The University’s 2020/2021 Academic Session Best Graduating Student Oluwatoyin Tijani has shared her life story in her pursuit for knowledge and academic excellence.

Delivering her speech during the 30th Convocation of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Oluwatoyin described her journey in FUNAAB as “More than an academic success” but the story of a girl from a low-income earning family in Lagos who dared to dream big and break through the barriers of societal expectations.

Recounting her experience during her academic years, she narrated how she suffered the devastating loss of her father, pitching her at the verge of giving up on life and her academic pursuits.

She explained that it was during that period that she discovered her level of resilience and the unwavering support of loved ones, noting that her brother stepped into the role of a father and became her pillar and strength.

As a consolation to her after the loss of her father, Oluwatoyin thanked God for blessing her with a loving husband and a child.

She acknowledged that balancing motherhood with academics was not easy but she was able to pull through with the help and support of her family members who did not allow her marital status become an excuse for failure.

She did not fail to acknowledge her mother and brother for their selflessness, which was a constant reminder that she was not alone on the journey, adding that she is as well indebted to the Dean of her College, the dedicated lecturers and the entire school Management for their unwavering commitment to education and passion for nurturing young minds.

Felicitating with her fellow graduands, she charged them to embrace the challenges that lies ahead with courage and conviction, stressing that they should endeavor to be trailblazers, innovators, empathetic leaders and change-makers of their generation.