Dangote Offers Jobs to LASU First-Class Graduates, Pledges ₦600m for Girls Hostel

Aliko Dangote (Nigerian businessman)

 Industrialist Aliko Dangote, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, has pledged ₦600 million for the construction of a female hostel at Lagos State University (LASU) and offered employment opportunities to first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences, according to a statement by the university management.

The commitments were announced via LASU’s official Facebook page on Friday.

Dangote made the pledges during the university's combined 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.

Represented at the event by his daughter, Hajia Fatima Aliko Dangote, the business mogul was also conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa) in Entrepreneurship, Industrial, and Human Capital Development.

According to university officials, the foundation's monetary pledge aims to bolster student accommodation by constructing a dedicated hostel facility for female students.

Additionally, management confirmed that first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the graduating cohorts will receive priority hiring consideration at the Dangote Group upon completing their mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.

The university said, “First-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the graduating class would receive preferential consideration for employment with the Dangote Group after completing their National Youth Service Corps programme.”

These commitments were highlighted during the combined convocation as part of ongoing efforts to support student welfare, promote academic excellence, and enhance career opportunities for graduates.

According to details shared during the ceremony, the Dangote Group employs over 52,000 people across Nigeria and 11 other African nations, while its training arm, the Dangote Academy, delivers specialized practical training for graduates transitioning into the industrial sector.

Additionally, the Aliko Dangote Foundation administers an educational scholarship scheme and plans to deploy $70 million annually over the next decade toward secondary and tertiary education, teacher training, STEM initiatives, as well as technical and vocational education.

The announcements coincided with LASU's graduation of 20,604 students across the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions, a cohort that included 494 first-class honors recipients.

University records confirm that Ayilara Lawal Olawale of the Department of Project Management emerged as the overall best graduating student for the 2024/2025 session with a CGPA of 4.96. For the 2025/2026 academic session, Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide of the Department of Aerospace Engineering achieved the top distinction with a CGPA of 4.97. Both earned First Class honors.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, noted that 262 students attained First Class degrees in the 2024/2025 academic session, followed by 232 students in the 2025/2026 session.

The Dangote Foundation's pledges coincided with monetary awards presented by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who awarded ₦20 million each to the two top-performing graduates from both academic sessions.

Delivering his final convocation address in his capacity as the Visitor to LASU, Governor Sanwo-Olu extended his congratulations to the graduates, parents, benefactors, and faculty. He also highlighted his administration's infrastructure investments at the institution, including the completion and commissioning of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, multiple lecture halls, and student housing facilities.

The university has expanded its residential capacity through over 50 infrastructure projects funded via the Lagos State Government, the Federal Government, TETFund, private partnerships, and internally generated revenue.

Dangote was among three distinguished Nigerians awarded honorary doctorates during the ceremonies. The university also conferred honorary degrees upon Akin Kekere-Ekun, OFR, and Harriet-Ann Omobola (Bola) Adesola in recognition of their contributions to leadership, corporate governance, and societal development.

Speaking at the event, the Chancellor of LASU, Oba Dr. Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Telade IV, characterized the convocation as a milestone of joy and gratitude, commending the Lagos State Government for its sustained commitment to higher education, human capital development, technology, and institutional infrastructure.