…As institution churns out 89 First Class
By Perpetua Egesimba
Graduates of Babcock University have been charged by the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, to be creative and to see themselves as job creators, hence they must see that they make good use of the entrepreneurial skills they have acquired while in school.
The governor said this during the 15th Graduation and 6th Post-Graduate convocation ceremony of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State held recently. A total of 2,113 students comprising 1,807 graduate and 306 postgraduate students took part with 89 of them graduating with First Class.
Amosun charged them to go into the bigger world and contribute positively by being solution providers. “Remain steadfast and trustworthy,” he said. “You should understand that the purpose of university education is to prepare you for the challenges of the bigger world. Be ready to make positive difference on morals and character matters.”
The best graduating student was 22-year-old female student of Department of Accounting, Alexandria Braie, who was declared winner of the President’s Award for the Overall Best Performances despite having the second best Cumulative Grade Point Average 4.90.
Speaking on the convocation ground, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ademola Tayo, said Braie emerged the best graduating student as a result of her outstanding performances in academics, leadership traits as well as community and spiritual services. He charged the graduating students to be positive thinkers, adding that what they constantly think about themselves is what they will eventually become.
“Set aside your iphones and ipods and concentrate on the challenges of the society, ” he said. “Your destiny is in your hands. Whether you see it or not, whether you feel it or not, it is in your head, in your mind.”
In his address, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, who was represented by Mrs. Constance Goddy-Nnadi, said the successful conduct of heart surgeries by the university shows that “our university system is highly standardised and can compete favourably across the world.’’
Responding, the best graduating student, Alexandria Braie said her determination saw her through and urged other students to emulate her example. “There were some courses that were difficult but I was determined and set my heart to achieve something,” she said.
The governor who spoke earlier said the university has continued to maintain a trailblazing position in the provision of quality tertiary education.
He congratulated the Board of Trustees and Governing Council of the institution, management and the entire staff for a successful hosting of the convocation while promising to continue to provide necessary facilities and peaceful atmosphere for genuine efforts, participation and collaborations with private individuals and organistaions to contribute to the development of education sector and other areas of social economic life of the state.