By Ibrahiym A. El-Caleel
Ahmadu Bello University, ABU holds convocation ceremonies intermittently. Like every convocation ceremony, valedictorians are identified and highly recognised in the august ceremony. I know the university management used to issue a gift of a computer to valedictorians from each of the then fourteen (14) faculties. Afterwards, the “Best Graduating Student” of the year is also recognized. This is the graduand who has the highest cumulative grade point average (CGPA).
In 2017, the Best Graduating Student of the year had a CGPA of either 4.93, breaking the all-time record of the historic university. Graciously, the then Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Kachalla Baru, of blessed memory attended the ceremony. The outstanding academic achievement earned this graduand an overseas postgraduate scholarship award to further his education to Ph.D level. In his remark, Late Dr Maikanti Kachalla said, this award is part of NNPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to encourage academic excellence. The graduand proceeded with his academics overseas and finished his PhD last year, three years after Dr Maikanti had passed on.
Since 2017, I have observed a rather unhealthy trend in arguments whenever ABU holds its convocation ceremonies. The subsequent valedictorian of 2018 finished with a better CGPA than his predecessor NNPC beneficiary. The incessant chatterers of social media began asking questions as to why the new valedictorian wouldn’t be sponsored for overseas postgraduate education. It escalated to a point where these talkative individuals mischievously started insinuating foul play in the case of the 2017 valedictorian, claiming it to be a case of classic elitist nepotism.
Yesterday, ABU held another convocation ceremony, during which the valedictorian achieved an impressive CGPA of 4.95. This accomplishment is truly commendable and deserves recognition and accolades. The valedictorian now holds the title of ABU’s Best Graduating Student of all time. While celebrating this achievement, we do not need to pass negative comments or display visible envy and anger towards the 2017 valedictorian who was fortunate to get NNPC’s scholarship. Unfortunately, I’ve come across at least two individuals on X (formerly Twitter) who are unwarrantedly making disparaging remarks. See the attached picture for a sample. I am relieved that the valedictorian himself is not involved in these negative statements, and the comments don’t appear to be made on his behalf. This indicates he has a broader view of life than these commenters.
We should understand that, in addition to excellence, the grace of Allah or ‘luck’ plays a role in life. This grace positions you in the right place at the right time, with the right qualifications, and then something miraculously gracious may unfold suddenly. You will shake hands with destiny! There have been 39 valedictorians before the 2017’s valedictorian. Everyone of them was Best-in-Class (BiC) and everyone of them received a different award which was in line with what destiny had to offer to him. Yet all these people are people of excellence, but they have different fates.
It is quite possible that perhaps in the year 2034, the MD/CEO of American multinational digital communications company, Cisco Systems will attend ABU’s convocation. Then by happenstance, grace might play a role that will see the 2034 valedictorian securing a graduate trainee position with the Silicon Valley corporation! Will we then talk about the valedictorian who got NNPC’s sponsorship? Will the allies of the 2034 valedictorian talk about an imaginary classic elitist nepotism of 2017? No!
This is how fate works. This is how destiny works. This is why you should not waste your time and energy hating and envying.
In July 2016, I walked into the Nigerian headquarters of a global multinational company as an intern. I was introduced to Ayo Dada, whose picture trended on both social and traditional media as the 2015 Best Graduating Student of University of Lagos (UNILAG). He finished B.Sc Psychology with 5.00/5.00. As extraordinary as this academic achievement was, or is, I think what he got were a lecturing job offer from UNILAG, then his lawmaker, Femi Gbajabiamila took him to the Federal House of Representatives where he was given a standing ovation. I do not remember something spectacular that was given to him in terms of job or overseas scholarship. Will he now feel demotivated and think the achievement is not recognised? No.
Ayo continued to do well in life. As a matter of fact, this year he will be rounding up his PhD from an Ivy League school, Stanford University as a Knight-Hennessy scholar. This is the feature with people of excellence. They have broader view of life. Where chatterers see obstacles, they see opportunities.
I will offer my unsolicited advice to every valedictorian out there and any potential valedictorian. You already have a great mindset. Graduating from a Nigerian public university with a record CGPA presents you with a bottomless pit of opportunities. Do not listen to any voice of negativity saying that the system ahead has already been rigged against you. Do not equally wait for anyone’s favour. Work on your life by searching for opportunities both home and abroad. You have good schools in the United States which you can easily start your PhD directly with a little mentoring. You have prestigious scholarships like Knight-Hennessy, Rhodes Scholarship, Erasmus-Mundus, Chevening, Commonwealth Scholarship etc which you can easily get with proper mentoring.
As a valedictorian, you should listen to voices of positivity who can offer you information that you can leverage to make your life better. Voices that can mentor you. Voices that carry hope and opportunities. Do not let negative voices lead you to despair, to think you must get anyone’s favour, or to tell you that the system is already rigged against your personal prosperity.
We should all learn to take our eyes off the good things that have happened to other people if we cannot rejoice with them. This is the shortest route to free your heart from dark envy. Envy will not reverse the 2017 scholarship award given by NNPC. Envy will also not force NNPC to issue another award. Fate does not work that way. The other time, a lady on Twitter only narrated how she wakes up at 5am to prepare food for her working husband. Within a couple of hours, individuals, private companies and even government departments like NNPCL donated sums of money to her. The total sum of money she got amounted to about N3 million. This is something she never expected. This is grace. This is destiny. This is fate. We should feel happy for her. It does not cost us anything. We should learn to celebrate with people.
I will like to close with this anonymous quote of wisdom, “Until it’s my turn, I will keep clapping for others happily.”
