By Abdulrasheed Akere
A fresh graduate of Islamic Studies from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), Abdulganiyu Abdulrahman Akanbi, an indigene of Ilorin has broken the long-standing record of the university by bagging first-class with 4.96 out of 5.0 grading system. He emerged and was awarded the best graduating student of the Islamic Studies department.
Information gathered confirmed that no graduate of UDUS has pulled up to Akanbi’s Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) since the inception of the institution in 1975. The highest CGPA before now is 4.95 which was produced by a graduate of the Mathematics department called Abdulqodir in 2015. The closest 4.91 CGPA was also produced by the Mathematics department in 2018 by a graduate popularly called Paragon.
This young graduate from Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State pulled this intriguing CGPA despite his active engagement in extracurricular activities. While on campus, he served as pioneer Publicity Secretary and Convener of the University Scholars’ Forum (USF); and General Secretary of the National Association of Islamic Studies Students (NAISS).
Moreso, Akanbi was a capacitated and award-winning journalist whose works have been published locally, nationally and internationally. His experience earned him the post of Editor-In-Chief or EIC at Vanguard Press UDUS. His proficiency in journalism also made him the General Secretary of the National Association of Campus Journalists (NACJ) UDUS chapter during the 2022/2023 academic session.
Akanbi who is very excited and elated with the academic feat appreciates Allah (SWT), his lecturers, mentors, friends and everyone who has in any way contributed to his development.
He said as quoted, “Journalism helped me personally in achieving academic excellence.” So, he encouraged anyone who could engage in extracurricular activities. “Junior Chamber International (JCI), Rotaract and other social associations can always be combined with academics with adequate planning. It’s even encouraged to engage in extracurricular activities if you have the strength. This will help you to get some skills which may help you to develop academically, professionally and socially,” Akanbi analysed.
Other Students Felicitate Academic Excellence
Notable numbers of students from different faculties in UDUS and beyond felicitate Akanbi’s academic feat. A final-year student of Education Islamic Studies, Abdulrasaq Mustopha congratulates Akanbi for pulling such CGPA and prays that Allah put blessings on his certificate.
“I was surprised when I heard of his achievement because Islamic Studies is one of the departments that hardly produces first-class graduates, not to talk of attaining such great heights. I am so happy for him,” Mustopha expressed.
A 400-level student of History and International Studies, Abdulrahman Rahmat was very glad that someone later broke the UDUS record.
“Akanbi has made his parents proud, which is the priority of many students. His achievement is even a pride to the Islamic Studies department for producing graduates that break the jinx of many years,” she said.
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