The capacity filled 7,000-seater Alfa Belgore Multi Purpose Hall at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, (ABUAD) went into a momentary frenzy on October 21, 2013 when the Founder and Chancellor of the University, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, announced that the Overall Best Graduating student, Miss Adesola Akomolafe, would drive home in a brand new Kia Picanto car, courtesy of Mr. Bimbo Owolabi, the Executive Director of Vital Medix Nigeria.
The gift of a brand new car to this 20-year old mercurial lady from Igede-Ekiti, who bagged a First Class Bsc Degree in Accounting came as worthy and commendable reward for her hard work and avowed determination to excel. Akomolafe did not only excell, she came out as the Overall Best Graduating Student with 4.91 grade, out of the 18 fellow graduates who got First Class from the 2013 set at ABUAD, an institution reputed as Africa’s fastest growing university.
The car, her First Class certificate and the loads of encomiums showered on her are some of the rewards for her three and a half years sojourn in ABUAD, during which she had the opportunity of drinking from Babalola’s fountain of experience and knowledge, the great disciplinarian, who had also applied the principles of hard work, determination and faith in God to get enough education which he used as weapons to combat poverty, lack and catapulted himself to greatness.
On October 21, 2013, Akomolafe was not only the cynosure at the convocation, her feat and achievement remind one of the ever green motivational statement by the revered former American President, Abraham Lincoln who once said, "I will study and wait. And the opportunity will come."
Indeed, Akomolafe had studied, she had waited and the opportunities and rewards had started streaming in with the likes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s frontline legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola, and many other dignitaries who were present at the first convocation shaking hands with and having photo sessions with the rare gem.
Akomolafe’s success after labour will be better appreciated if juxtaposed with Babalola’s words on how the university defied all odds to finish four years courses in three and a half years.
The foremost educationist who, himself bagged all his degrees by peivate study, said “throughout the three and half years, there was nothing like public holidays in this university because if we do things the way others have been doing them, we will only get same results that others are getting, which is four years to get first degree. Nigerians are used to this idea of going on holiday. But we have to do it in different ways. I believe in change. Even my students were not allowed to use telephone because we viewed it as a distraction."
The apostle of impossibility made possible recalled how his discussion with ABUAD staff on the need to set a standard which they gladly bought into. Today, the Library is opened for students to use from 8:00 am till 11 pm and hostels closed by 8pm for students to move out and study.
“So, we have done this through hard-work and commitment and we are proud of it. This is a university that does things differently. We are special and have been doing things differently and we will continue to do this to bring change in our education system”, he added.
Akomolafe has not only set a standard, a precedent. She has confirmed that hard work pays. The question begging for answer is: Who is next? This is a poser for those coming Akomolafe. If she could do it through hard work, discipline, dedication and determination, they too can!
(Ends).