The best graduating student of Wellspring University, Nancy Popo, has recounted how she battled a chronic autoimmune disorder throughout her schooling yet graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.98.
Popo, a graduate of International Relations and Diplomacy, disclosed this while delivering the valedictory speech, on behalf of fellow graduands, at the institution’s 14th convocation ceremony in Benin City, Edo State.
Speaking on the battle, Popo said she remained determined to achieve her academic goals despite the challenges posed by her health condition.
She said she entered the university while managing a condition that required lifelong medication and imposed restrictions on her daily activities, including avoiding direct exposure to sunlight.
She said, “Knowing that my body was in a constant battle with itself gave me so many reasons to want to relent.
But amid this great battle, one thing was certain, and one statement was profound: Atore, you cannot change the direction of the wind, but you can set the sail.”
She added, “Although I would have to live with medication for the rest of my life, one thing is certain: if you have seen me stand here today, you are not just seeing my CGPA; you are seeing grace, you are seeing grit, and you are seeing a God who has kept me,” she said.
She added that her achievement represented more than her academic result, describing it as evidence of resilience and the support that sustained her throughout her studies.
At the institution’s 14th convocation ceremony, 404 students graduated, comprising 292 first-degree recipients, 93 postgraduate diploma and master’s degree recipients, and 15 doctorate recipients.
Speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Isaac Ajayi, charged the graduating students to uphold integrity and good character, stressing that their greatest asset was not merely their academic qualifications but also their personal values.
He said the institution’s determination to maintain high academic standards had continued to yield excellent results, with several programmes securing full accreditation and professional programmes receiving recognition from relevant professional bodies.
“Remember that your greatest asset is not merely your degree but your character. The world you are entering demands individuals who possess integrity, competence, creativity, resilience and compassion,” he said.
Highlighting the university’s achievements, Ajayi said the approval of its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme, alongside other health-related courses, by the National Universities Commission had positioned the institution to contribute significantly to healthcare education in Nigeria and beyond.
In his address, the Chancellor of the university, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, told the graduands that their degrees marked the beginning of greater responsibilities rather than the end of their education.
“The degree you receive today is not the end of your education; it is the beginning of your contribution. The world is waiting for you,” he said.
He added, “Today, the university has placed upon your shoulders the mantle of the educated, not merely as a reward for past efforts, but as a responsibility for the future. Wear it with honour.”
