Last Sunday’s convocation of Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo,
Ogun State, was a potpourri of emotions. For some, it was expectedly
exciting. Shouts of joy, mixed with backslapping and hugging, were not
in short supply.
But while most of the graduating students had cause to rejoice and
shed tears of joy, two of the graduating students and their family
members, who managed to grace the occasion, were grief-stricken. But,
first, they story of joy.
At the carnival-like 11th convocation, 1,359 students were awarded
first degrees. Twenty got postgraduate diplomas, 71 obtained Master’s
degrees in various disciplines while another set of 41 got PhD degrees
in various disciplines.
The cynosure of all eyes were, however, a 20-year-old lady, Omobola
Oduyoye, who emerged the best graduating student after scoring a
Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.92, and Nuhu Benjamin, who won the
President’s Award for securing the overall best performances in
leadership, academics, community and spiritual services.
Oduyoye, an indigene of Ilisan-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of
the state, was awarded a first class degree in Public Health, while Nuhu
also got a first degree in Christian Religious Studies.
“I have a number of friends – including male students but I always draw a
line between friendship for academic advancement and immoral
relationship. I’m not abusive; neither am I a snub. But I don’t
encourage any relationship that will distract me from my studies. I
don’t encourage any action that can suggest to you that I’m a cheap
commodity. I also ensure that I don’t go alone anywhere or follow
anybody to dark corners even if she is a girl like me.
“It may sound funny to you, I have never kissed anyone in my life and I
have not been kissed by anybody. I thank God for the grace He gives me
to achieve this because I know that some people will say it is not easy
but with God all things are possible,” the 20-year-old fresh graduate
added.
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