In a significant celebration of academic brilliance, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) in Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, has disbursed a total of N29 million in cash awards to its outstanding graduates for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Substantial Financial Rewards for Top Performers
The university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olasebikan Fakolujo, made the announcement during the institution's recent convocation ceremony. He revealed that the Chancellor, Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, awarded N24 million to exceptional graduates. In a separate but equally impressive gesture, the best female graduating student received a N5 million prize from the endowment fund of Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The star of the ceremony was Blessing Agboola from the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, who emerged as the overall best graduating student with an impressive Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93.
A Convocation Marked by Exceptional Achievements
Professor Fakolujo used the occasion to highlight the remarkable standards achieved by the university's students. He reported that the 400- and 500-level Medical Laboratory Science students achieved a perfect 100 per cent pass rate in their professional examinations. Furthermore, out of 79 students inducted into the nursing profession, an impressive 10 graduated with first-class honours.
The Vice-Chancellor presented a total of 871 graduates, comprising 729 first-degree holders and 142 postgraduate scholars, whom he described as "ambassadors of knowledge and godly service." A detailed breakdown of the academic honours reveals the depth of talent:
- 57 graduates earned First Class Honours.
- 323 graduates achieved Second Class Honours (Upper Division).
- This means nearly 52 per cent of the undergraduate cohort performed at the highest academic tiers (First Class and Second Class Upper).
- An extraordinary 90 per cent of all students graduated within the Second Class Lower to First Class range.
"This statistic speaks not just to individual brilliance, but to an institutional culture where excellence is the standard, not the exception," Fakolujo stated.
Leadership Calls for Ethical Innovation and Humility
In his address, the Chancellor, Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, framed higher education as a cornerstone for societal progress. He emphasised the university's role in an era of rapid technological change and environmental challenges, stating that institutions must inspire purpose and nurture responsible citizenship.
"The future belongs to institutions that cultivate innovation grounded in moral values," Adegbulugbe declared. "Our goal at JABU is to develop graduates who can think critically, act ethically and lead courageously – men and women who will advance science with conscience, enterprise with empathy and governance with integrity."
The visitor to the institution, Pastor Samuel Oladele, who is the President of the Apostolic Church Nigeria and Overseas, offered spiritual counsel to the new graduates. He urged them not to measure success by titles or material possessions, but by their contributions to humanity.
"Beloved graduands, you have been to JABU, the first entrepreneurial university in Nigeria... However, you have much more to do as you go forth into the world," Oladele said. "Whatever knowledge you acquired in this university was meant to be like a seed sown, which should germinate and bring forth harvest. Above all, lay all your laurels before God, who is the giver of all. Do not ever take any credit for yourself, no matter how tempted you are to do so."
The convocation, held on 7 December 2025, stands as a testament to JABU's commitment to rewarding academic excellence and shaping future leaders equipped with both knowledge and strong character.
