By Mike Ebonugwo

MAY 10, 2014 was certainly a day of joy for 250 graduate and 23 post-graduate students of the American University of Nigeria, AUN, as they proudly filed out to be counted during the institution’s Sixth Commencement (Graduation) ceremony for its Class of 2014.

Indeed, for most of them, the occasion was a joyful climax of a journey that began four or more years ago, hence the reason they revelled in it, beaming with smiles and rolling out the drums to celebrate the happy moment with family members and  well-wishers. Even the fact that Adamawa State is presently under emergency rule was not enough to diminish the palpable festive feeling of the occasion.

This was more so for Ahmad Ahmad Idris and Lotana Nwosu who emerged joint overall best graduating students. Apart from that, both bagged five awards each for academic excellence in both undergraduate and corporate categories.

Miss Nwosu graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, while Ahmad has a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Chemistry, both from the School of Arts and Sciences.

The commencement ceremony which was a grand occasion in itself, and was held in the recently built new Lamido Aliyu Musdafa Commencement Hall, reputed to be the largest events building in Northern Nigeria, witnessed moving speeches, procession of graduating students and also flag procession of 32 countries represented in the university community courtesy of students and staff.

The speech-making moments did not fail to stir the gathering that included AUN Founder and former Vice-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; US Ambassador to the African Union, AU, Ambassador John A. Simon who was conferred with a Doctor of Letters(Honoris Causa) at the occasion; university administrators, staff, parents, politicians, traditional rulers, members of the diplomatic corps and other well-wishers.

Remarkably, the graduating students represented by Lotana, Ahmad and Odera Okakpu, the Class of 2014 Speaker, stole the show during their Senior Reflections speeches.
Reflecting on the period she spent in the school, Lotana had this to say: “AUN has shaped me in ways that will make the path to my dreams simpler, smoother and shorter. AUN not only taught me but showed me that it is possible to excel in every aspect of my life without making compromises to my dreams and aspirations.

This institution also opened my eyes to the challenges that confront Nigeria and taught me that I can be a vital part of the solution. I am more than grateful for the opportunity provided by AUN for me to serve the community. It was during these community service programmes that I felt the sense of accomplishment that comes with giving back to the society. I am sure that this was not solely my experience; it was a shared one.”

For Ahmad: “Life in AUN is not comparable to any other. Everything about this university is super amazing: from the unforgettable experience, the super smart and friendly faculty, the awesome state-of-the-art facilities, the conducive learning environment, the diligent and tough President, and our generous founder. AUN has helped me pin down a career path, find a purpose, understand my community, and AUN has made me feel indebted to the society.”

Near standing ovation
Perhaps the best speech of the day was presented by Odera if the near-standing ovation that greeted it is anything to go by. Testifying to her conviction that AUN is in every right a development institution where students’ dreams become Africa’s future and the American model it represents “can work without making us less Nigerian,”

she had gone ahead to posit thus: “… I assure you in the next 10 years, at least half of the students you see here today will be influential in local governments, states, countries and the world at large. The hope of this great country lies in this room.”

But AUN also spoke most poignantly through its energetic and motivational President, Margee Ensign. According to her, listening to her students speak brought home to her the evidence that the institution is indeed truly on the path of success in training a young generation of African leaders who can hold their own anywhere in the world. But she also has a piece of advice for them.

“The core of education at AUN, Nigeria’s first ‘Development University’, has been participation. Participation in your classes.  Participation in research.   Participation in group projects.   Participation in the many activities of student life.  Participation in our local development projects through community service.

“We have sent you out in the community to experience first hand the problems faced by   so many poor people – the schools without books or desks or sometimes roofs, the clinics without reliable medicines or equipment – so that you would come up with the right questions, and we hope the right answers.

“Today’s world needs your dreams and your actions.   Today’s world needs your courage and the university education that you have obtained here with us. Your answer to an AUN education must be that you will face the future with determination and dedication not detachment and despair.

“So class of 2014, reach high, work hard, commit yourself to the common good, participate in civic life. Make the world a better place than it is today.   You can do it,” she told the graduating students.
The highlight of the ceremony was the conferral of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as well as the presentation of post-graduate diplomas. The new graduates were also at the occasion inducted into the AUN Alumni.