Delayed But Not Defeated: OAU’s Class of 2024 Breaks Through the Storm

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          Isaac Blessing & Hikmat Babatunde 

The 49th Convocation Ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on December 11 and 12, 2025, to the first degree graduates, was more than a celebration—it was a collective sigh of relief. 

The event, held at the Amphitheatre, marked the graduation of 6,562 students whose academic journeys stretched far longer than expected. A four-year course became seven for many, shaped by COVID-19 disruptions, nationwide strikes, and the uncertainties that tested their endurance.

Yet, on the convocation day, joy overshadowed the years of setback. Graduates walked into the hall in flowing gowns, parents beamed with pride, and friends clung to each other in emotional embraces. For many, it was the end of a storm and the beginning of a story worth telling.

          Deborah Oyinlola, an Accounting Graduate 

Deborah Oyinlola, an Accounting graduate, described her graduation as “overwhelming relief.” She recalled moments when exhaustion nearly pushed her to quit, but the thought of becoming an accountant kept her going. Supported by her parents and anchored by faith, she said she would miss the community she built on campus—and the constant electricity she joked OAU never failed to provide.

             Habeeb Damilola, Faculty of Art's BGS

For Habeeb Alabi Damilola, the best graduating student in the Faculty of Arts, the day marked the reward of intentional effort. “Certificates may stay at home, but the values you build stay with you forever,” he said. He urged students to focus less on accolades and more on the person they are becoming through discipline, consistency, and lifelong reading.

          Tommy, a graduate of the Department of Religious Studies 

Tommy, a graduate of Religious Studies, offered a simple, honest piece of advice: avoid an extra year if you can. She recounted difficult moments when she almost gave up, but her mother’s encouragement kept her persistent. “Put in the effort and trust God,” she said.

As the ceremony drew to a close, one truth echoed in the hall: their journey had been slow, but not stagnant. The Class of 2024 walked away with degrees—yet what they carried most were the lessons, memories, and quiet victories gained from years of waiting. If OAU taught them anything, it is that success delayed is still success earned.









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