A 22 – year- old, Miss Saidat Sanni, from the Department of Statistics has emerged the overall best student of LadokeAkintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof AdeniyiGbadegesin, disclosed this at the 13th convocation ceremony of the institution held on Friday.
The institution graduated 10,317 students and conferred first class honours on 105 graduands and 112 doctorate degrees on post graduates students.
According to him, Sanni, who hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State, scored a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.88 in the 2014/2015 academic session to emerge the overall best.
Similarly, Gbadegesin said Olufemi Ige of the Department of Mathematics also secured a CGPA of 4.85 to emerge the best student in the 2013/2014 session.
In her valedictorian speech, Sanni, said she owed her academic feat to God and her determination to succeed.
She said:”It is just God. I was also focused and determined. I always stayed awake at night. I read a lot and I also pray always. My success was also hinged on my vow to my parent not to disappoint them.”
Although Sanni said her dream was to study Medicine and become a medical doctor, but her dream was shattered when she got admission into LAUTECH and was offered Statistics after scoring 266 in UTME.
“I have an intention of crossing back for Medicine in 200 level and I had a good result in 100 level but I prayed and God asked me to continue studying Statistics.
“I want to urge other graduands not to relent in the spirit of excellence, integrity and service, which had been their watchword while in school. We are here, we made it and we did it. Nothing comes easy; more challenges will come our way, however, with endurance, perseverance, commitment, patience, hardwork and steadfastness in prayers, we shall make it.”she said
In his address, Prof Gbadegesin assured the academic community that LAUTECH will sustain its good reputation as well as maintain best standard of integrity and excellence.
He called on the graduating students to maintain whatever they have gained in the course of their study and affect their communities positively.
In his speech, the Oyo State Governor, Senator AbiolaAjimobi, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade, thanked the management of the institution for keeping the flag of the institution flying despite the dwindling revenue of the two proprietors of the citadel of technological learning.
He said:”I consider it necessary at this juncture, to assure the university that government is not unconcerned about the welfare of staff and the students. Although, government has been going through a time of financial constraints, it has not ceased to accord the issue of staff and the students welfare a high premium”
Ajimobi urged the graduating students to make the best use of the knowledge you have painstakingly acquired through the rigours of academic work.