Lagos State University join those lining up to honour Sanusi by making him their guest speaker

LAGOS State University(Lasu) has joined the growing list of bodies seeking to tap into the professional expertise of the former Emir of Kano Alhaji Lamido Sanusi by inviting him to be the guest speaker at its convocation lecture taking place on March 26.

On Monday this week, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State deposed the emir and replaced him with his cousin Aminu Ado Bayero, claiming the monarch was showing insubordination to the government. Since then, Alhaji Sanusi has been in Nasarawa State but now that he is free of traditional roles, political appointments have been coming thick and fast.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has already named Alhaji Sanusi as the chancellor of the Kaduna State University and as the vice chairman of the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency. Now, Lasu has asked him to come and speak at its convocation lecture titled The Future of Developing Economies in a Digital World.

This lecture is part of activities lined up to mark the institution’s 24th convocation ceremony, where a total of 8,959 students will be awarded certificates in various degrees and diplomas. Announcing the choice of Alhaji Sanusi as the convocation lecture chairman, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, Lasu's vice chancellor, said the choice predated the removal of the emir, adding that his dethronement has also not reduced the intellectual richness of the former monarch.

Professor Fagbohun revealed that 76 graduates will bag first class degrees while six Nigerians, including Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on sustainable development goals and Oba Otudeko, the chairman of Honeywell Flour, will receive honourary doctorate degrees. Others being honoured include Opeyemi Oke, Aderemi Makanjuola and Segun Agbaje.