By Prosper Mene
October 20, 2026
First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has awarded N5 million to the overall best graduating student of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State.
The beneficiary, Miss Misturah Elizabeth Oseni of the Department of Food Science and Technology, emerged best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.96.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olasebikan Alade Fakolujo, announced this on Monday at a pre-convocation press briefing held ahead of the institution’s 17th convocation and 20th anniversary celebration.
According to Fakolujo, the cash prize is part of an endowment by the First Lady to promote female academic excellence at the university.
“The overall best graduating student is Misturah Elizabeth Oseni from the Department of Food Science and Technology with a CGPA of 4.96. She will receive a special prize, including N5 million from the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu,” he said.
He disclosed that other outstanding graduands will also receive cash awards of N1 million and N500,000 in recognition of their academic performance.
The Vice-Chancellor said a total of 1,043 students will graduate at the convocation, comprising 897 undergraduates and 146 postgraduates.
Giving a breakdown, he said 83 students bagged first-class honours, 429 second-class upper division, 301 second-class lower division, 74 third-class and 10 pass degrees.
For the postgraduate category, he said the university will graduate 22 PhD holders, 94 academic master’s degree holders, 27 Master of Business Administration (MBA) holders and three Postgraduate Diploma recipients.
Fakolujo noted that the university’s annual award fund for outstanding students has grown steadily from N17.5 million in 2024 to N24 million in 2025 and N27 million in 2026.
“Excellence should be recognised, encouraged and rewarded, and that is what our Chancellor has been doing since he came on board in 2024,” he said.
Reflecting on the institution’s 20-year journey, the Vice-Chancellor identified institution-building, human capital development and entrepreneurial education as JABU’s major achievements.
He said the university, founded by the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), has continued to strengthen its academic programmes and institutional systems while promoting practical competence and economic empowerment.
He also revealed that JABU has partnered with Google for Education to enhance digital skills among staff and students, and has developed its first five-year strategic plan covering 2027 to 2031, with focus on academic excellence, research and innovation, digital transformation and infrastructure development.
Fakolujo acknowledged past challenges, including financial constraints and reform delays, but said the university has continued to adapt and improve, with emphasis on research that addresses real societal problems.
