By Elizabeth Osayande

Crawford’s overall best graduating student, at the institution’s 15th convocation ceremony, Miss Eniola Shalom Oluwagunna, with a GCPA of 4.91, has stated that the only challenge she had while in school was getting a C in one of her examinations.

Oluwagunna, 20 years old, from the College of Arts and Communication Technology, Department of Mass Communication, who followed her Dad’s footsteps of becoming the overall best-graduating student in his time, stated that God was the reason for her feat.

She said: “I feel happy today having emerged as the overall graduating student in the 2022/2023 set. My success can be attributed to God whom I placed top in whatever I do.

“If I put one effort, He multiplies it. I will also thank my parents, who consistently molded me and always put me in the right direction.

“You can imagine stepping on my Dad’s shoes, who was the overall best-graduating student in his days.”

On how she was able to combine academics with social school life, the aspiring polygot said: “Yes, I had a challenge which may not be one for others. Securing a C in one of my examinations was a challenge that I wished I could change, but it was not possible.

“I also had a good social life. You can see the cheers whenever my name gets mentioned for an award. I held some positions during my 300-Level. So, my only advice to undergraduates is to put God first, and do their parts, well.”

Meanwhile, the guest lecturer, at the convocation, the Vice Chancellor, Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos State, Prof. Samuel Bandele, called on the Federal Government to give support to private universities, rather than focusing on public institutions, alone.

Speaking on the theme: “Beyond Regulating the Activities of Private Universities: The Right of Citizens and Responsibilities of the Government”, Bandele affirmed that the government must align its support to private institutions that also provide values to nation-building based on these factors, staff and students of these universities are citizens, and they have legal rights, and opportunities, especially as it related to education, economic benefits, and financial aids, among others.

“Arguments against disparity in government’s financial support for private and public universities based on the rights of staff and students can be grounded in the principles of equity, access to quality education, and fairness.

“Again, while the transparency and functionality of commissions, boards, and regulatory bodies such as NUC, JAMB, and TETfund are not in doubt, it behooves the federal government to go beyond policing the universities through the bodies, to give the recognition needed and to cater for students and staff of all Nigerian private institutions, not on physical structures, and facilities that remain the property of the proprietor, but on students and staff of all categories in these universities that are mobile citizens with rights to be enjoyed in their own country.”

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of Crawford University, Prof. Reuben Kolo who led principal officers of the school to the convocation, explained that the school achieved notable milestones, among which was the graduation of the first set of Doctors of Philosophy, Ph.D. students, who are eight in number, and the graduating of 36 first class students both from the full time and part-time programmes.

Kolo, who appreciated the efforts of the school management, and the Ogun state government for starting the Agbara-Atan road, called on the latter to see to the completion of the project.

His words: “I thank the Proprietor, board of trustees, and governing council, including the school management for all the support. In the same vein, we appreciate the Ogun state government for the commencement of the reconstruction of the Atan-Agbara road. We however plead that critical projects be completed as scheduled.

“While we applaud the boost by the State Commissioner for Health who recently visited our institution to launch the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme, we reiterate that the university will continue to fulfill its obligations to the government.”

Crawford University VC also charged the students to show their worth as they step into the world, having been equipped academically, morally, and spiritually.