By Gregory Austin Nwakunor | The Guardian
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Adeyinka Asekun, has commended Kika Otiono, daughter of prominent Nigerian author and professor, Nduka Otiono, for her sterling academic accomplishments while at Carleton University. Otiono received a third-year undergraduate offer of admission to the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University and is now a first year medical student there.
The envoy’s commendation is contained in a special congratulatory letter sent to the first-year medical student of DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University, Canada, who earned a University Senate Medal for “excellent overall standing while a student at Carleton University.”
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In the letter dated July 12 and shared exclusively with The Guardian, Ambassador Asekun writes: “It has been brought to our attention that you have been awarded a University Senate Medal for “excellent overall standing while a student at Carleton University” .
You graduated with High Distinction and to achieve this feat your final Bachelor’s graduation GPA was 11.80 out of 12 (Carleton) or 3.98 out of 4 (General)! This resulted in your having graduated with a First Class or sum ma cum laude standing.”
She was in the B. Hum Humanities & Biology programme, which was changed to the B.A. with a Minor in Biology for her graduation from her third year. Asekun appreciated Kika “for giving us something to smile about at a time when we desperately need things to make us smile.”
He stressed that together with his colleagues at the Nigeria High Commission and his family members he was praying “for exceptional grace and divine enablement” as Kika pursues her career as a medical student, concluding that Kika “will surely excel by God’s grace in whatever area of specialization you decide to embrace.”
It would be recalled that Ms. Otiono’s road to her current outstanding achievement is paved with numerous academic and leadership awards in Canada. Her honours include: National Science and Engineering Research Council Undergraduate Science Research Award (2018); TD Canada Trust Scholarship for Community Leadership (2016); Carleton University SHAD Valley Scholarship for Excellence (2016); First Place Winner, RBC National Black History Month Essay Competition (2016); Black History Ottawa, Community Builder Award for Youth Leadership (2016); Government of Ontario, Outstanding Volunteer Award – Orleans Ward (2016); and Nigeran Canadian Association of Ottawa (NCAO) Outstanding Educational Achievement Award (2019).
Kika is currently the Director of Advocacy, Black Medical Students Association of Canada. She combines academic excellence with strong volunteering and community service and has distinguished herself in service to her alma mater — Carleton University and Colonel By Secondary School—as well as to her community in Ottawa.
Kika is the daughter of journalist and Carleton University’s Professor Nduka Otiono and his wife, Onyisi Otiono, a financial advisor with one of the major banks in Canada.
Read from source Guardian