What motivated me —Crescent University’s best graduating student

The best graduating student at the ninth convocation of Crescent University Abeokuta, Mr Muhammad Agboola, has revealed that the institution’s proprietor’s vision of academic and moral excellence motivated him during his sojourn on campus.

Mr Agboola led 466 other graduating students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.76 from the Department of Computer Science to emerge the overall best for the 2017 convocation of the university held last weekend.

Ten other students also graduated with Master of Science degree from different programmes in the School of Postgraduate Studies of the university; seven from Mass Communication, two from Microbiology and one from Accounting respectively.

In his valedictory speech entitled ‘Making a Difference’, Agboola said the world required a new generation of scholars who would effect a positive change in the society and go beyond the call of duty, stressing that “we are part of that generation.”

The 22-year-old Agboola said he studied at least three hours a day to achieve the feat, noting that he had encountered some of the most promising scholars in his journey with his alma mater.

Two personalities who were also conferred with the Doctor of Science (honoris causa) in Mass Communication and Business Administration of the institution were Mr Mohammed Ali Harath, the chairman of the Islam Channel, based in the United Kingdom; and Alhaji Mahmoud Halilu Ahmed, a brother to the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mrs Aisha Buhari.

The honorees, after being decorated by the proprietor of the university, Prince Bola Ajibola, assisted by the vice chancellor, Professor Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, pledged their endowment and financial support for the university in their separate acceptance speeches.

Mohammed Ali said he would assist the university for the endowment of Nursing/Medical Science programmes, adding that of all the honours he had received in English, French and Arabic countries, the Crescent University award was the dearest to his hear.

In his address, the chairman, Bedmod Farms Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Mahmoud Halilu Ahmed, promised a huge support in other areas needed by the university, expressing his appreciation to Judge Ajibola for founding “a unique institution laced with academic and moral excellence.”

Earlier in his speech, Judge Ajibola appreciated the wife of the president, who was represented at the event, for taking interest in “our vision of academic and moral excellence,” adding that her passionate belief in the idea that education without its moral backup is a waste of time was worthy.

He stressed that the university’s 12 years of existence had fruitfully produced many stars who were now excelling in different endeavours.

Ajibola expressed of his delight to “witness the first set of our Law graduates of the Bola Ajibola College of Law (BACOLAW), who will, insha Allah, be proceeding to the Nigeria Law School this year to fly the flag of our university,” among whom he named an erudite public relations expert and septuagenarian traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty Olufemi Ogunleye, the Oba of Akinale in Ogun State, as an asset to both the college and the university.