The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will be awarded an honorary doctorate degree during the 48th convocation ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
This announcement was made by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, during a pre-convocation press briefing on Thursday.
Bamire also disclosed that the Group Chairman of Mutual Benefits Plc, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, and the CEO of MTN Nigeria Communications, Karl Toriola, will be among the honorees.
Additionally, Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, a renowned academic and entrepreneur, and Daere Afonya-Akobo, an oil and gas industry leader, will receive honorary doctorates.
Explaining the recognition of Senator Tinubu, Bamire praised her advocacy for the underprivileged and her support for the university.
“She has significantly contributed to the welfare of OAU students and the university community,” he noted.
Highlighting the selection criteria, the Vice-Chancellor said, “We will confer honorary awards on five exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions to humanity by uplifting the less privileged and advancing societal progress through their talents, financial resources, and material support.”
The list of honorary award recipients includes:
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, OON: Advocate for women and children, and First Lady of Nigeria.
Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi: Chairman of Mutual Benefits Plc, leading a conglomerate employing over 5,000 people.
Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe: Academic, entrepreneur, and philanthropist renowned for his contributions to youth development.
Prince Karl Toriola: CEO of MTN Nigeria and expert in telecommunications.
Daere Afonya-Akobo: Oil and gas executive committed to philanthropy and education.
Bamire also revealed details of the convocation, during which 7,368 students will graduate across 13 faculties. This includes 215 First Class graduates, 2,197 Second Class Upper, and 2,691 Second Class Lower, among others.
For postgraduate degrees, 74 students will receive Postgraduate Diplomas, 708 will earn Master’s Degrees, and 176 will be awarded PhDs.
The three-day ceremony will celebrate academic excellence and recognize distinguished individuals for their impact on society.
