PositiveNaija

Okolie Elvis Anyaehiechukwu, has emerged as the best graduating student with 4.80 CGPA (out of the maximum 5.0), from the Department Of Public Health, Faculty Of Allied Medical Science at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in the 2016/2017 academic session.

In the words of Okolie Elvis Anyaehiechukwu:

“I am a youth advocate, researcher and social mobiliser dedicated to making the world a better place.

Public Health has proven to be the best course to study if you intend to make monumental impact and leave a legacy on earth. I chose Public Health because it is the course that offers me a rare platform to create the world we want.

Every aspect of Public Health is intriguing as they all relate to preventing diseases, prolonging life and promoting health and efficiency of the population. To also give a bit of clarity as to areas that stood out for me. Epidemiology, Health Education and Promotion, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Health Services Management and Quality assurance in health care delivery were areas that fuel my passion in the field.

There’s no course that is simple and I also believe no course is hard. What matters most is the passion for whatever you are doing regardless of the course. Parents and guardians should also not impose specific courses on their children or wards. Public health is my life and I know my life is not hard.

How did I do it? I didn’t do it but God did it all. I only knew what I wanted; I projected my visions, gave in a lot of sacrifice and worked day and night to attain this height.

The first piece of advice is that self-discovery is paramount to achieving excellence. It is also pertinent to have an ability to critically discern in many situations of life. I encourage students to look out for opportunities to enhance their skills and competencies and after school. It is pertinent that they also know certain tips which were helpful to me; confidence in oneself, priority setting, consistent preparation, time management, crazy but brilliant friends, strategic examination delivery and legible writing, insatiable desire to be the best wherever you find yourself, mum’s prayers and above all, God’s grace.”

Anyaehiechukwu has in his first to fifth year, had 4.18, 4.91, 5.00, 5.00, 5.00 CGPA respectfully. He therefore advised other students to look out for opportunities to enhance their skills and competencies in many situations of life.

Ogunsanya Fuhad Adetoro who studied Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences at the Lagos State University (LASU) has emerged the best graduating student in the 2016/2017 academic session with a CGPA of 4.78 at the convocation ceremony held at the Auditorium Complex of the University in Ojo.

While delivering his valedictory speech, Ogunsanya Fuhad Adetoro had said his academic pursuit was almost frustrated by a health challenge – cataract, which affected his eyes.

According to Ogunsanya Fuhad Adetoro:

“My Parents helped me to seek medical help but the first operation I had was not successful.

When my first WAEC and NECO came out, it was dotted with F9s, so I left home and went to stay with my uncle and his wife.

My uncle and his wife also helped me to seek medical treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and the operation was successful.”

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode at Lagos State University’s 22nd Convocation ceremony, adopted Ogunsanya Fuhad Adetoro and also granted him scholarship and ₦5million cash reward.

The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode while responding to the student’s request to study abroad for his master’s programme, said:

“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.

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 [give] him ₦5million.”

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, therefore, said university convocations deserved necessary attentions as the future of any nation can only be guaranteed when the youths, who form the majority of the population are educated enough to contribute to the economy.