- How my mother, friends, lecturers lifted me, by Overall best
Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University(LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has enjoined new graduates of the institution to utilise the knowledge and skill gained to drive meaningful change in whatever area of life they find themselves.
She spoke at the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees at the 28th convocation ceremony held on Wednesday at the Buba Marwa Auditorium on the main campus in Ojo.
The VC said:”Our university has provided you with a solid foundation of knowledge, excellence, and discipline to actualise your God-given unique potential. As you embark on this new chapter, I challenge you to write your own story the way you want it to be told; don’t submit your future to the uncertainties of life, instead chat your own paths with precision.
“Being world class doesn’t necessarily mean being a finished work but instead, it denotes a strong foundation, immense potential and unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
“Graduating today doesn’t mean you have arrived; earning a university degree is not an end in itself but rather a means to an end. As I foresee it, the ultimate goal is to use your knowledge and skill to drive meaningful change wherever you find yourselves.”
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She urged them to continue to invest in themselves, saying the biggest investment they can make is not in shares or gold but in themselves.
Olatunji-Bello thanked faculty and staff for their dedication in nurturing the graduates from the moment of their admission to the time of graduation.
The overall best graduating student, Nwosu Isioma Sybil, who got a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93, noted that the journey was not smooth at all.
She said she was devastated in 300-Level when her CGPA dropped from 4.97 to 4.94.
She said: “My dream was to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ibadan, but I fell just two points short of the cut-off mark.
I eventually registered for JAMB again.
“This time, I chose Lagos State University (LASU) as my first choice, again aiming for Medicine and Surgery, However, when the admission list came out, I was offered Biochemistry a course I had never even heard of.My heart broke a second time.
Even in my 100-Level, I struggled to accept it, every time I saw Medical students, I pictured myself among them.”
But one of her lecturers made her accept the situation. Then,she determined to be the best overall graduating student.
The lecturer said: “Some of you weren’t given your preferred course. But instead of lamenting, why not prove to the university that you deserve something even greater?”
That statement had a great effect on her,and today she achieved her aim.