UNILAG Engineering at 56th Convocation: 613 Graduates, 89 First Class, 508 Inducted — and the Success Playbook from Olayinka Atobiloye

The University of Lagos’ 56th Convocation Ceremonies (January 2026) delivered a strong statement from the Faculty of Engineering: depth, scale, and excellence — all at once. On Day 2 of the congregation for first degrees, UNILAG reported that Engineering produced 613 graduates out of the 4,626 first-degree graduates presented that day.

Even more striking: 89 of those Engineering graduates finished with First Class honours, according to reports from the convocation proceedings (via NAN coverage).

And beyond the academic ceremony, the faculty also marked the professional transition: 508 Engineering graduates were inducted on January 19, 2026 at the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Lagos Branch Secretariat, as part of the convocation programme.

A faculty-wide tie at the top: Best Graduating Students (CGPA 4.90)

At the Engineering induction and hooding programme, UNILAG celebrated two joint Best Graduating Students in the Faculty of Engineering, both graduating with a CGPA of 4.90:

• Mekwunye Clinton — Metallurgical & Materials Engineering
• Olubunmi Peace — Electrical & Electronics Engineering

That “shared top spot” is worth pausing on: it signals a faculty where excellence isn’t confined to one corner — it’s distributed across disciplines.

Departmental breakdown: where the 508 inducted engineers came from

UNILAG also published the departmental breakdown of the 508 inductees as follows:

This matters because it frames Computer Engineering in context: 34 graduates — a relatively small cohort — often a sign of a programme that’s intensive, selective, and deeply technical.

Spotlight: Olayinka Atobiloye and the “how” behind high performance

One of the most interesting things about graduation season isn’t just who excelled — it’s how they did it, and what others can learn from their playbook.

Across publicly available profiles and published pieces, Olayinka Atobiloye repeatedly shows up as a standout voice within UNILAG’s Computer Engineering ecosystem — described as a Computer Engineering student at UNILAG, a GitHub Campus Expert, and Chair of Women in Engineering (UNILAG), with experience spanning community-building and global-facing technical work.

What her story suggests about “success that scales”

Pulling from her published MLH reflection and multiple speaker bios, a few consistent themes emerge:

1) Treat opportunity like a skill — build it deliberately
Olayinka’s MLH Fellowship write-up reads like a blueprint: research the programme, apply intentionally, learn in public, and convert the experience into real career leverage.

2) Don’t just learn tech — learn collaboration
Her MLH account emphasizes working on real projects with mentors and peers — the kind of teamwork that mirrors modern engineering practice.

3) Community is not “extra-curricular”; it’s career infrastructure
Her profiles consistently highlight community leadership — from Women in Engineering to GitHub Campus Expert activities — pointing to a practical insight: the fastest learners often build (or join) ecosystems that compound learning.
This is also reflected in GDG On Campus UNILAG activity listings where she appears as an organiser/host.

4) Authenticity is strategic
One of her clearest, most repeatable pieces of advice (from her MLH Fellowship reflection) is about staying genuine in applications and how you present yourself.
A simple takeaway for students: be real, be specific, and show evidence.

5) Pair academic excellence with employability signals
Across conference bios and interviews, she’s linked with experiences that translate coursework into industry credibility (internships and practical projects).

Why this matters to UNILAGFEAA

For UNILAGFEAA, these milestones aren’t just celebration content — they’re a reminder of why alumni structures exist.

UNILAGFEAA’s guiding objectives include supporting faculty development, promoting excellence, establishing scholarship and research funding, and strengthening professional growth and networks for members.

In other words: when Engineering produces 89 First Class graduates, and when 508 new engineers step into NSE induction, the alumni community has a clear opportunity — to turn graduation success into sustained impact through mentorship, internships, labs, research support, and professional pipelines.

A closing charge to the Class of 2025/2026

To the new graduates: congratulations — you’ve earned your place in a demanding profession at a demanding time.

To the rest of us (alumni, industry partners, mentors): the message is simple — excellence has shown up; support must follow. Whether through mentoring one student, funding one lab upgrade, opening one internship slot, or contributing to a research endowment, this is how a faculty becomes (and stays) a centre of excellence.