It is difficult to fully estimate Dada’s accomplishment. In spite of all the difficulties and obstacles inherent in pursuing a tertiary education in present-day Nigeria, he graduated with an unsurpassable 5.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), scoring “A” grades in all of the courses he offered without exception.
Like other university students, he endured the privations of power outages and water shortages, the frustrations of inadequate facilities and below-par equipment, the strikes, stoppages, protests and other truncations that characterise the country’s education system.
Dada attempted the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) twice, his first attempt resulting in withheld results. He got admission to Unilag’s Diploma programme, where he was required to demonstrate his ability to undertake substantive undergraduate degree work. His ability to overcome these difficulties and attain spectacular academic heights is a testimony to his personal qualities of endurance, consistency and commitment to excellence.
These are the qualities that the House of Representatives has fittingly recognised and honoured by holding a formal reception for the Unilag genius. It is a welcome departure from the cynical politicking and blatant greed that have too often disfigured the activities of the National Assembly.
By this action, the House has sent the unmistakable message that intellectual achievement and academic brilliance will no longer be relegated to the back bench in favour of money, musical and sporting ability, or birth, as has sadly been the case.
Dada’s achievement does not spring from his ethnicity or his religion. He did not purchase his success; he did not secure his achievements through dubious connections. Recognising him in the manner the House has done will help to downplay the primordial sentiments that have continued to prevent Nigeria from becoming the truly great nation that it could be.
Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, must take a great deal of the credit for the reception. He was one of the first prominent individuals to underline the significance of Dada’s achievement and point out its implications for national regeneration and development. In an era where politicians often prefer to be seen with musical and sports stars, reality-show celebrities and billionaires, Gbajabiamila’s understanding of the need to restore intellectual ability to its pride of place cannot be downplayed.
In spite of the enormity of his achievement, Ayodele Dada is happily not an exception to the rule. Nigeria has many geniuses of similar ability who only require a modicum of encouragement to be able to achieve their full potential to the benefit of themselves and the nation. This is what the country’s government and institutions must now turn their attention to.
One way to do this would be to ease the acquisition of scholarships. Far too many potentially-great students are unable to pursue their dreams because of financial inability. The experience of other countries has shown that an equitable scholarship system, especially at the tertiary education level, will help to produce the human resource base that expands economies and improves lives.
It is also important to establish a system of monitoring the educational development of outstanding citizens such as Dada in order to ensure that the nation benefits maximally from their capabilities. Those who wish to pursue further educational opportunities must be fully empowered to do so; Dada, for instance, hopes to meet with globally-renowned psychologists and learn from them. Celebrating geniuses without helping them to fully realise their potential would amount to a waste of time.
Ayodele Dada is the living symbol of the huge promise that is inherent in Nigeria. The House of Representatives has done well to give him the acknowledgement that he so richly deserves.
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