The 2008 Alumni Set of the Linguistics/Yoruba Unit of the Department of Linguistics, African and Asian Studies, University of Lagos, (LAAS’08) has awarded a scholarship of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000) to Mr. Adeniran Adedayo, a 200-level student of Linguistics/Yoruba.
The award was presented to him at the Faculty of Arts Building on Friday, November 3, 2023 by members of the Alumni Reunion Committee based on the criteria of academic excellence and proof of genuine need.
The first port of call for the donors was the office the Dean, Faculty of Arts. They were led by the Head of Department, Prof. Chigozie Nnabuihe.
In his address, Chairperson of LAAS ’08 Scholarship Committee, Dr. Abisoye Eleshin described the scholarship as a give-back initiative of the Set.
“It has been 15 years since we left here as students, but we have found a way to keep the bond. We are here today to give back to the Department that moulded us, and to show appreciation. Our choice of a scholarship award was informed by the recent increment in tuition. We realised that not all returning students would be able to adjust conveniently to that new reality, hence our decision to intervene. Academic excellence and proof of genuine need were the criteria for our selection of the beneficiary. We thank the department for making that choice an easy one for us”.
The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Akanbi Ilupeju, commended the group and their thought for humanity.
“It has always been the case that there will be the needy among us. For you to have chosen to do this is a commendable initiative. Happiness has no price, and what you have done is to pay for the society’s happiness”.
Head of Department, Prof. Chigozie Nnabuihe, expressed appreciation to the 2008 Set of the Linguistics/Yoruba Unit of the Department of Linguistics, African and Asian Studies. He also charged the beneficiary to consider the scholarship as God’s way of telling him never to give up.
“What your set has done today will never be forgotten. It will remain in the annals of our department’s history and will forever be etched in the memory of the beneficiary. I encourage you, the beneficiary, to justify this investment in you. Stay focused and consider this scholarship as God’s way of telling you to never give up”, he said.
The beneficiary, Mr. Adeniran Adedayo is a 200-level student of Linguistics/Yoruba. He is currently on a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.50. In his response, the scholarship awardee expressed gratitude to the donors and Department of Linguistics, African and Asian Studies.
“This is coming entirely as a surprise to me. I was just invited by one of my lecturers to see her today at the office before 10:00am. I did not know that something big like this was waiting for me. Honestly, it will go a long way in addressing my concerns for the new session. It is a big relief for me as far as my tuition is concerned. I am grateful and I promise to justify the confidence reposed in my future”.
Members of the LAAS’08 Set who were present at the event include: Mr. Tajudeen Oladepo, a Chief Superintendent of Customs and Chairperson of the 2023 Re-Union Committee; Dr. Abisoye Eleshin, a Research Fellow at the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies; Mrs Omotola Adewole; Mrs Zainab Yusuff; Mrs Dupe Afeiye; and Mr. Olaleye Ajibua
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