Why UDUS Should Recognize Outstanding Students

He who struggles must reap the fruit of his labour. Yet, in some Nigerian universities, this principle seems to be fading into a story for another day. Recognizing the outstanding students in their respective fields, it's more than motivating the students.

But, to bring recognition to the entire university herself, reflecting the dedication of the lecturers for integrating impactful knowledge into the students to stand out and become sellable locally and globally.

Would I say the system is dying gradually from the top to the bottom? Yes! It has been the tradition of every institution to recognize their outstanding students and value them in every end of the year ceremony which is tagged “Convocation". The rationale behind the ceremony is for the university to praise the students’ efforts by holding a celebratory ceremony where degrees are conferred upon the graduating class(es). Once graduates are hooded and crossed the stage as part of the event, including that they have officially graduated.

However, the energy that needs to keep motivating and rewarding the outstanding students has been ignored. The Nigerian universities that were supposed to support the work of these brilliant brains had turned–neglecting the students' excellence.

Whereas, academic awards are not mere trophies or certificates.They are the public  affirmation of hard work that excellence is noticed, and merit will always have a place in our university. If a university fails to recognize outstanding students, it is a signal to dangerous messages which is tantamount to underrating the excellent work or standard of our universities. 

In the last combined convocation of our great institution, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), the joy of students resonated with the feeling that the school would recognize their heroes and heroines in academics for their outstanding performance. But, it was too early for the hope to be dashed. The recognition was scrapped by not awarding or presenting them their prizes for the world to see the quality they had produced.

Conversely, faculty awards and departmental cash prizes were nowhere to be received by the students who had worked tirelessly to earn the significant feat. Meanwhile, the excellence resulted by burning hundreds of candles overnight, starving and reading in uncomfortable weather. 

It's up to a year and four months that UDUS held a combined convocation for the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st graduates. However, the 42nd will be held in the coming September, in commemoration of the golden jubilee (50th anniversary) of the institution. 

The majority of students have the same notion that the same history will repeat itself this year. Nevertheless, the entire students do not want the outstanding students to be ignored in public. They look forward to seeing their names in school bulletin, social media platforms, and presenting them awards for global recognition. On a favorable edge, such recognitions would draw the attention of investors, companies and business owners to the students. Whereby, it can lead to job opportunities for them.

It's time for UDUS management to revisit the principle that defines the academic standards of our great institution, where to spotlight the brilliance of the outstanding students by presenting them the prizes and the recognition they deserve.

We at PEN PRESS UDUS strongly hope this Editorial Viewpoint will set things right by prompting the school management to do the needful. If an institution fails to recognize their best, we silently discourage them and may compromise the greatness of the university's collective efforts.