Breaking: Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi Rewards Overall Best Graduating Student At Poly Ibadan,Yussuf Basirat With ₦6 Million
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has reaffirmed his commitment to promoting academic excellence and rewarding outstanding performance as he honoured exceptional graduates at the 40th Convocation Ceremony of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
Serving as the Guest of Honour at the ceremony, the revered monarch announced a cash reward of ₦6 million for the overall best graduating student, Yussuf Basirat Kemisola, in recognition of her academic brilliance and dedication.
In addition, he awarded ₦1.5 million each to other best graduating students across various categories.
Oba Ogunwusi urged the award recipients and other graduating students to uphold the values of excellence, discipline, and integrity, charging them to be worthy ambassadors of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, his alma mater, wherever their careers may take them.
The monarch commended efforts aimed at strengthening education in Oyo State, noting that sustained investment in human capital remains vital for societal progress.
In an interview with journalists, The Lucky Mother, Mrs. Yussuf, the mother of the overall best graduating student, Basirat Yusuff, gave thanks to God for making the joyous day possible.
She appreciated The Ooni of Ife for his kind gesture, the School, her daughter’s lecturers and her husband, Mr. Yussuf for the support that Basirat received to attain the new feet.
She then showered praises on her daughter for making her a proud mother.
Earlier, Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by his deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal, reiterated the state government’s resolve to fully implement the ₦155.2 billion allocation to the education sector in the 2026 budget, representing 17.4 per cent of the total appropriation.
In his response, the Acting Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Dr. Taiwo Abideen Lasisi, expressed gratitude to the Ooni of Ife for his generosity and encouragement, describing the gesture as a strong motivation for students to pursue excellence.
He also appreciated Governor Makinde for his consistent support and timely interventions in addressing the institution’s needs.
Dr. Lasisi charged the graduating students to deploy the knowledge and skills acquired during their training for positive societal impact and personal advancement.