At least three students reportedly collapsed and were rushed to the clinic on Tuesday morning as a massive crowd of graduating students struggled to gain access to the Buba Marwa Auditorium, venue of Lagos State University’s (LASU) 29th and 30th convocation ceremonies.
The situation became chaotic as the surging crowd overwhelmed security personnel manning the entrance to the hall, with some students reportedly breaking the entrance glass in an attempt to gain access.
“Please help us call an ambulance,” a student was heard shouting after a colleague fainted. Another person responded that an ambulance had already taken another student to the school clinic.
A City Voice correspondent covering the event also assisted in conveying one of the affected students to the clinic on a school motorbike.
The dual convocation is a historic one, with about 20,000 students graduating from the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.
The convocation lecture is titled, “From LASU to the World: Harnessing the Nigerian Diaspora as the 7th Region for National Development.”
The unprecedented turnout of graduates, parents, guests and well-wishers also appeared to have put considerable pressure on facilities and businesses around the Ojo area.
Hotels in Ojo Local Government Area, Iba Local Council Development Area and Ikotun-Igando were reportedly fully booked as visitors from across the country arrived for the ceremony.
The convocation is also expected to be the last presided over by Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as Vice-Chancellor of the institution. She is completing her five-year, single-term tenure at the university.