Critics argue that the Nigerian education system is abysmal, where excellence is rarely acknowledged. They point out that top-performing graduates are often overlooked, while contestants on reality shows are lavished with millions of naira and extravagant gifts for their participation in events that offer little educational value. This trend undermines the significance of academic excellence in the educational sector.
However, breaking the mould, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has taken it upon himself to reward excellence in education. He recently announced a staggering N10 million reward for Aminat Yusuf, the overall best-graduating student of the 2021/2022 academic session at the Lagos State University (LASU).
“As a token of her brilliance, I will be giving her a token donation of N5 million and the state government will give her an additional donation of N5 million,” Sanwo-Olu said while announcing the reward at the convocation ceremony in Ojo on Thursday.
Aminat Yusuf, who achieved a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average of 5.0 in the Faculty of Law, will receive a generous token donation of N5 million from the governor himself, while the state government will contribute an additional N5 million. Governor Sanwo-Olu made this announcement during the convocation ceremony in Ojo on Thursday, commemorating the university’s 40th anniversary and 26th convocation.
While supporters laud the governor for resurrecting a forgotten tradition, critics argue that more needs to be done than simply rewarding exceptional students. They call on the governor to ensure that individuals with outstanding academic achievements are also given employment opportunities, in order to motivate others to strive for excellence.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s decision has ignited a fiery debate, highlighting the deeper issues plaguing the Nigerian education system and raising questions about the true value placed on academic accomplishments.
