35th Convocation: I rejected advances from males to make first class – Unilorin best graduating student

By Adebayo Olodan

The 35th Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Ilorin may have
come and gone but not many people will forget easily the
accomplishment of two female graduates; Okunola Toluwani Deborah and
Abubakar Halimah Opeyemi.
Of the 130 first class graduates churned out by the institution,
Okunola and Abubakar stand tall among them all and were the cynosure
of all eyes at the convocation arena, yesterday.
While Okunola from the Department of Mathematics and Faculty of
Physical Sciences was declared the Overall Best Graduating Student,
Abubakar from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences claimed a total of 25
prizes.
Speaking with our reporter yesterday, , Okunola said, she rejected
advances from male students to achieve the feat.
She said, “It was not an easy task. I made sure every day though I
don’t have specific hours but I made sure I covered all what we were
taught daily.
“I don’t have a boyfriend while in school. Each time the males made
advances at me, I consistently tell them that I’m not ready for any
relationship.
When asked whether she actually set out to be the Overall Best
Graduating Student, Okunola who graduated from Effective International
College, Ilorin in 2015, said, “When I gained admission into this
school in 2015, my target was a 5.00 GPA and I am glad I was able to
achieve that.”
Speaking further, the 20-year-old said, “As an undergraduate, I don’t
attend parties on and off campus but I rarely missed out of
educational programmes.”
Abubakar won the prize for the best student in the Department of
Pathology, Community Medicine, Paediatrics & Child Health, Medicine
and Opthalmology. She also claimed the prize for the Department of
Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
She also received several endowed prizes such as late Abubakar Olusola
Saraki prize for the best graduating student in Medicine and Henry
Adewoye prize for the best graduating student in Chemical Pathology.
Speaking with our reporter, Abubakar, who claimed she had a boyfriend
while in school expressed his profound appreciation to God and her
parents.
She however said, it took her extensive hard work to excel in her
studies adding that, “I was able to discover when best I can
assimilate. I watch movies and TV series in between readying my
books.”
Abubakar who hails from Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the
state however expressed her readiness to seek for further studies
abroad.
Earlier, President Muhammadu Buhari who congratulated the Chancellor
of the institution and the management for their enduring contributions
towards the development of the university charged Nigerian varsities
to use the tools of transparency, accountability and prudent
management of resources to improve their internal and external
efficiencies and relevance to nation building.
Buhari, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Nigeria
Universities Commission, Dr Sulyman Yusuf, further charged Nigerian
universities to re-focus on research and innovation which constitute
an important component of their mandates.
He said, “It is well known that no nation can develop or make
meaningful progress without a solid research and development culture.
Therefore, Nigerian universities should pay closer attention to
research and innovation with the ultimate aim of generating new
knowledge and developing new products and patents that will catalyse
the much desired industrialisation of our dear nation.”
He however frowned at the negative scandalous attraction being
attracted to Nigerian universities particularly the trending stories
of sex-for-grades.
Buhari expressed sadness that those who are expected to train, guide
and groom students on morals turn around to breach the trust and
confidence reposed in them by exploiting the students entrusted into
their care and under their tutelage.
He said, “Henceforth all culprits shall face the full wrath of the law
as they will be prosecuted and those found guilty will serve the
stiffest punishment under the law.”
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor, Dr Abdullah Jibril Oyekan who
stated that the university has continued to maintain its status as the
most preferred institution in the country added that efforts are being
made towards improving the Internally Generated Revenue of the
institution.
He said several research breakthroughs have been recorded since the
launch of the Team Unilorin Project.
He charged the graduands not to rest on their oars but use the
contacts and knowledge acquired at the institution to further improve
themselves and contribute to the society.
Recall that while briefing newsmen on Monday, the Vice Chancellor of
the institution, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem said a total of 12, 009
students will be graduating during this year’s convocation ceremonies.
According to the VC, 2,902 bagged Second Class Upper Division, 5,661
had Second Class Lower Division while 1, 392 had Third Class.