Kunle Adelabu
-Charges them to go further in academic and other pursuits
It was another round of honours for students across the Ikorodu Division, that graduated with First Class Honours, as they were celebrated by the Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG), on Sunday, July 2, 2023, for their excellent acaddemic feats.
The Resource Group hosted the honorees during its monthly meeting at the Gbadamosi Conference Room, on Sunday, July 2, with the distinguished students presented with awards of excellence and cash gifts, as a way of commending their educational attainment and encouraging them to move higher in academic and other pursuits.
A total of 11 students, which included two graduates with Distinctions in Master’s Degree programmes and nine First Class students in First Degree programmes.
Also, 10 of the honorees were students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, while only one is from the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
The two Master’s graduates with Distinctions are: Olutosin Taiwo Adedamola Omowunmi, (Business Administration), with 5.00 CGPA, and Adeseye Omololu Elesho (Chemistry) with 4.55 CGPA, both from LASU.
For the First Degree graduates, list included: Miss Rufai Azeezat Dolamu, 4.72 CGPA, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, LASU, Miss Halima Sulaimon, 4.68 CGPA, Micro-Biology Department, Faculty of Science, LASU, Miss Romoke Ogunlana, 4.52 CGPA, Department of Education Management, Faculty of Education, LASU and Raji Ibrahim T., 4.69 CGPA, Department of Accounting Education, LASU.
Others are: Anoba Balikis, 4.66 CGPA, Sociology Department, LASU, Fasanya Hamzat, with CGPA 4.63, Sociology Department, LASU, Oluwa, Rodiyah Onaopemipo, CGPA 4.65, Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Science, LASU, Ganiu Ridwan A., with CGPA 4.51, Mass Communication Department, LASU, and Miss Asalu Aolat Ayobami, with CGPA 4.70, Department of Business Administration, from University of Benin.
Sen. (Otunba) Adeseye Ogunlewe, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG), welcoming the divisional ambassadors, said that the Group is well pleased with their academic attainments.
Ogunlewe, who was a former Minister for Works and former Pro – Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), also appreciated the honourees for the honour done to Ikorodu, and expressed the body’s willingness to be part of their growth.
“We are very interested in the upliftment of human resources in the Division, and we are attracted by your performances. You all have First Class Honours, and we think that we should be part of that by appreciating what you have been able to achieve and encourage you to go further”, Senator Ogunlewe said.
“We need more Professors in our Division, and fortunate for us, we have Professors in our Group that can talk to you from time – to – time, and be your advisers as you move on in life.
“We want to thank you for uplifting Ikorodu Division’s heritage with your First Class Honours. It is very commendable. We thank God for your lives. Please, move up and don’t be discouraged. The sky is your limit”, he added.
Former Head, Due Process Unit, Presidency, Prof. Emeritus Kunle Ade Wahab, expressing his satisfaction with the outstanding students, said that Ikorodu Division is certain to produce more scholars in his class in future.
He charged them to do more in sustaining the tempo and always revert to the Group, for guidance and assistance when needed.
“I was very excited when I heard about your results. Now, we can show the world that more Emeritus Professors will emerge from Ikorodu Division of Lagos State. If you take this as a symbol, the simple statement that you are making is that you will be there because you are First Class persons and I don’t see any reason or obstacles that can prevent you”, he said.
“There are many eminent persons in the Resource Group that you can contact at any time and will open the doors for you. If you can continue at this pace, and I don’t see any reason why you should not, the sky is your limit.
“There is no discipline now that you cannot become a Professor Emeritus, but it doesn’t come cheap just like First Class Honours doesn’t come cheap. You knew what you went through to get to where you are, and I am asking for a little bit more to get higher and all of us will be envious of your movement and we will be watching you as you move up to attain the level that I am talking about. If you are into academics, you must publish, write well and consult people that you need to consult, including any of us here”, Emeritus Prof. Wahab said.
Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, former Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, in his own remarks, charged the First Class honourees to pursue academic profession and use their knowledge in solving societal challenges and developing others.
“With your results, you are not supposed to be in the civil service, you are supposed to go back to the university, because a lot of people want to tap into your knowledge and how you achieved the feat”, he said.
“We want to thank you for all that you have done. You have done us proud”.
He also charged them to use their knowledge to solve societal problems, while emphasizing that they must always remember that they are ambassadors of Ikorodu Division.
Former Chairman, IDRDG, Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, also celebrating them, charged them to keep their focus in surmounting the challenges ahead.
“Today, what we are doing is the celebration of excellence. We are celebrating with our children and the best that we can do is to congratulate you on your efforts so far. You are a good model for those coming after you”, he said.
“Yes, First Class makes you excellent. It is an attestation of your efforts in the university. But that is different in the world that we are in. What you only have now is the license and the attestation that you could excel and succeed, and how you do that is by applying your excellence to produce your desired results.
“I want to wish you well and join others to celebrate with you. You should keep it up by remaining focused, that is why you are all First Class graduates. At the end of the day when you get into the private world, it is all about balancing religion, family, career and personal self”, he advised.
The President, Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chieftain of the IDRDG, Sir (Engr.) Chief Olukayode Shoderu, charged the students to continue to be good ambassadors of the division, by further developing themselves.
“I am very happy with your performance, but it’s not the end of the world. It shows that you can excel in whatever that you do if you apply the same efforts that you have exhibited in the past”, he said.
“I congratulate and wish you well. Henceforth, you must see yourselves as the representatives of Ikorodu Division, and in whatever that you do, you must let people see that you are persons of integrity and honour”.
Prof. Micheal Ajetunmobi, a Professor of Mathematics and Vice Chairman, IDRDG, also speaking, said:
“First Class used to be the privilege of people studying Mathematics-based subjects like Engineering, Mathematics, Physics and the rest, but I am so surprised that somebody is having a distinguished First Class in Law. I have never heard about that before”, he said.
“There are characteristics in people with First Class that you must possess like quietness and honesty, and there yes is yes and no is no.
“It doesn’t mean that you are better than the others, with your First Class. You only attained the feat in the university and it is an entirely different thing outside. From now on, you will need to do extra work”.
Others at the award ceremony were several other chieftains and members of the IDRDG, parents, family members and friends of the honorees.
