FAREWELL MESSAGE - UNDERGRADUATE

I begin by greeting you, the reader, though I am embodied by a strange feeling of departure. It was indeed a remarkable event in our lives. Solid 5years of intensive academic brainstorming and sleeplessness. Well, anything that has beginning must one day come to an end. Anyone who graduated without experiencing strike (industrial action), probably he has never been to Nigeria.  

At our entrance, we were warmly saluted by 4month old strike embarked by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) before even taking our first semester exam. Correspondingly, another cankerblossom ASUU strike served as a farewell to us prior to our final exam which lasted for 6 good months. Notwithstanding, now we're more or less like baked cakes, or transformed entities ready to spread our tentacles to the vast spheres of life, effecting the knowledge, skills and character that we acquire to make ourselves, and our societies better. 

To the graduating students, you're not out to make luxurious life for yourselves only but let the entire society feel that among them is a graduate that can graduate their lives into the next level. Let them see the degree in you.  Be an advocate of change and someone that could revive and sustain the legacy of our forefathers of making a corrupt free nation. Yes! We're out to make a difference. Get ready as the challenges outside this environment is much more compare the struggles experienced here. 

To the non final year students, be a hardworking, serious and influential among your course mates. Education is synonymous to a tree that has bitter roots but its fruits are sweeter and so, the most enduring ones shall reap its benefits. More importantly, try identifying and getting into a good company.  

To my fellow unionists, get to know that university is just a microcosm of our nation socially and politically, it is the ground of raising and nurturing leaders both good and otherwise. Let honesty define your leadership, be committed to your assigned responsibility, focus and time conscious. Never try misappropriating public fund as that will withdraw people's trust from you. Finally, never will you be a good commander if you cannot learn to obey. And know that a wise is somebody who is in conformity with rules and regulations. 

You can take a man out of KUST but KUST cannot be taken out of a man. With tears in my eyes I say goodbye kustsites...  I remain your humble colleague, Muhammad Garba 500L student from Agricultural Economics & Extension Dept.