’Mum raised four kids alone‘, UI twin brothers who emerged faculty’s best graduates recall mother’s sacrifice
Matthew Busoye, one of the twin brothers who graduated as the best graduating students from the Faculty of Technology at the University of Ibadan has honoured the memory of his late father while celebrating their mother—who raised four children alone after tragedy struck their family.
Delivering his speech as the faculty’s top graduate before fellow graduates and academic staff at the induction ceremony, Matthew took the audience back to the day his father, Morufu Ganiu, died when he was just 12 years old.
In a copy of the speech he shared on X.com on Thursday, Matthew recounted the day he and his twin brother learned of their father’s death as an ordinary day that ended in grief.
“I was 12 years old, in JSS3. I remember my mom receiving a call and then quickly leaving. My brother and I were left to start closing the shop. I didn’t know exactly what was happening, but I could feel something was wrong.
“My mum did more ‘TDBs’ calculating debts than I did in all my years at UI. She hustled, she sacrificed, she took loans, and she made sure we never had to beg. That’s why, till today, I struggle to ask anyone for money—I saw what self-reliance and grit looked like.
“Now think about it: what if she had said yes to that offer? What if she chose a different ‘what’s next?’ We might not be standing here today.”
“We’ve come a long way, a very long way. The journey wasn’t always easy, but we stayed the course. And today, we celebrate not just certificates or new titles, but courage, growth, and possibility. Today is not the end, it is the beginning of all we are yet to become.”
In his speech, Matthias similarly said, “I dedicate this moment to my late father, Mr Moroof Ganiyu. Thank you for all you did-I am forever grateful”
Tolu Adebayo
Reporter/ Social Media Manager