Abiodun awards ₦8.5m to top graduating students at OOU convocation

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has awarded a total of ₦8.5 million in cash prizes to outstanding graduating students at the 35th convocation ceremony of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, in recognition of academic excellence.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, presented ₦500,000 each to 13 best graduating students across various faculties and ₦2 million to Ajayi David of the Faculty of Engineering, who emerged as the overall best graduating student.

According to a statement by the state government on Saturday, the awards underscore the administration’s commitment to rewarding hard work, nurturing talent, and promoting innovation in the education sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abiodun described the convocation as a celebration of excellence, access, and institutional relevance.

“By placing reliable data at the centre of decision-making, our administration has enhanced transparency, improved outcomes, and ensured that every intervention across the education value chain is strategic and measurable,” he said.

He congratulated the graduates and urged them to continue learning, remain curious, and serve as worthy ambassadors of the university.

The governor reaffirmed that education remains a key pillar of his administration’s development agenda, stressing that sustained investment in the sector is vital to securing the state’s future.

Abiodun also commended the university for producing competent and innovative graduates while maintaining high standards of discipline, service, and academic quality.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, highlighted the institution’s achievements, noting that OOU currently ranks 16th among 321 universities nationwide based on academic visibility, research output, and web presence.

He added that the university is second only to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology among state-owned institutions and praised the state government for prioritising education as a driver of holistic development.