Three UNILAG Alumni Celebrate First-Class Honors with Remarkable Academic Journeys
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) continues to produce exceptional graduates who demonstrate academic excellence through dedication and perseverance. In a recent compilation, three alumni have been highlighted for achieving First-Class Honors degrees, each overcoming significant challenges during their educational paths. Their stories serve as inspiration for current and prospective students across Nigeria.
Academic Excellence Through Resilience and Determination
These graduates exemplify how resilience, persistence, and consistent improvement can transform academic setbacks into remarkable success. Their journeys reflect the demanding nature of higher education in Nigeria, where students often face obstacles ranging from admission delays to academic difficulties. Despite these challenges, their commitment to excellence resulted in outstanding cumulative grade point averages (CGPAs) that set new benchmarks in their respective departments.
Detailed Profiles of Three Distinguished Graduates
1. Temitope Kolawole - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Temitope Kolawole's academic journey began with a significant setback during his first year at UNILAG. He recorded a carryover in Chemistry after scoring only 28 out of 100, which left him with a CGPA of 3.79 at the end of the semester. Rather than giving up, Temitope chose to rebuild his academic confidence through consistent effort and deeper understanding of his coursework.
After resitting the Chemistry examination and earning a B grade, his CGPA steadily improved beyond 4.5. In his final year, Temitope achieved a perfect 5.0 semester grade point average across ten courses, graduating with a final CGPA of 4.56 and securing a First-Class degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
2. Oluwasegun Ilesanmi - Industrial Relations and Personnel Management
Oluwasegun Ilesanmi made history in the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management by graduating with the highest CGPA ever recorded in the department. His journey to academic success was marked by considerable delays, including spending four years at home after secondary school while attempting to secure university admission.
After finally gaining admission to UNILAG, his four-year program extended to six years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged academic strikes. Despite these challenges, Oluwasegun graduated with a First-Class degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, achieving a remarkable CGPA of 4.87 out of 5.00 and recording a perfect 5.00 GPA in one semester.
3. Opeyemi Fasedemi - Business Administration
Opeyemi Fasedemi's path to UNILAG involved multiple admission rejections before achieving her academic goals. She was denied admission to Lagos State University (LASU) twice despite scoring high marks in her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). On her third attempt, she successfully gained admission to UNILAG to study Business Administration.
Through persistent effort, sleepless nights, and continuous self-improvement, Opeyemi graduated with a final CGPA of 4.74, earning her First-Class degree in Business Administration. Her achievement demonstrates how determination can overcome repeated setbacks in the competitive Nigerian university admission system.
The Broader Context of Academic Achievement in Nigerian Universities
These success stories highlight several important aspects of higher education in Nigeria:
- Overcoming Academic Challenges: Many students face initial difficulties but can achieve excellence through focused improvement.
- Persistence in Admission Processes: The competitive nature of university admissions requires multiple attempts for many qualified candidates.
- External Factors Affecting Education: Issues like academic strikes and global pandemics can significantly extend study durations.
- Departmental Records: Exceptional students often set new benchmarks for academic achievement within their departments.
The achievements of these three UNILAG graduates serve as powerful examples of what Nigerian students can accomplish through dedication and resilience. Their stories not only bring pride to their families and the university but also inspire future generations of students to pursue academic excellence despite the challenges they may encounter.
