The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday, gave N5 million to Fuhad Ogunsanya, the 2018 best graduating student at the Lagos State University, Ojo.
Mr Ambode also announced a scholarship for Mr Ogunsanya to go for masters’ study outside the country, adding that he would personally finance the student’s education in any university of his choice, anywhere in the world.
“In response to the best graduating student’s request, Lagos State Government does not generally give scholarship anymore but only bursary. So, I adopt him,” the governor said.
“His story is too compelling and it reflects on my own story. So, any university he wants to go, I will do it personally; I will be responsible.
“In addition to that, because he is the best graduating student, I dash him N5million.”
Mr Ogunsanya, a Business Administration major, scored a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.78 to emerge the best graduating student at the university.
He said he had applied to study Accounting but had to opt for Business Administration because Accounting had not been accredited at the time.
Narrating the challenges he had faced in life, Mr Ogunsanya said he failed his Senior School Certificate Examination due to an eye defect he inherited from his father.
“The first surgery (on the eyes) was performed before my secondary school education, which was unsuccessful,” he said.
“The defect went on till I finished secondary school… After several months of tests and therapy another surgery was done to remove the cataract because it had spread to the other eye.
“To the glory of God, it was a success. The challenge then was how to catch up… I had to start afresh like someone who have not attended secondary school before after three years.
“I’m standing before you all today as an achiever. I am a definition of when there is life there is hope.”
Mr Ambode said occasions such as a university convocation deserved necessary attention as the future of any nation could only be guaranteed when its youth, who form a majority of the population, are educated enough to contribute to the economy and the continued sustenance of the country.
Recalling the pledge to construct 6,000 capacity hostel for the institution, Mr Ambode said it was gratifying to report that preliminary works had already been concluded on the project, while work would start in few months, adding that other ongoing projects in the university were on course and would also be delivered on schedule.
“Already, preliminary works on the 6,000 capacity hostel for the University which we promised last year have been concluded and in the next few weeks, construction would start.
“In addition, the Government’s Legacy Projects in the University including the New Senate Building, the Ultra-Modern Library, Students’ Arcade, LASU Homs (Staff Quarters) and the New Faculty of Management Sciences Buildings are all nearing completion simultaneously.”
About 29,710 students graduated with 201 awarded diploma; 21,481 first degrees; 7982 Post Graduate Diploma (PGD); and 46 Doctorate Degrees. 26 students graduated with First Class.
In his opening remarks, the Chancellor of LASU, Adesola Oguntade, said it was gratifying that the governor’s RSW scheme had kept getting bigger and better.
The Ready.Set.Work (RSW) is an initiative of the Lagos State Government targeted at equipping penultimate and final year students of public tertiary institutions in the state with employability and entrepreneurship skills.
“It is rapidly changing the thinking of students from being job seekers after school to job producers even while in school,” said Mr Oguntade.
Also, the LASU Vice Chancellor, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said the graduands have been found worthy in learning and character, saying they have been adequately schooled to contribute to the development of the country.
He said due to reforms put in place, the institution ranked first among state universities in the 2018 maiden edition of National Universities Commission (NUC) ranking, while LASU was also selected by NUC as lead institution for the development of blueprints on how to ensure health security by 2050 and blueprint for transportation in Nigeria.
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