By Ogochukwu Isioma in Benin City
The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Monday, honoured the Etsako East Edo-born Lagos State University’s best graduating student with a 5.0 CGPA, Miss Aminat Yusuf, in recognition of her outstanding academic performance.
Recall that Aminat graduated from LASU’s Faculty of Law as the institution’s best student of all time, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 on a scale of 5.0, becoming the school’s valedictorian at its 26th convocation held recently.
On Monday, Shaibu who has been in contact with the LASU record-setter since the news gained traction, sponsored Miss Aminat and her parents’ travel and return tickets from Lagos. They arrived Benin City on a 7:15 AM flight at the instance of the Deputy Governor.
Speaking when he received the visibly elated Miss Aminat, her parents and a representative of the LASU Dean of Law Faculty at the Government House, Benin City, Shaibu hailed the student’s brilliant accomplishment for setting a record at LASU that had stood for 40 years.
He said Miss Aminat, with her latest feat, has not only made her parents, Edo and indeed Nigerians proud, but has equally succeeded in igniting other students who feel they are less privileged that indeed, a child of nobody can become somebody with hard work and dedication.
According to the Edo State Deputy Governor, given Aminat’s humble upbringing, she beat all odds to earn a first-class grade in her law, her chosen field, noting, ”and I am happy to recognise her great academic achievement.”
“Through her outstanding performance, Aminat had exemplified the “I can do” attitude of the resourceful Edo man and woman, the attitude that a son or daughter of nobody can become someone,” Shaibu noted.
“The accolades she has received since the news broke out, has been a source of inspiration, not only her family, but also the good people of Etsako East Local Government and, in fact, Edo State. We are proud of her,” added the deputy governor.
He lauded Miss Aminat for distinguishing herself in her educational pursuit, for becoming an ambassador for Edo State and, consequently, setting herself as a role model for young girls and women in the state and Nigeria.
Also speaking, Obadan Arebamen Abibu, a representative of the LASU Dean of Law, Prof. K. A. Olatoye, applauded the Edo State Government for recognising excellence, while also hailing the state’s investment in the Education sector.
He appealed to the Edo State Government to consider integrating Miss Aminat into the state’s Automatic Employment Scheme for First Class Indigenes’ Graduates, just like her counterparts from other Institutions.
Responding, Shaibu appreciated the LASU Law Dean for recognising the Edo state government’s efforts in repositioning the state’s education sector, most especially its investment in the EdoBEST programme.
He assured that, like her other First Class Indigenes’ Graduates’ counterparts, Miss Aminat would be integrated into the state’s existing Automatic Employment Scheme for First Class Indigenous Graduates.
In a historic and unprecedented move, Miss Aminat was announced as Acting ‘Edo State Deputy Governor’ briefly for about 10 minutes by Shaibu. She, thereafter, addressed the press from the deputy governor’s seat as her first official duty.
Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of a commendation letter and an undisclosed sum of personal support to the LASU record-breaker by the Edo Deputy Governor, Hon Philip Shaibu.
Meanwhile, the ceremony moved down to the Deputy Governor’s private residence in Benin where the LASU record-setter, her parents and the LASU’s Law Dean representative were hosted to a private luncheon.
Miss Aminat and her parents who departed the deputy governor’s residence at about 3:00 PM, are expected to make a stopover at the Office of the State’s Head of Service, where the LASU record-setter is expected to be formally offered automatic employment.
Pictures from the event below;
