Claim: A viral tweet claims the 2019/2020 best graduating student from the department of Geology at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) had second-class lower.
Verdict: False. Information from the convocation brochure and debunking of the assertion by the University’s Chairman of the Ceremonial Committee show the best graduating student completed his study with a second-class upper.
Full Text
Recently, a Twitter account named ‘@TheGreatestIFE’ made a controversial claim on the convocation ceremony for the 2019/2020 graduating set of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
The institution held its 46th convocation ceremony from December 7 to December 10. The Twitter account, which is primarily dedicated to events in the institution, with over 33,000 followers, put out a tweet claiming that the best graduating student from the department of Geology at the institution graduated with a second class lower.
The tweet, which has gone viral, has generated mixed reactions on social media platforms. The reactions are largely due to the perceived toughness of Geology as a course over the years.
Some social media users engaging with the tweet had claimed the purported result showed failure on the part of lecturers at the department.
Others also remarked that awarding a second class lower to the best graduating student from a department should not be a feat.
A tweep, @tosin_olaluwoye, commented, “I hope you guys realise this is not something to celebrate. Mass failure looks more like an indictment on the lecturers. All the students cannot be dull. Institutions need to stop bragging about the number of students that could not pass.”
But how true is the claim in the tweet?
Verification
Checks on the university convocation brochure for 2019/2020 by DUBAWA showed the prize for the best graduating student in Geology was awarded to ‘Odiamehi Precious Osemudiamen’.
A check on his grade revealed Osemudiamen graduated with a second class (upper division).
Further checks showed Osemudiamen received the Oluwafisayo Ekundayo Prize: “For the best graduating student in the Department of Geology whose class of degree is not below Second Class Honours (Upper Division).”
Professor Charles Ukeje, the University’s Chairman of the Ceremonial Committee, has also debunked this viral claim on Twitter by quoting the tweet from @TheGreatestIFE. He also provided the names of the five candidates who graduated with a second class (upper division).
Conclusion
The claim that OAU’s 2019/2020 best graduating student in Geology had second class lower is false. Information from the convocation brochure shows the best graduating student graduated with a second-class upper.
