Praise Esther Adeyemi emerged the overall best graduating student and valedictorian of McPherson University’s Class of 2023, having achieved an impressive CGPA of 4.95 from the Department of Accounting, College of Humanities, Social and Management Sciences (COHSMAS). 

Adeyemi, who delivered the valedictory speech at the Institution’s combined convocation ceremonies, shared an inspiring story of perseverance, recounting how she once failed her secondary school mathematics examination, a setback that nearly shattered her confidence. However, through determination, resilience, and faith, she overcame the challenge and went on to excel in a calculation-intensive course at the university. 

“I almost believed I was destined for failure,” she said. “But through God’s grace, hard work, and the unwavering support of my family, I kept moving forward. Today, those steps have brought me here.” 

Adeyemi credited her success to her faith in God, quoting 1 Peter 2:9, and expressed gratitude to her parents, Rev. and Rev. Mrs. Adeyemi, and her sisters, Peace and Peculiar, for their encouragement and prayers. She also acknowledged the roles played by McPherson University’s Management, lecturers, and Staff, describing the Institution as a place that nurtured both academic and spiritual growth. 

Reflecting on her time at the University, she recalled shared experiences with her classmates, “including early morning sprints to lectures, the struggle to get meals from Bros Dan and Mummy Peculiar, and racing back to the hostel before the 10 p.m. curfew”. These moments, she said, were as challenging as they were memorable, shaping their journey into adulthood. 

In her speech, she urged fellow graduates to embrace the future with boldness and vision, citing Mark Zuckerberg, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Herbert Wigwe as examples of individuals who defied the norm to achieve greatness. “Rather than waiting for opportunities, let us create them. Let us become innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders in our respective fields,” she charged. 

She concluded her speech with a message of encouragement from Isaiah 41:10, urging graduates to trust in God as they navigate life’s uncertainties. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee…” she quoted, assuring her peers that God’s guidance would always be with them. 

Adeyemi’s remarkable academic feat and inspiring journey have made her a standout graduate, leaving a lasting impact on McPherson University’s history and setting an example for future students.