Aliko Dangote, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, has pledged ₦600 million towards the construction of a female students’ hostel at Lagos State University.
The foundation also offered employment opportunities to first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the university. 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 at the ceremony by his daughter, Hajia Fatima Aliko Dangote, was also honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Business Honoris Causa in Entrepreneurship, Industrial and Human Capital Development. According to the university, first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences will receive preferential consideration for employment with the Dangote Group after completing their National Youth Service Corps programme.
The ₦600 million donation will support the construction of accommodation for female students as part of efforts to improve student welfare and learning conditions. The Dangote Group currently employs more than 52,000 people across Nigeria and 11 other African countries. Its Dangote Academy also provides practical training for graduates preparing to enter the industrial sector.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation runs education scholarship programmes and has announced plans to invest $70 million annually over the next 10 years in areas including secondary and tertiary education, teacher training, STEM education, and technical and vocational training. The announcement came as LASU celebrated 20,604 graduates from the two academic sessions, including 494 first-class graduates.
For the 2024/2025 session, Ayilara Lawal Olawale of the Department of Project Management emerged as the best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.96. For the 2025/2026 session, Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide of the Department of Aerospace Engineering emerged as the best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.97. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also rewarded the two overall best graduating students with ₦20 million each.
The convocation also featured honorary doctorate awards for other prominent Nigerians, including Akin Kekere-Ekun and Harriet-Ann Omobola Adesola, in recognition of their contributions to leadership, business and society.
