Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, on Sunday awarded degrees to 3,568 students at its 23rd convocation ceremony, with 243 of them emerging with first class honours.

A further breakdown revealed that 2,543 graduates received undergraduate degrees, while 686 completed postgraduate programmes. The postgraduate batch includes 217 PhDs, 30 MPhils, 359 Master’s degrees, and 80 Postgraduate Diplomas.

Lawal Oyiza, who graduated with a degree in Economics, emerged as the overall best graduating student, having scored a cumulative grade point average of 4.97.

Addressing the graduating class, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ademola Tayo, who is set to retire in November after 10 years at the helm, urged the students to see their education as a springboard for selfless service and social transformation.

“You have responsibilities to Nigeria and to the whole world,” Tayo said. “Use the knowledge you have gained at Babcock creatively and generously to make a worthy difference.”

He encouraged the graduates to engage meaningfully with society, saying: “Set aside your iPads and iPhones for a while and focus on your fellow human beings. Be a volunteer to your community, be an active voice for peace and justice.”

Tayo added that education, while a personal achievement, should serve broader goals such as justice, problem-solving, and hope. “Let your knowledge serve justice. Let your talents solve problems. Let your values inspire hope. Be fearless, be kind. Be Babcock,” he said.

Reflecting on his decade-long tenure, the Vice-Chancellor listed some of the milestones his administration achieved, including infrastructural expansion and the launch of new programmes in Engineering and Environmental Sciences.

He said his leadership was anchored on data-driven policies and collaborative governance, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and integrity. “These are the hallmarks of sustainable leadership in the 21st century,” he added.

In a keynote address, Zimbabwean diplomat, Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei, charged the graduates to embrace their roles as global citizens and peacebuilders. He urged them to apply the knowledge acquired at the university to promote peace and reduce violence across Africa and the world.

The convocation, which was attended by parents, alumni, and dignitaries, is the culmination of years of academic and character development for the students, many of whom are now stepping into new chapters of life.