Valedictory Speech Delivered By Awosanya Adeshina Oluwagbenga On the Occasion of First Convocation Ceremony of The University of Offa (UNIOFFA), Kwara State
The Chancellor, University Of Offa, The Founder University Of Offa, The Vice Chancellor University Of Offa and other members of the management committee, Members of the Governing Council and Senate, Distinguished professors and lecturers, Esteemed parents and guardians, Invited guests, Members of staff, Fellow graduands, Ladies and gentlemen, Good day.
Kindly permit me to stand on the already well-established protocol. Valedictory Address on behalf of the graduating students of the 1st Convocation With profound gratitude, immense humility, and overwhelming joy, I stand before you today on behalf of the graduating students of the 1st Convocation Ceremony.
It is a privilege that I do not take for granted. Today is more than the celebration of academic certificates. It is the celebration of dreams that refused to die, sacrifices that eventually bore fruit, friendships that became family, challenges that strengthened us, and countless moments that shaped us into the people we are today. As I stand here as the overall best graduating student, I am reminded that this achievement is not solely a reflection of my individual effort.
It is a testimony to the grace of God and to the countless people who believed in me, encouraged me, corrected me, never gave up on me, and supported me throughout this journey.
Becoming the valedictorian of the 1st convocation ceremony of our dearly beloved university was a dream I thought could never become reality yet I never forgot the words of my parents "Ranti omo eni ti iwo se, which means remember the son of whom you are." These words served as a constant reminder, a guiding star of my identity as the first child of Mr Adebayo Awosanya and Mrs Abosede Awosanya who always wanted the best for me. They were also willing to spend thier last dime on me and allowed me to chase my dreams and I would forever remain thankful to them.
Let me begin this chapter of my speech titled "Above All Odds" by acknowledging that my journey has been one of perseverance, growth, self-discovery, and unwavering faith. Coming into the university, I was filled with expectations. Yet, I soon discovered that the journey towards academic excellence was not always going to be smooth. There were moments of uncertainty, demanding academic tasks, difficult examinations, a lot of sleepless nights, and challenges that tested not only my intellectual capacity but also my strength of character.
There were times when the odds appeared to be against me, but every challenge came with a lesson. Studying Computer Science taught me a lesson that extends far beyond the classroom. In programming, when a system does not work, you do not abandon the entire project. You examine the problem, identify the error, make the necessary corrections what we term debugging, and try again.
I have discovered, is much the same in life. There were moments when I had to pause, reflect, learn from my mistakes, and try again. My journey taught me that excellence is not achieved by avoiding failure, but by having the courage to rise whenever failure comes knocking.
In the midst of my academic journey I had the honour of being the first democratically elected President of the Students' council and gained leadership and organizational skills. As President of the Students' Representative Council, I had the privilege of leading initiatives that enhanced student welfare, academic development, and campus life. Our administration delivered a student sit-out project, introduced an interest-free welfare loan scheme, organized academic and awareness programs, launched the maiden SRC Cup to promote unity and sportsmanship, supported religious organizations, and strengthened academic support systems through tutorial initiatives.
These achievements reflected my leadership commitment to creating a more supportive, inclusive, and vibrant student community. The University of Offa has given us more than academic knowledge. It has provided us with an environment in which we have grown intellectually, socially, and personally. As one of the pioneer graduating sets of this institution, we are not simply students of a university; we were part of the foundation upon which its history is being written.
I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the University Administration for its commitment to our academic development, the provision of facilities, and the continuous pursuit of excellence. We acknowledge the efforts that have contributed to making this institution a place where dreams can be nurtured and aspirations can take shape.
To our lecturers, professors, and members of the academic staff not forgetting Mrs Adesuyi F.E who always gave her all to impact knowledge in the department and the non-academic staff, I say thank you. You have been an essential part of this journey. Beyond the lectures, assignments, examinations, and projects, you imparted lessons that will remain with us long after today.
To my amazing parents, words cannot adequately express my gratitude. Behind every achievement lies a story of sacrifice, encouragement, prayers, and support. Thank you for believing in me even when the journey was uncertain. Thank you for the sacrifices you made. Today, this achievement is not mine alone. It belongs to you too.
To my fellow graduating students, this moment belongs to all of us. We came from different backgrounds, with different dreams and different stories. Our certificates may carry our individual names, but behind every name is a story of collective effort. The journey has taught us that life will not always present us with favourable circumstances. Sometimes, we will have to create opportunities where none seem to exist.
Wherever we find ourselves, may we remain proud ambassadors of our alma mater and may our achievements continue to bring honour to the University of Offa. We have come "above all odds" as graduates. "Above all odds, we persisted, embraced greatness and we made it." As we look towards the future, may our dreams be bigger than our fears, may our determination be stronger than our challenges, and may our impact be greater than our ambitions.
As we step into the next chapter of our lives may the education we have received here continue to live through our choices, our character, our contributions, and the lives we touch. Thank you, and God bless you all. Congratulations, the 1st Convocation Graduates. I look forward to seeing you in high places, where we rightfully belong!
Cheers!
Long live Department of Computer Science! Long live Faculty of Science and Computing! Long live University of Offa! Long live Kwara State! Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!
