By Adeyinka Adedipe

Henry Abanum, the overall best graduating student of the University of Benin at the just-concluded 46th and 47th combined Convocation Ceremonies of the institution, has been honoured with the ‘Osasere Osifo Prize for Academic Excellence’ award with N250, 000 attached to it.

The Academic Excellence Prize is an initiative of Osasere Osifo, a former President of the UNIBEN Students’ Union, who is currently the Vice-President of the University of Benin Alumni Association North America chapter, and also a member of the United States Airforce.

The award presentation ceremony took place on Monday at the University of Benin Students’ Affairs Division where Abanum, who graduated with a First Class, 4.97 GPA, from the Faculty of Pharmacy was awarded.

Speaking at the Award ceremony, Osifo lamented that celebrating mediocrity and shunning excellence was fast becoming a norm in today’s society, hence, the coming on board of the Osasere Osifo Prize for Academic Excellence to change the narrative.
Represented by a former Public Relations Officer of the UNIBEN SUG, Oguche Omale, Osifo said the academic feat achieved by Abanum should be applauded by all lovers of excellence, hard work, and diligence.

In honouring Abanum, ElOsifo said the Osasere Osifo Prize for Academic Excellence hopes to inspire other Nigerian students to make excellence their cardinal objective as they go through the four walls of the university.

He said, “I am confident that the award is the beginning of every good thing to come the way of the awardee as the overall best in the University of Benin.
“Mr. Abanum has proved that quality is never an accident, but the result of intelligent effort and the awardee intelligent effort is what is being rewarded today.”

Those present at the Award ceremony held at the Ugbowo Campus of the University of Benin included the institution’s Dean of Students’ Affairs, Patrick Igbinaduwa; and the Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, Mike Uhumwangho.

Others are the Public Relations Officer of the UNIBEN Alumni Association, Omokaro Kaka Nosakhare Eguagie; NANS Leaders including Imadeyogie Stephen, Pius Payeke, and Campus Gist publisher, Ogochukwu Isioma.

Originally published at Punch