Dangote pledges N600m for LASU girls’ hostel, offers jobs to first-class graduates
Dangote pledges N600m for LASU girls’ hostel, offers jobs to first-class graduates
Africa’s leading industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has pledged ₦600 million towards the construction of a girls’ hostel at Lagos State University (LASU) as part of his contribution to improving student welfare and accommodation at the institution.
The pledge was announced during LASU’s combined 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies, where Dangote was also honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Business degree (Honoris Causa) for his contributions to entrepreneurship, industrial development and human capital development.
Dangote’s daughter, Hajia Fatima Aliko Dangote, who represented him at the ceremony, announced the ₦600 million commitment on his behalf. She said the funds would support the construction of a hostel specifically for female students, helping to address accommodation challenges at the university.
First-class graduates to get employment opportunities
Beyond the hostel project, Dangote also announced an employment opportunity for some of LASU’s best-performing graduates.
According to the announcement, first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the graduating classes will receive preferential consideration for employment with the Dangote Group after completing their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
The initiative is expected to provide high-performing graduates with a pathway from university education into the industrial sector, particularly in areas related to engineering, science and technology.
The Dangote Group currently employs more than 52,000 people across Nigeria and 11 other African countries, according to information presented at the ceremony. The group also operates the Dangote Academy, which provides practical training for graduates entering the industrial sector.
Dangote honoured alongside other Nigerians
Dangote was among three prominent Nigerians honoured by LASU during the convocation.
The university also conferred honorary doctorate degrees on Akin Kekere-Ekun and Harriet-Ann Adesola, recognising their contributions to national development, business, public service and humanity.
The convocation was also the fifth and final convocation presided over by LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, whose tenure began in September 2021.
20,604 students graduate
The university announced that 20,604 students graduated across diploma, first-degree and higher-degree programmes for the combined 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.
Of this number, 494 graduates earned First Class honours — 262 from the 2024/2025 session and 232 from the 2025/2026 session.
LASU also highlighted significant growth during Olatunji-Bello’s tenure. The university’s internally generated revenue reportedly increased from ₦3 billion in September 2021 to ₦13 billion in September 2025, while several academic programmes received full accreditation and new programmes and faculties were introduced.
The Dangote intervention therefore comes at a significant moment for the university, combining student accommodation support with a direct employment pathway for outstanding graduates.
