Industrialist Aliko Dangote, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, has pledged N600 million towards the construction of a girls’ hostel at Lagos State University (LASU).
He has also offered employment opportunities to first class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the university.
The university management disclosed this on LASU’s Facebook page on Friday.
Dangote made the pledge during the combined 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.
He was represented at the ceremony by his daughter, Hajia Fatima Aliko Dangote.
Dangote was also honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Business Honoris Causa in Entrepreneurship, Industrial and Human Capital Development.
According to the university, the foundation’s pledge is meant to support the construction of accommodation for female students.
It also disclosed that first class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the graduating classes would get preferential consideration for employment with the Dangote Group after completing their NYSC programme.
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.”
The gesture is part of commitments made towards student welfare, academic excellence and graduate opportunities during the convocation.
The Dangote Group currently employs more than 52,000 people across Nigeria and 11 other African countries.
The Dangote Academy also provides practical training for graduates entering the industrial sector.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation runs an education scholarship programme and plans to invest $70 million annually over the next 10 years in secondary and tertiary education, teacher training, STEM and technical and vocational education.
The announcement came as LASU celebrated 20,604 graduates across the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions, including 494 first class graduates.
Ayilara Lawal Olawale of the Department of Project Management emerged the overall best graduating student for the 2024/2025 session with a CGPA of 4.96.
For the 2025/2026 session, Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide of the Department of Aerospace Engineering emerged the overall best graduating student, with a CGPA of 4.97.
Both students graduated with First Class honours.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, disclosed that 262 students obtained First Class honours in the 2024/2025 session, while 232 achieved the feat in 2025/2026.
Dangote’s intervention was announced alongside a reward for academic excellence by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The governor donated N20 million each to the two overall best graduating students of both sessions.
Sanwo-Olu, in his final convocation address as Visitor to LASU, congratulated the graduates, their parents, sponsors and lecturers.
He also highlighted his administration’s investment in the university, including the construction of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, lecture theatres, halls and student accommodation.
The university said more than 50 infrastructure projects have been executed through funding from the Lagos State Government, Federal Government, TETFund, private sector contributions and internally generated revenue.
Dangote was among three prominent Nigerians honoured with honorary doctorate degrees at the convocation.
The university also honoured Akin Kekere-Ekun, OFR, and Harriet-Ann Omobola (Bola) Adesola for their contributions to leadership, business and societal development.
The Chancellor of LASU, Oba Dr Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Telade IV, described the convocation as a moment of joy, humility and gratitude.
He commended the Lagos State Government for its continued support for the university.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
