…as VC gifts overall best, First Class N500, 000 cash each
Toluwanimi Bamigbola
The Vice-Chancellor Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, Nigeria, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina could not hide his feelings amidst a Thanksgiving Service at the Chapel of Transformation on the main campus on Sunday, February 23, 2025, as he danced to melodious worship songs while the thanksgiving ceremony lasted.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunday Abayomi Fasina, who led the congregation, which included staff members, students, and other stakeholders expressed his deepest gratitude to the Almighty God for a successful and memorable convocation ceremonies.
However, Professor Fasina described the convocation’s success as a testament to God’s blessings on the institution, reaffirming it as “God’s own University.”
In his brief remarks, Professor Fasina thanked God for the successful outing throughout the convocation ceremonies while attributing the overwhelming support enjoyed during the ceremonies as a major factor that ensured the overall success.
Besides, the Vice-Chancellor expressed his gratitude to members of the management, staff, students, and other stakeholders for their support to the university throughout the weeklong convocation ceremonies.
Addressing the graduating students, Professor Fasina urged them not to forget their alma mater. “Don’t forget your university,” he said. “If you have the opportunity to give back to your university in one way or the other, please do it. Do not hesitate to come back once in a while, when the Lord has made you, don’t forget where you took your education.”
At the Thanksgiving service, Professor Fasina recognized the overall best student of the 2023/2024 set and a first-class student of English and Literary Studies who were present.
The overall best student, Adepoju Ayomide David, who graduated from the Department of Mathematics with a CGPA of 4.87, was rewarded with a cash prize, a fully funded scholarship for his master’s and Ph.D studies, and a lecturing job in the Department of Mathematics.
The second recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s benevolence was James Mary Morayo, a first-class student from the Department of English and Literary Studies, who received a cash prize of N500, 000, a fully funded Master’s Degree scholarship and a lecturing job in the Department of English and Literary Studies.
Meanwhile, Guest minister, Reverend (Dr.) Kayode Ayomide, spoke on “Grace upon Grace,” amplifying the book of John 1:15-16, saying that every beautiful thing received was by grace and not by human works.
Reverend Ayomide added that for grace to continue working in their lives, they must turn away from sin.
However, the Chaplain of the Chapel of Transformation, Mr. Samuel Osamoka, prayed that God would continue to uphold the Vice-Chancellor till the very end of his tenure.
In an interview with FUOYENews, Adepoju David shared his experiences, attributing his success to God’s grace.
He said: “My success is attributed to God’s grace. Asides from bagging first class, I also served as the president of the second-largest fellowship on campus, and I can boldly say that the grace of God brought about the balance.
“It has been my dream and I remember telling someone in 100 Level that one day I would have a handshake with the Vice-Chancellor, then it looked stupid, but now it’s a dream come true. In all, I tie my success to God’s grace, commitment, the support from my family, my fellowship executives, and my roommate. Their support played a vital role in my success story.
“FUOYE contributed immensely to my success story. FUOYE is known for innovation, when we talk about innovation in Nigeria, my institution is doing well, and it has contributed majorly. “When I finished, I interned with the International Center for Applied Mathematical Model, Data Analytics, and I can say that the internship was a foundation to my career development, and I know that I am going places. Also, FUOYE prepared me, and I won the prestigious MTN Foundation award in 2023. I can say that for all these achievements, FUOYE is the bedrock.”
David had a word for his undergraduate colleagues: “Education is not a scam.
“Having a first-class degree is a huge feat, and undergraduates should strive for excellence. I urge undergraduates to have a focus and avoid distractions of any form. The Ideology that having first class isn’t really a big deal shouldn’t be embraced by undergraduates.”
As for James Mary Morayo, another first-class student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, her experience held no barred. She revealed that she had to fend for herself by selling beans cake (akara) while studying. Despite the challenges, Mary persevered, and her hard work paid off.
In her words: “It’s like a dream come true. This has always been my dream, but at a point, I lost hope, but then God’s grace saw me through and today it’s a reality.”
Mary, however, acknowledged that FUOYE had played a pivotal role in her success story and expressed her desire to give back to the institution in various capacities.
She advised undergraduates to have a positive mindset and believe in themselves.
“At a point in my academics, I almost gave up, but in the end, God took all the glory, even as I’m saying to you today, do not give up. Be committed and focused, and at the end of the day, God will show up for you.”
During the course of the event, a 500-Level Student of the Department of Civil Engineering, Ilesanmi David, also presented a gift to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Abayomi Fasina.
At the thanksgiving Service were the wife of the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Bosede Oluwayemisi Fasina, the university’s Bursar, Mrs. Adekemisola Adebolanle Debo-Ajagunna, Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Patrick Adegun, Director Advancement Centre, Professor Olubukola Oyawoye, Director Institute of Part-Time Studies, Dr. Omolade Adeleke, Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Foluso Ogunmodede, Chief Security Officer of the university, Capt. (Rtd) Raymond Bitanis and many others.
Photos Credit: Toluwanimi Bamigbola
