Businessman's Reaction to UI Engineering Student's High CGPA Sparks Online Debate
A Nigerian businessman has ignited widespread discussion on social media after expressing astonishment at the academic ranking of a University of Ibadan engineering graduate who achieved an exceptional cumulative grade point average.
Exceptional Achievement with Second-Place Finish
Oguntimehin Daniel Ifedamola recently announced his graduation and induction ceremony on the social media platform X, revealing he earned a first-class honours degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with a remarkable CGPA of 3.96 out of 4.00. Despite this near-perfect academic performance, he was recognized as the second-best graduating student in the Faculty of Technology at Nigeria's premier university.
The businessman, identified as @Ayoelesho and also a University of Ibadan alumnus, responded with surprise to this revelation. In his reaction, he questioned what grade the best graduating student must have achieved to surpass such an impressive score, writing: "You had a 3.96/4.00 CGPA and you're the 2nd-best graduating student? Wetin BGS con get?"
Social Media Reactions and Academic System Discussions
The exchange quickly gained traction online, with numerous Nigerians participating in the conversation about academic excellence and grading systems. Many users expressed admiration for the student's achievement while others debated the implications of such high scores within different university grading frameworks.
One user, @Deliajohnson_, commented: "There are schools in Nigeria that operate with 4.0 CGPA??? I thought all schools are 5.00 cgpa?" This highlighted the variation in grading systems across Nigerian universities.
Another user, @archym4real, noted: "The caption no even say 2nd BGS in the school, Na for faculty of Technology. The question is, wetin the overall BGS in the school go con get?" This comment pointed to the distinction between faculty-level and university-wide rankings.
The Top Performer Revealed
Further investigation revealed that the best graduating student in the Faculty of Technology was HAMMED Abdullah Ishola, who also graduated from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Ishola achieved a slightly higher CGPA of 3.97 out of 4.00, having taken 70 courses with 67 A grades and 3 B grades.
Ishola shared his achievement on social media, writing: "Reintroducing: HAMMED Abdullah Ishola (Bsc., GMNSE, GMNIEE) First Class Hons. Best Graduating Student Electrical and Electronic Engineering Overall Best Graduating Student Faculty of Technology University of Ibadan 70 courses taken: 67 As, 3Bs 3.97/4.0"
Context of Academic Excellence at University of Ibadan
This incident follows previous reports of exceptional academic achievements at the University of Ibadan. Recently, a mechanical engineering graduate celebrated earning a first-class honours degree after taking 64 engineering courses with 48 A grades and 16 B grades. Another law student previously gained attention for winning a N1 million scholarship while achieving first-class honours.
The discussion has brought attention to the rigorous academic standards at Nigerian universities and the intense competition among high-achieving students. It also highlights how social media platforms have become spaces for public discourse about educational achievements and institutional recognition systems.
As the conversation continues online, it underscores the value placed on academic excellence within Nigerian society while raising questions about how such achievements are measured and recognized within different educational frameworks.
