Lagos State University (LASU) combined its 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies into one event, celebrating graduates from the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.
This guide provides a daily schedule, explains the reason for the combined ceremony, and highlights important information for all graduands and guests.
Why LASU Combined the 29th and 30th Convocations
Contents
Instead of organising two separate ceremonies in different years, LASU’s Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, announced that the 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies would be held together for graduates from the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 sessions.
The Vice-Chancellor told the press that this decision aimed to clear graduation backlogs and align with changes in the university’s academic calendar.
Altogether, LASU planned to graduate 20,604 students from diploma, first degree, and postgraduate programmes at this combined event, making it a major academic milestone.
When the Convocation Took Place
The convocation events took place from Wednesday, 12th August to Sunday, 23rd August 2026, lasting almost two weeks and held at both the Ojo and Epe campuses.
Full Programme of Events, Day by Day
Day 1: Wednesday, 12th August 2026: Pre-Convocation Events
- Convocation Press Conference: 10:00 a.m., First Floor, Senate Chamber, Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, Main Campus, Ojo.
- Convocation Sports Competition for Staff: 12:00 noon, LASU Sports Centre, Main Campus, Ojo.
Day 2: Thursday, 13th August 2026
- Staff Celebration Day (with a dress code representing individual tribes): 2:00 p.m., Buba Marwa Auditorium, Ojo Campus.
Day 3: Friday, 14th August 2026
- Coconut Breaking and Cultural Day: 9:00 a.m., Badagry Gate Entrance, Ojo Campus.
- Convocation Jumat Service: 1:00 p.m., University Mosque.
Monday, 17th August 2026
- Award of Diplomas, First Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Master’s Degrees in Engineering and Agricultural Sciences, alongside the Conferment of Distinguished Professorship: 10:00 a.m., Olatunji Bello Auditorium, Epe Campus.
Tuesday, 18th August 2026
- Convocation Lecture: 9:00 a.m., Buba Marwa Auditorium.
Wednesday, 19th August 2026: Grand Finale of the Academic Ceremonies
- Award of Professional and Academic Doctorate Degrees (including PhDs), alongside the Conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees: Buba Marwa Auditorium, Ojo Campus.
Sunday, 23rd August 2026
- Special Convocation Thanksgiving Service: 10:00 a.m., University Chapel (Chapel of Light), Ojo Campus, officially closing out the entire convocation period.
Important Guidelines for Graduands and Guests
LASU’s management shared clear guidelines with the event schedule, covering conduct, preparation, and logistics:
- Complete your clearance early: All graduands were required to begin and complete their clearance process in their respective College, School, or Faculty before the convocation, as this is a prerequisite for collecting degree certificates.
- Pay for your convocation package: Graduands were directed to pay for their convocation packages through the university’s official payment portal ahead of the ceremony.
- Return academic gowns on time: Graduands were advised to return their academic gowns on or before Friday, 21st August 2026, to avoid penalties.
- Dress and robe appropriately: Graduands were required to be properly robed and to conform to the colour prescribed for their specific Faculty.
- No unauthorised movement or photography during ceremonies: The university explicitly stated that unauthorised movements and photography would not be allowed during the Convocation Ceremonies. Graduands wishing to take photographs were advised to do so before entering the University Auditorium or wait until after the ceremony concluded.
- Stay in your seat once the ceremony begins: Any graduand who left their seat during the ceremony would not be allowed to return to the Auditorium; a rule intended to maintain orderliness throughout the event.
- Rise for the Academic Procession: Graduands and guests seated under the canopy outside the Auditorium were asked to remain orderly and rise as the Academic Procession entered and left the convocation venue.
Why These Rules Matter for a Smooth Convocation Experience
Big combined convocations like LASU’s 29th and 30th, with over 20,000 graduates from two academic sessions, need careful planning to go well.
Rules about seating and movement help manage the large crowd over several days and two campuses.
Graduands and guests who follow these guidelines usually have a smoother experience, avoid penalties like gown return fees, and make sure they attend their correct ceremony day.
Who Signed Off on the Announcement
The Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, shared the official programme on behalf of LASU’s Management and Staff.
Emmanuel A. Fanu, the university’s Registrar and Secretary to Council, also signed the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. When did LASU hold its 29th Convocation Ceremony?
The 29th Convocation, held in combination with the 30th, ran from Wednesday, 12th August to Sunday, 23rd August 2026.
2. Why did LASU combine the 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies?
The Vice-Chancellor explained that combining both sessions’ ceremonies became necessary to clear graduation backlogs and align with adjustments made to the university’s academic calendar.
3. How many students graduated at this combined convocation?
LASU set out to graduate a total of 20,604 students across diploma, first degree, and postgraduate categories from both the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.
4. Which academic sessions did this convocation cover?
It covered graduands of both the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions, reflecting the combined nature of the 29th and 30th ceremonies.
5. When were doctorate degrees awarded?
The award of Professional and Academic Doctorate Degrees, including PhDs, along with the Conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees, took place on Wednesday, 19th August 2026, at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Ojo Campus, described as the grand finale of the academic ceremonies.
6. When were diplomas and first degrees awarded?
Diplomas, First Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Master’s Degrees in Engineering and Agricultural Sciences, along with the Conferment of Distinguished Professorship, were awarded on Monday, 17th August 2026, at the Olatunji Bello Auditorium, Epe Campus.
7. What happens if a graduand doesn’t return their academic gown on time?
Graduands were advised to return their academic gowns on or before Friday, 21st August 2026, to avoid penalties, which may include financial or administrative consequences for late returns.
8. Can graduands take photographs during the ceremony?
No. Unauthorised movements and photography were not allowed during the Convocation Ceremonies.
Graduands who wanted photographs were advised to do so before entering the Auditorium or wait until after the ceremony.
9. What happens if a graduand leaves their seat during the ceremony?
Any graduand who left their seat during the ceremony would not be permitted to return to the Auditorium, a rule enforced to maintain orderliness during the event.
10. What closed out the full convocation period?
The Special Convocation Thanksgiving Service, held on Sunday, 23rd August 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the University Chapel (Chapel of Light), Ojo Campus, officially closed out the entire convocation period.
Final Thoughts
LASU’s combined 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies marked one of the university’s biggest achievements in recent years, with over 20,000 students graduating over two weeks at both the Ojo and Epe campuses.
For graduands and their families, the main advice is to complete faculty clearance early, follow all dress and conduct rules, and pay attention to your assigned ceremony day, as missing it can’t be easily fixed.
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