To our esteemed dignitaries, distinguished members of the board of trustees, senior administrators, amazing faculty and staff, beloved parents, invited guests and to the most important people of the day, the graduating class of 2023, GOOD MORNING. I must say, that it is with great pleasure and excitement that I stand before you this morning as the 2023 Class speaker.
My name is Jemimah Husaini Shallangwa. I am leaving AUN today with a law degree after 5 long awaited years and, for me, this is truly a dream come true. After 9 semesters of receiving graduation emails, it was finally my turn to fill it out. 2023 felt like it would never arrive so it is with great gratitude that I stand here this morning donned in this bright red robe. I can vividly remember walking across this stage during my matriculation ceremony. My journey at AUN started on this stage and today it ends right here on this stage!
I cannot speak today without acknowledging the fact that my AUN experience has been nothing short of enlightening. In addition to my academic growth and development, I have also grown spiritually and socially. AUN has changed my perspective about myself and my capabilities. When I came here in 2018, I never would have thought that I would be graduating as the owner of two businesses, and above all serving in the position of Treasurer in the first all-female executive team of the Student Government Association. My experiences in these 5 years have shaped a once meek young girl into the bold and independent woman standing before you today.
I want to thank our parents for not only bringing us to the best school in Nigeria, but for bringing us to a university where the attention given to the total student is beyond exceptional. It is here that our overall development extended beyond the classroom and transformed us into the change makers the world has been looking for. At AUN, we have learned to coexist in a spirit of community where we are not limited by our tribe, religion, gender, race or geographical origin. We have gained an understanding and appreciation of human differences. We have learned the value in giving back to our respective communities through our involvement in community service. We have become leaders, entrepreneurs, scholars, critical thinkers, change agents and problem solvers with a renewed sense of identity, self-esteem, confidence, integrity, and civic responsibility.
Today I wish to thank the faculty for always being accessible, I hear stories of other universities where students cannot access an instructor, but I definitely can't relate. And to our law faculty thank you for encouraging us and pushing us to be the best version of ourselves. Your doors are always open, and you have shown time and time again that you have our backs. AUN is definitely a school where the staff recognizes that we are the priority and they go out of their way to render quality service.
This morning, I want to appreciate our parents for a job well done. We deserve the best and you definitely understood the assignment. I wouldn't be witnessing this great day without the support of my parents. So, thank you so much Mr. and Mrs. Husaini Shallangwa for making it possible for me to be here today. To my siblings, you remain the best pillar of support in the whole wide world. To my best friend can achieve whatever I set my mind to do. I want to express special thanks to Dr. Erebi Ndoni for having an impact and being such a huge support system in my life. Thank you to every staff for being a part of our journey. Above all I want to thank God for making our experience worthwhile.
To our founder, His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, thank you for giving us an American experience in Adamawa state even though the Yola sun brings us back to reality.
Finally, to the class of 2023, I am certain that when we leave the 4 walls of AUN we will give nothing short of the very best we have to offer. My wish for us is to continue to soar higher because this AUN experience has just been a stepping-stone. This is just the beginning of our journey to make the world our playground, and no matter how many times we fall let us always pick ourselves up and go down that slide again. Follow your dreams, fight for what you believe in and never give up. And as Jennifer Garner said "fight for what makes you optimistic about the world, find it, insist on it and go after it.”
On behalf of the class of 2023, I stand before you today to say thank you AUN for excellence, integrity and service for our collective good. Long live AUN and God bless you all!