UNIBEN Graduate Honored with ₦5,000 as Best Graduating Student in Mechanical Engineering (4.80/5.0 CGPA)

A UNIBEN graduate with a 4.80 CGPA in Mechanical Engineering sparked mixed reactions online after receiving ₦5,000 as the Best Graduating Student, prompting calls for better recognition of academic excellence in Nigeria.

A graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has sparked reactions online after being awarded ₦5,000 for emerging as the Best Graduating Student in Mechanical Engineering with an impressive CGPA of 4.80/5.0.

The graduate shared his story on X (formerly Twitter), posting a picture with his certificate and expressing gratitude for his journey and achievements.

In his post, he wrote:
“Yesterday, I received the sum of ₦5,000 as the award for Best Graduating Student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Benin for the 2021/2022 Academic Session, having graduated with a CGPA of 4.80/5.0.

This award holds great significance for me, considering my journey from a very disadvantaged background to achieving such an outstanding feat. I am also honored to have served as a student leader in several positions, notably as President of my department and faculty (NUESA).

Additionally, having the opportunity to teach others while in school and play football for my class and department were accomplishments I truly cherish. Looking forward to better days ahead 🙏.”

The post quickly gained traction, drawing a mix of congratulations and criticism regarding the monetary value of the award.

Reactions From Social Media Users:

@winnpxl: “The money they gave in 1990 is still the same in 2024. Congratulations, better things ahead for you.”

@Wynwonder: “Congratulations. Trust you’ll invest it wisely.”

@OkoliDG: “For 5 years, that’s 1k for each year. Shout out to Uniben.”

@ogbonnia: “They always review school fees, but it never crosses their mind to review prize awards.”

@penforme: “God forbid bad thing. Congratulations, brother. Please actively seek master’s scholarships abroad. You can secure placements with stipends if you persist, or even jump straight to a PhD.”

@Winter_Six: “Lmao, congratulations chairman. People dey ask why dem give you 5k. We wey go the school know say you no even expect anything.”

@ms_idera: “Congratulations 🎊 to you! Greater heights! Please look into PhD programs or MSc in Europe. That ₦5,000 is nonsense—there’s so much more out there for you!”

While the graduate has chosen to focus on the positives, many are using his story to highlight the need for Nigerian institutions to reevaluate their recognition and rewards for academic excellence.

READ ALSO: Henry Ogochukwu, UNIBEN Overall Best Student Gets N250k as Award

SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, GISTREEL