Beware of women, alcohol, money, Dogara tells Dada, Five Grade Points graduate

Dada, the best graduating student in Unilag

NASS reaffirms support for CBT
From the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Mr Yakubu Dogara came a word of caution for 29- year old graduate of the University of Lagos , Mr. Ayodele Dada who distinguished himself with a score of 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average.

Dogara who spoke after the 360 members of the lower legislative chamber accorded Dada the rare privilege to sit with the lawmakers during the plenary session of the House particularly admonished Dada to be cautious when it comes to dealings with women, alcohol and money.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education yesterday threw its weight in support of the use of Computer Based Test (CBT) for the conduct of admission examinations into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr Zakari Mohammed who disclosed this in an interview with journalists during an official visit to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board’s CBT centre in Bwari, Abuja , explained that the call for the use of Paper Pencil Testy (PPT) as against CBT to conduct the UTME examination was ill- advised.

Dogara who remarked that Dada’s feat would remain a source of inspiration to upcoming Nigerians noted: “ You would definitely come across things you think are cheap which are money, women and alcohol. The most expensive mistake of your life is that if you allow them to get into you, they would destroy everything about you. You have began very well and I pray and wish you end very well.”

To pupils of primary and secondary schools at the public gallery who were on hand to witness the occasion, Dogara said: “ I urge the students with us here today who found the honour accorded Dada today inspiring to please stand up to acknowledged his brilliance. He is not a ghost. He achieved the feat through self denial and discipline. If he can attain it, you too can also attain his feat of excellence. “

There was a standing ovation for Dada who had the rare privilege of having a handshake with Dogara, his deputy, Sulaimon Lassun Yussuf , the House leader, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila who initiated the process that ensured the admission of Dada into the lower legislative chamber.

In his tribute, Gbajabiamila described Dada, who studied Psychology as a remarkable young man that deserves special recognition.

Chairman of the Committee on Basic Education, Mohammed said the world has gone past such means of conducting public examination.

“The world has gone past the use of PPT; I think people need to be more educated, particularly parents, that the process of examination is not complex computer situation.

“We must be in tandem with the world order; if you take an admission outside this country for a foreign University it definitely must be online.

“We are putting our weight behind CBT and believing that others cannot be flying educationally while we crawl, no need to go back to PPT.”
He said although there were hitches associated with use of computer, the introduction of CBT is in the right direction.
It has contributed towards achieving international best practice in the nation’s education sector.
He said that the return to the use of PPT after introduction of the CBT would affect the conduct of public examination negatively.

Gbajabiamila comended his colleagues for allowing Dada to be ushered into the chamber.

He disclosed that he took interest in him based on news report on his academic feat.

“I had to send my aide to fish out the young man. I then called him, introduced myself to him and congratulated him. Incidentally , he lived in Surulere. He is even my neighbour. On a very serious note I believe in life there are no coincidences. “This young man paid his way through the school, sometimes doing odd jobs. We have to celebrate his success stories. For Dada to make 5. 0, it means from the time he got to school to the time he graduated , he did not score anything less than A.

“It is time for us to claim ownership of those who make us pround. He is the dream of the Nigeria dream that we must encourage and show to others to inspire them.