“Beware Of Women, Money And Alcohol” Speaker Of The House Mr. Dogara Tells UNILAG Record-Breaker!

A mild drama ensued at the House of Representatives on Wednesday as the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, advised Mr. Ayodele Dada to avoid three vices to enable him to succeed  in life.

Dogara listed the vices  as “money, women and alcohol”.

Dada is the academic record-breaker of the University of Lagos, who graduated with 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average.

Mr. Ayodele Dada

The 29-year-old Psychology graduate has lately been celebrated in the country, particularly in the academic community.

The House, in recognising his academic feat, had invited Dada to hold a session in his honour.

But members burst out laughing as Dogara added humour to the event by advising Dada to be wary of women, money and alcohol.

The speaker noted that, having become a celebrity, women, money and alcohol would flow his way, but he urged him to avoid them.

Although the speaker admitted that the vices could not be completely avoided, he said, “don’t let them get into you”.

He added that by avoiding them,  Dada would go far in life in his determination to attain greater achievements.

As Dogara spoke, female members started protesting. They raised their hands, demanding to be allowed to counter Dogara.

Speaker of The House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara

Some of the women murmured that an achiever would definitely need a woman as a companion.

One of the protesters was the Chairperson, House Committee on Foreign Relations, Nnena Ukeje.

Incidentally, Ukeje, a few minutes before Dogara spoke, had commended the academic feat of Dada, assuring him of her support for further accomplishments.

Dada’s feat was brought to the attention of the House by its Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila. He identified the graduate as his neighbour in Surulere, Lagos.

Gbajabiamila informed the House that Dada paid his way through school, “sometimes, doing two or three jobs”.

He said, “He deserves this special commendation and recognition by the House because his story is compelling.

“It should be told over and over again. It is time for us as a nation to claim ownership of what belongs to us.

“He is the Nigerian dream, to have graduated with a 5.0 CGPA.”

A former university teacher, Prof. Mojeed Alabi, while contributing to the debate, said in his 25 years of experience in teaching, he had not seen a graduate with 5.0 CGPA, but Dada.

“I am seeing something unique for the first time.

“We have to celebrate the school and the teachers who produced him,” he said.

Dada, all the while, stood among the lawmakers, acknowledging the praises being  showered on him by the House.

The House had to suspend its rules to admit him into the chamber, a privilege reserved only for presidents or visiting presidents of other countries.

Both Dogara and Gbajabiamila reminded Dada that the honour was worth more than money, as it would be reflected in his resume that his country’s parliament recognised his feat.

Dada later received a standing ovation from the members and shook hands with the leaders of the House before he exited the chambers.

Ex: punchng