The 16th Commencement Ceremony of the American University of Nigeria was a moment of inspiration and reflection, highlighted by a powerful message of quiet resilience from the Valedictorian of the Class of 2025, Ms. Habiba Amani Abdullahi. Held on Saturday, May 17, at the Lamido Aliyu Mustafa Commencement Hall, the ceremony drew dignitaries including AUN's Founder, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar GCON, university faculty, proud families, and the broader AUN community.
In her moving address, Ms. Abdullahi, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural and Environmental Sciences with a focus on Biomedical Sciences, delivered a heartfelt narrative of personal transformation, academic perseverance, and the quiet power of believing in oneself. "I once convinced myself I wasn’t good enough to be here," she confessed candidly. "That maybe every good grade was just a mistake the grading system didn’t catch." Yet, in an emotional full-circle moment, she stood tall before her peers—not as someone who merely survived her university experience, but as a student who thrived, emerging as the top of her class.
Ms. Abdullahi, who transferred to AUN just two and a half years ago, admitted she had no grand plan upon arrival. What she did find, however, was a supportive academic environment that helped her build something far more enduring. “One word comes to mind: resilience,” she emphasized, recounting long nights of grueling study sessions and seemingly impossible coursework. “Quiet, stubborn resilience. The kind that you build without even noticing.”
She highlighted how deeply the university invests in the individual growth of its students. “It’s in the back-and-forths with instructors who genuinely care, and the small, thoughtful conversations that shape your thinking in ways you only realize later,”
Her speech also served as a tribute to the people who shaped her journey. She offered profound gratitude to her mentors, Dr. Malachy, Dr. Raji, Dr. Tyndall, and the entire NES faculty for their unwavering support and dedication to excellence.
Ms. Abdullahi's statements, similar to those expressed by many of her peers, serve as a reminder that true greatness often originates from a foundation of self-belief, which is cultivated within a supportive environment.
Reported by Aishatu Munnauwarah Yahya