By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
At just 23, Fadiran Boluwatife Enitan, an indigene of Ede town in Osun State, Southwest of Nigeria, stood before thousands as the overall best graduating student of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro now Federal University of Technology, Ilaro (FUTI), Ogun State.
But for the young scholar with a near-perfect CGPA of 3.97 in Science Laboratory Technology, the moment felt less like a long-expected triumph and more like a quiet, humbling surprise.
“It came as a surprise because I wasn’t expecting it,” she softly told The Daily Crucible, moments after the applause had subsided at the institution’s 23rd convocation ceremony on Wednesday.
There was nothing flamboyant about her response—no grand declarations, no rehearsed lines. Just a calm, almost understated reflection that mirrored the discipline behind her achievement.
In an era where distractions are only a click away and social life often competes with academic focus, Enitan’s approach was disarmingly simple. She didn’t shut herself off from the world; she learned how to live within it.
“I socialize, but I balance things,” she explained.
That balance, she hinted, was her quiet superpower—one that allowed her to stay grounded while navigating the pressures of school life. Friends, fun, and focus coexisted, but never at the expense of her goals.
Yet, even at the peak of her academic journey, Enitan is not in a hurry to script the future in bold ink. Asked where she sees herself in five or ten years, she leaned not on certainty, but on faith.
“I can’t say things now, but I believe God has everything. I believe in God’s best time.”
It’s a perspective that speaks to patience and trust—qualities often overshadowed in a generation driven by urgency and immediate results.
Her story unfolded against the backdrop of a milestone ceremony that saw 8,713 graduates ushered into the next phase of their lives.
Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mikail Akinde, used the occasion to challenge the graduands to step forward with courage and purpose, reminding them that the world is in need of thinkers and problem-solvers.
Among the 201 distinction graduates, Enitan stood tallest—not just for her academic excellence, but for the quiet strength and clarity that shaped her journey.
In many ways, her story is not just about finishing at the top of her class. It is about the power of balance in a noisy world, the strength in humility, and the courage to trust the process—even when the outcome comes as a surprise.
She was not the only person that court the attention news of news hunters at the occasion. The Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, were prominent Nigerians also stood out remarkably as there were conferred with Fellowship Awards by the Polytechnic.
The convocation also featured a strong charge to Fadiran Boluwatife Enitan and other graduates from the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Alausa, who urged them to channel their knowledge and skills into tackling Nigeria’s development challenges.
Speaking at the ceremony, Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the long-standing Higher National Diploma (HND) and university degree dichotomy.
He noted that ongoing reforms are aimed at strengthening polytechnics and transitioning them into degree-awarding institutions.
Represented by the Director of Polytechnic and Allied Institutions, Mrs. Igwe Amy, the minister said the education component of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda remains firmly on track, with deliberate efforts to reposition the sector for improved national productivity.
Congratulating the graduands, Alausa encouraged them to be bold, innovative, and entrepreneurial. He urged them to leverage their training to drive meaningful change and project Nigeria positively on the global stage.
He further highlighted key reforms, including a revised national curriculum set to take effect in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, the new framework reduces subject load to promote deeper learning while introducing compulsory vocational training in areas such as solar photovoltaic installation and robotics.
Delivering the convocation lecture, Governor Radda charged over 8,000 graduates to combine academic knowledge with digital skills to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Represented by his deputy, Faruk Lawal, Radda stressed that Nigeria is on the cusp of significant digital growth, offering vast opportunities for those adequately prepared.
In his lecture titled “Fundamental Skills and Job Creation Tools for Graduands in the 21st Century,” he emphasized that success in today’s world depends more on practical capabilities than certificates.
“Digital skills are no longer optional—they are essential,” he said, urging the graduates to be a generation that transforms Nigeria from potential to productivity, and from unemployment to innovation-driven prosperity.
Other recipients of the institution’s Fellowship Awards included the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and an alumnus, Sotayo Olugbenga Sonuga, CEO of Haven Homes, who was commended for contributing over ₦200 million to infrastructural development in the institution.
