Fawaz Adebisi
Akindele Damilare, the best graduating student at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, has revealed that he achieved academic excellence without late-night reading or close relationships with his lecturers.
Damilare, who graduated from the Department of Civil Engineering with a Cumulative Grade Point Average, CGPA, of 3.75, made the remarks during the institution’s 15th combined convocation ceremony held on June 24 at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Hall, MAPOLY, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“I feel very happy, I feel very glad because today, everyone celebrated me,” he said, adding that he’s “very grateful to God Almighty for making my efforts pay off.”
When asked about his study routine, Damilare said he avoided reading at night throughout his academic journey.
“I didn’t read during the night when I was in ND (National Diploma level) and HND (Higher National Diploma level). All my studying was during the day. At night, I take enough rest ahead of the following day,” he explained.
The top graduate also noted that he maintained a low profile throughout his time at the polytechnic, revealing that most of his lecturers did not even know him.
“I wasn’t close to lecturers; even lecturers hardly know me. If they mention my name in class, they ask, ‘Who’s this boy?’ I don’t really move with lecturers. My own is just to come to school, face whatever I’m taught, and when I get home, if there’s anything I don’t understand, I try to work on it,” he said.
Despite keeping to himself, Damilare said he received strong support from his parents, a mentor identified as Mrs. Tope Mafe, as well as his coursemates and friends.
Offering words of encouragement to undergraduates, he advised students to remain focused and dedicated.
“They should not relent in their efforts because there is a reward for hard work, and that reward is success. So don’t give up, you can win,” he said.
As reported in our earlier report this year’s convocation marked MAPOLY’s first in ten years, drawing attendance from high-ranking dignitaries including Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, his deputy, Eng. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and traditional rulers such as the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege.
During the event, governor Abiodun announced a ₦2 billion investment package for the institution, which includes the construction of a 500-seater lecture hall, a new road to the auditorium, a departmental building for Accountancy, a new block for the School of Business and Marketing Studies, and a modern library.
“We are going to invest over ₦2 billion in MAPOLY,” the governor said, describing the event as too significant to miss.
In addition, the governor pledged ₦2.5 million each to MAPOLY’s best graduating students from the past ten years and donated a school bus to the institution.