Benedict Egwuchukwu, an Accounting graduate at the American University of Nigeria, Yola (AUN) has been named the best graduating student of the university with a 3.90 Cumulative Grade Point Average (on a 4.0 scale).
Twenty five other graduates, including three post graduate students, received awards for academic excellence with a total of 158 students receiving their graduate and masters degrees and post-graduate diplomas at the AUN, Yola.
Benedict Egwuchukwu also won awards for the best graduating student in Accounting, best graduating student in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, VPAA and Provost’s Award for academic excellence, Haruna Musa Award for Academic Excellence, and Afrinvest Award for Academic Excellence.
Delivering his valedictorian speech at the graduation ceremony, Benedict Egwuchukwu stated:
“I decided not to let university pass through me.
People tend to shy away from challenges but my advice is to tackle them head on, the lessons learnt are invaluable.”
According to Dawn Dekle, the AUN President:
“This awards ceremony is amongst the most treasured occasions at AUN, as it provides us an opportunity to remember the achievements of the last year, and to honor those students who went above and beyond to contribute to AUN.
The graduation awards are meant to recognize excellence and foster competitive spirit. Our graduating seniors have excelled in academics, community service, athletics, and leadership. They have made us proud, and also brought international recognition to AUN.
Hard work brings success. It’s often said that there are no short cuts in life, but wherever you intend to go, hard work will be the most direct route for getting there.
I hope all of you graduating seniors will keep that in mind as you move forward from AUN and onto the path that awaits you.”
Fatima Abubakar Jauro 3.89
According to Fatima Abubakar Jauro, who won the best graduating student in Economics with a CGPA of 3.89:
“I feel happy and grateful, I’m sure if I had gone to another school, I probably won’t be able to reach my potential.
I’ve always wanted to study Economics since SS1, so I’ve been so passionate about it, so I was scared that if I go to another school they won’t give me that Economics. So coming to AUN, considering that I got what I wanted, I tried to put my all. I was passionate about it that was why everything was so easy and sweet.”
Abubakar Musa Bala
Abubakar Musa Bala, a graduate of Software Engineering who got the Stanbic IBTC award for academic excellence and the Sigma Pension Award for Community Service as well as being the founder of an NGO named AMB Foundation to train secondary school students from public schools in Yola on basic information and communications technology and computer based tests said:
“If you look at the exams nowadays like the JAMB exams, it is computer-based and most students are not privileged to have computers in their schools, most of them don’t know how to use these computers.
In a situation whereby an exam that is very critical to every student’s success, like JAMB exams is the key to university. so if you don’t know how to use the computer definitely you will not be able to pass JAMB exams.”
Kazayet Zachariah 3.77
Kazayet Zachariah, emerged the best graduating student in Business Administration with a CGPA of 3.77.
Hafsat Adamu
Hafsat Adamu emerged as the best graduating student in English Language and Literature as well as received the Royal Exchange Healthcare award for Academic Excellence.
