Ex-Rep Daramola advocates special recognition for outstanding students

A former member of the House of Representatives, who represented Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1, Bimbo Daramola, has urged Nigerians to develop the habit of giving special recognition to students who perform excellently in their chosen career so as encourage hard work among youths.

Daramola stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, at a reception for nine undergraduate chartered accountants from the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE.

The nine students, known as the FUOYE Nine, include Deborah Eretan, Goodness Opeloye, Oluwafemi Ayodeji, Gideon Ajibade, Abdulrazak Abeeb, Joshua Oni, Samuel Aderoju, Philip Eniola and Boluwatife Tijani.

They were rewarded and given awards with the inscription, ‘The Signposts of Our Desired Future’.

Daramola, who noted that the recognition was not political, stated that he was spurred by his personal conviction and the necessity to dissuade the erroneous belief among Nigerian youths that school is scam.

He called on members of the public to ensure that good thrives over evil, particularly in a situation where the youths are used to cause havoc in the society, especially by the politicians.

“I don’t think there is something to suggest politics here. These students are not from Ekiti but for me necessity is laid upon my mind to do whatever I believe in. If there is conviction behind anything, I just go ahead and do it, particularly at a time when we need people who will signpost our future.

“Now what they say is school is scam and then you find nine young people (three girls and six boys) who have consciously made up their minds to say that we are going to go for the highest point in our career. For people to be chartered at 300 or 400 levels is significant.

“I can’t say that every politician must do this. Nobody told me what to do. Like I said, necessity is laid upon me to do so. I don’t just think that this society will let 300 or 400 level students, young people, who have passed examinations just get lost in social media.

“The plaque we gave to them has the ‘Signposts of our Desired Future’. If yesterday was good, it is incumbent on us to make today better and then to make our future the best. I think we should institute a regime because there is a battle for mindshare – evil and good are fighting. The judgement will tilt to whichever force that is higher.

“But here good has tried to fight back a little bit. So, evil has gotten a hit that we have taken nine people and showcasing what they have achieved. It should generate enough noise and acquire a life of its own to the extent that people can say that FUOYE Nine can inspire people.

“For young people out there, it is clear that somebody is somewhere is watching but I believe that any opportunity that comes my way. I am going to hold these students as I go along my way and then continue to let people know.”

Speaking at the event, a former Special Adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, hailed the nine undergraduate chartered accountants for making the state and their institution proud.