a smart research hub building, and a bakery. The bakery, donated by Hadji Monzor Ejide has been completed and handed over to the University.
Similarly, as a way of growing the resource base of the University, the University planned to establish a bank and Approval-in-principle for LAUTECH Microfinance Bank has been granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria in January this year. Furthermore, the University’s commercial radio station is almost completed and will commence operation before the end of the year.
Staff Welfare
This administration prioritizes staff welfare. Over the last one year, a good number of members of staff, over 200 of them, have enjoyed sponsorship for further training and advancement opportunities both within and outside the country. Forty-seven of them were sponsored by TETFUND and the remaining were sponsored by the University.
Also, over the last one year alone, with the approval of the Governing Council, over N3.1B was expended on payment of arrears of emoluments to staff and pensioners as well as third party deductions that have accrued over the years before we came on board.
Games, Sports and Other Competition
Our achievements are not limited to academic impacts alone. The University through her disciplined athletes, enjoying full sponsorship of the University, took part actively in state, national and international competitions in athletics, basketball, chess, soccer and have won several laurels and medals. Some of the games are listed hereunder.
Events and Medals Won:
- 22nd edition of National Sports Festival (16th–30 May 2025) – 1 Gold and 3 Bronze
- Nigeria University Staff Association Game (NUSSA) (21st–30 May 2025) – 1 Silver and 1 Bronze
- Eco Bank National Schools Team Chess Championship (27th–29th June 2025) – 1 Silver
- Basketball Championship (26th–30th June 2025) – 1 Silver
- 27th NUGA Games (5th–16th November 2025) – 1 Gold, 5 Silvers, 5 Bronze medals
- Gov. Seyi Makinde Tertiary Institute Soccer Competition (13th–20th November 2025) – Gold medal and trophy
The University team also won second position in AI and Digital Music Economic Hackathon, organized by Blue Sapphire Hub in collaboration with African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) and the National Council for Africa Culture held in Abuja from 10 to 16 November 2025. LAUTECH team developed “ORYON” a robot AI-Powered platform designed to centralize music distribution.
Our team equally emerged victorious in the NASA Space Apps Challenge held in Benin City on 7 October 2025. The LAUTECH team developed a gamified learning application designed to help farmers understand and utilize NASA data and other vital agricultural indicators.
Our Vision for the Future
The University plans to expound its academic sphere by bringing into fruition the proposed Medical Biotechnology, Mechatronics, the Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences and its programmes and to remain globally competitive.
Appreciation
The University would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our esteemed Visitor to the University, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, DSc. FNSE, for his unflinching support for the University, which energizes the University growth. Our gratitude also goes to the Pro-Chancellor and members of the Governing Council for their support. Furthermore, I will like, on behalf of Management, to thank the Senate, staff, and students of the University for their support. And to you our media partners I thank you very much for being here and for your constant support.
Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu
PhD, JP, MACS, MSEA, MIAAA, fsna, FGAIMF, FHORTSON
Vice Chancellor
