LASU Aerospace Engineering Graduate Finishes with 4.97 CGPA, Wins N30 Million in Cash Rewards

Samuel Oluolamide Adebanjo, a 22-year-old Aerospace Engineering graduate, has emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student for the 2025/2026 academic session at Lagos State University, LASU, Nigeria, graduating with First-Class Honours.

Adebanjo graduated with an outstanding cumulative grade point average of 4.97 out of 5.00.

He also emerged as the Best Graduating Student in his faculty and department, making him a triple Best Graduating Student award winner at LASU’s 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremonies.

His academic excellence came with significant financial recognition. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented him with N20 million, while the Sunbeth Excellence Partnership Programme, SEPP, added another N10 million, bringing his total cash reward to N30 million.

Adebanjo’s achievements extended beyond his CGPA. During his four years at LASU, the Ogun State indigene from Remo North secured four scholarships from OPay, AltSchool Africa, CyberData Foundation and the Biodun Collins Ogundipe Foundation.

He authored six technical papers, including two peer-reviewed papers published at the SPE NAICE 2026 conference, alongside research work covering Space, Artificial Intelligence and Energy.

He held six executive leadership positions, including SPE LASU Academic Director, ITSI Project Lead and Space Club Learning and Development Coordinator.

His list of recognitions includes over 12 academic and competition awards, such as AESA-LASU Scholar of the Year and ESS Quizathon.

Adebanjo also earned more than 40 technical certifications in areas such as NVIDIA Deep Learning, Thales Robotics, ANSYS and a 35-certificate Onshape pathway.

The graduate, who described himself as the first engineer in his family lineage, said emerging as LASU’s overall best graduating student was a fulfilment of his family’s love, sacrifices, prayers and divine grace.

His story has been widely celebrated as an example of excellence, leadership and innovation among Nigerian students.