Ogun State Governor Abiodun Rewards OAU Best Medical Graduate With House, Cash Prize And Scholarship

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Wednesday rewarded Miss Joy Oyinlola Adesina with mouthwatering prizes for emerging the Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State.

The prizes which included a house, a sum of N5m and a scholarship for her residency at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital were announced by the Governor at a special reception organised in honour of the recipient.

According to the Governor Abiodun, Miss Joy is one of several other illustrious indigenes of the state who have distinguished themselves through outstanding academic performances which he said his administration have been rewarding "under a programme called Ogun Academic Laureates".

The Governor who noted that the reward initiative was in line with his administration's promise to reward academic excellence in the state said the honour was to celebrate Miss Adesina and other great Ogun sons and and daughters who are making the state proud.

"We did this, not just because it is the right and honourable thing to do having made the promise, but also because we are a promise-keeping administration. We do not make promises that we do not intend to or cannot fulfill.

"We are all gathered here to celebrate the rare academic feat attained by Dr Joy Oyinlola Adesina, an indigene of our dear Ogun State who went to the Medical School at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She saw, she learnt and she conquered, returning home after hard study and rigorous examinations with a record breaking of 10 distinctions and 9 top awards.

"Dr Adesina won virtually every academic laurel available in medicine at OAU, Ife. We are proud of not only you, but people like you, especially the young ones who continue to fly the flag of excellence and Omoluabi, for which we are renowned.

"But more importantly, we celebrate Miss Adesina because she is a daughter of the soil. She is from our own Ogun State and she has made us proud. In Ogun State we are the leader in education in Nigeria. We are the education capital of Nigeria. We have the highest number of secondary schools and tertiary institutions in this country. We are the birthplace of free education in Nigeria. We can go on and on to reel out our string of FIRSTs in education as well as other fields in the country", the governor stated.

Governor Abiodun further added that his administration will continue place premium on quality education and reward for excellence across the various sectors and enterprises in the state especially among its youthful population.

"Let me assure all the people of Ogun State that our administration will continue to put measures in place towards providing quality education for our youths as an impetus for an assured future.

"As an Administration, we will continue to appreciate and reward positive enterprises and achievements by sons and daughters of Ogun State, especially our youths. Youngsters like you assure us of a brighter future. I see hope in our youth, no matter the narratives from naysayers", Abiodun said.

In her remark, Joy thanked Governor Abiodun and Ogun State Government for the gesture, describing the honour as a fulfilment. "I am very fulfilled", she said while also extending appreciation to her uncle, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) for his inspiration as well as her parents for their love and support which she said helped her along the way.