FOR the school, Hopebay College, Alaba located deeply in the heart of Ajegunle a.k.a. Jungle City, this par­ticular Friday was a special one.

The entire school was in a fes­tive mood with students and teach­ers radiating special glow, while drummers and some of the students donning traditional attires sang and danced round the school premises. It was a carnival like setting. Ban­ners welcoming guests to the spe­cial occasion were also hung at the entrance to the college, and other strategic points within the school premises.

It was a day the school had set aside to honour one of her old stu­dents, Peter Ayodele Dada, who recently set an enviable record of being the best graduating student in the history of any Nigerian uni­versity with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.00 point in Psychology from University of Lagos. Dada was honoured during the last graduation ceremony of the institution.

It was a rare academic feat never achieved by any student in the histo­ry of the country’s educational sys­tem. Like a goldfish with no hiding place, Dada has become an instant celebrity who is being celebrated by many individuals and organizations. He was also honoured by members of the House of Representatives last week Tuesday.

Apparently not wanting to be left out of the celebration of this uncom­mon achiever, the management of Hopebay College organized the elaborate reception to honour Dada whom the school principal Mr La­sun Adesokan described a good am­bassador of the college.

While waiting for Dada’s arrival, students and other guests were al­ready seated, and when the man be­ing honoured eventually arrived ac­companied by his mother and one of his siblings the entire school erupted in wild celebration with many jostling to either touch or catch a glimpse of Dada who obviously sa­voured the special moment.

After an interlude of dancing, singing and praise-worship, the principal, Adesokan set the ball rolling by telling the audience why Dada was being accorded special honour.

According to him:

“Today is a special day in the his­tory of the school. It is a day we have set aside to honour excellence. It is a day something special has come out of our own zion. Hitherto, Ajegunle is regarded a jungle city, a city of dwellers who lack focus, Ajegunle is derided by many for bad things but to God be the glory it is out of this same Ajegunle that Dada is coming out from. Ayodele Dada is our own boy. Dada is Ajegunle boy,. And we are proud that we moulded his aca­demic career at Hopebay College and he has not disappointed us.”

While declaring Dada as a wor­thy ambassador of the college, Ad­esokan noted that the honoree as a student of the school had showed early signs of someone destined for greater heights especially in aca­demic endeavours.

“While he was growing up under our wings, he doesn’t take his aca­demic work with levity. He showed clearly early signs of somebody destined for greatness. We thank God that he had not disappointed us. Today Dada has put the name of our school on the world map and for that we are proud of him,” he said.

Tracing the history of the school to 1987 when approval for its es­tablishment was given by the Lagos State government, ADesokan noted that since then the school has been renown for academic excellence.

“Since we started in 1987, Hope­bay College has remained a cen­tre of academic excellence. Our school was listed as one of the best 40 schools in Nigeria by WAEC in 2003. We have also won many lau­rels and pries including Learning Point Debate on NTA 2, Nnenna Friend Brainpower, and Bournvita Brain Match Debate. The 2009 Gul­der Ultimate Man Mr Nwachukwu Michael is also a product of this school,” he declared.

Praying that God will take Dada to the zenith in whatever callings he decided to follow, the principal urged current and old students of the school to strive to be good ambas­sadors of the school.

In his response, Dada who ex­pressed gratitude to the school for the honour done to him said what­ever achievement he recorded at UNILAG would not have been pos­sible without the good foundation laid for him at Hopebay College.

“There is no way I can ever forget the role played in my life by Hope­bay College. The school launched me on the path of success which I attained at UNILAG. I can’t forget all my teachers from JSS till the time I left the school. All of them contrib­uted in no small means to get the best out of me. All of them provided conducive environment for me to succeed. It is only God that can re­ward them for the good deed done to me,” he said.

While admonishing students of the school to be always focused and worked hard, Dada added that the sky is the limit for any hardworking student.

“If you read well, you will get good result. Take your studies se­rious. Achievement of any sort is possible if you are determined,” he declared.

Dada also played tributes to his parents, especially his father who he said always gave him extra tutorials after he closed from school.

“Right from the time I was young, my parents pay special attention to me. My father always gave me extra tutorials after returning from school, and I remember very clearly that be­fore I attained the age of 9, I have known most countries and their capitals, and my father often called me to come and enumerate these na­tions and their capitals whenever his friends came visiting. Of course, my mum being a teacher, also played a special role in my academic success.

Although it was not all book, book or reading and reading, my parents still created time for leisure for all of us. Even at UNILAG, it was not all book and books, I had time for socials. I was a social person on the campus. I attended birthday parties, cinemas and I had so many movies on my laptop which I often shared with my friends, just as I was also sharing academic notes with them,” he stated.

In his own remarks at the occa­sion, the Executive Secretary, If­elodun LCDA, Hon. Adigun Wahab Adebayo said he was elated that Hopebay College located within his Local Council Development Area produced Dada whom he described as a genius.

Adebayo who could hardly con­tain his excitement said the council will do something special for Dada in appreciation of the honour he brought to the school and the com­munity.

“I’m happy that today, Ajegunle has scored another first. Don’t mind those people that refer to Ajegunle as jungle. Dada who is the best gradu­ating student is not from Ikoyi, Vic­toria Island or any highbrow schools as some would have expected but he was produced from Ajegunle, for that we are happy and Ajegunle community will celebrate him.

“Don’t forget that Ajegunle has also been producing other celebrities including football stars like Samson Siasia, Baba Fryo, Daddy Showkey among a host of others. We in Aje­gunle are proud of our heritage.”

Speaking later after the ceremony, Dada told SATURDAY SUN that he has been approached by many com­panies including multi-nationals with a lot of offers. He however add­ed that he is still studying the offers, even though he is presently working as an intern in one of them.

At the UNILAG convocation where the 29 year old psychology graduate who became an instant ce­lebrity following the announcement of his feat, carted home prizes worth 1 million naira.

He won eight awards of various categories including the vice-chan­cellor’s award for the best gradu­ating student. He was also given special award by UNILAG Alumni Association.

This page has been viewed 299 times