Nigerian University Awards $20,000 Prize to Best Graduating Student

Baze University, a private institution located in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, has awarded a $20,000 prize to its top graduate, Farid Hammayo, during the university’s 11th convocation ceremony over the weekend.

At just 21 years old, Hammayo achieved an impressive 3.96 CGPA out of 4.0, earning a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Economics. His outstanding academic performance earned him the prestigious award from the Chancellor of the university, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed.

The ceremony saw a total of 749 graduates, including 30 students who earned First Class honors. In addition, two postgraduate students were recognized for their exceptional achievements. Susan Obasi, who earned an MSc in Management, and Adeola Ayoola, who completed an M.Eng in Civil Engineering, both graduated with a perfect 5.0 CGPA. Baba-Ahmed announced that, as a reward, the university would offer them either a fully funded PhD opportunity or job placements within the institution.

Baze University also honored the late Air Vice Marshal Mukhtar Muhammad with a posthumous honorary degree. Muhammad, who passed away in October 2017, was a former Military Governor of Kaduna State and a key member of Nigeria’s Supreme Military Council from 1984 to 1985.

In his speech, Chancellor Baba-Ahmed reflected on the university’s journey, noting that it was conceived 28 years ago and founded in 2011. He highlighted that the university has now graduated 4,021 students across 10 convocations and currently serves a student body of about 5,000 in 44 undergraduate and 59 postgraduate programs.

Baba-Ahmed emphasized that Baze University’s academic programs are designed to be both research-intensive and responsive to the needs of both local and global communities. However, he also addressed the challenging operating environment faced by the institution, citing rising interest rates, escalating electricity tariffs, and the depreciation of the Naira as major concerns. Additionally, he pointed out disparities in the education sector, where some institutions operate with significantly lower costs compared to universities like Baze, which invests heavily in infrastructure and academic resources.