Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide, the overall best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2025/2026 academic session, has recounted how he overcame financial hardship, academic disappointment and other challenges to graduate with a 4.97/5.00 cumulative grade point average (CGPA).
Oluolamide, an Aerospace Engineering graduate, shared his experience in a series of posts on X, recalling how his academic journey began in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, after his family relocated from Lagos amid severe financial difficulties.
He said he was sent home from his former school in Lagos while in JSS3 because his parents could not afford the fees.
“After I was sent home from my previous school in Lagos during JSS3 because of unpaid fees, severe family hardship forced us to relocate to Ota,” he wrote.
He subsequently enrolled at Top’s Bright International School, Sango-Ota, where he said financial difficulties continued to affect his education.
“Things were financially tough growing up. There were days I was sent home for school fees, but I stayed consistent at the top of my class,” he said.
His academic performance eventually attracted the attention of the school proprietor, who intervened by settling his outstanding fees and supporting his education.
“Seeing my dedication, my school proprietor did something remarkable: he cleared all my outstanding debts, granted me a full scholarship through SS3, covered my WAEC fees, and supported my UTME fees,” Oluolamide said.
He also acknowledged the role played by teachers who supported him during his secondary school years, particularly Master Timothy Chinedu and Mr Tayo Ajileye.
“I will never forget the teachers who believed in me, teachers who gave me money to buy food to eat during school lunch break, Master Timothy Chinedu, and Mr Tayo Ajileye, who enrolled me in free extra lessons,” he said.
“Everyone supported me with the little they had. That kindness proved to me early on that hard work and diligence pay off.”
From 4.81 to 4.97
Upon gaining admission to LASU, Oluolamide said he was determined to justify the confidence placed in him by his family, teachers and other benefactors.
“Entering LASU, my drive was simple: to make my family, my teachers, my proprietor, and everyone who invested in me proud,” he wrote.
His university career, however, did not begin with the exceptional results that would eventually make him the institution’s overall best graduating student.
He recorded a 4.81 grade point in his first semester at 100 level. Although the result was within the First Class range, he said he was disappointed that it was not the highest in his class.
“My university journey didn’t start with a 5.0. In 100L First Semester, I recorded a 4.81 GP. It was First Class, but not the top of my class, and I felt disappointed,” he said.
His sister subsequently encouraged him to concentrate on how he would finish rather than dwell on his initial performance.
“My sister told me something that stuck with me forever: ‘It’s not about how you start, but how you finish,’” he recalled.
The following semester, he achieved his first 5.0 grade point, raising his CGPA to 4.90.
“From 200L onwards, I stopped competing with anyone else. My goal every single semester was simple: hit 5.0 and give my absolute best,” he said.
Over five years of studying Aerospace Engineering, Oluolamide completed 81 courses, recording 77 As and four Bs.
He said he achieved seven perfect 5.0 grade points across his 10 semesters.
“Behind those numbers were physical and financial sacrifices, yet I never gave up by God’s grace,” he said.
“It wasn’t meant to be easy, but doing it diligently, coupled with divine grace, made it possible.”
By the end of his 400 level, his run of strong academic performances had taken his CGPA to 4.96 and earned him selection for the OPay Scholarship as the only engineering recipient.
He eventually graduated with a 4.97 CGPA, emerging as LASU’s overall best graduating student for the 2025/2026 academic session.
His achievement was also recognised with a N10 million cash prize at the university’s combined 29th and 30th convocation ceremonies.
Faith, support and giving back
Oluolamide said his Christian faith and involvement in Living Spring Fellowship (LSF) also played an important role during his time at the university.
He said he became involved with the fellowship in his first year after being drawn to its Bible studies.
“Coming from an RCCG background, Living Spring Fellowship’s Bible studies in 100L drew me in to the fellowship,” he said.
When he encountered accommodation difficulties in his second year, he said the fellowship helped him secure a hostel.
“By 200L, when accommodation was a struggle, LSF stepped in and helped secure my hostel,” he wrote.
He also acknowledged individuals, including Pastor Bukola, Bro Abidemi, Mummy Winner and Bro ID, whom he said supported him when meeting basic needs became difficult.
Beyond receiving support, Oluolamide said he also sought to assist other students academically by organising tutorials, particularly during examination periods.
“Remembering my seniors’ advice to never hold back knowledge, I spent every pre-exam season running tutorials for my department,” he said.
He attributed his ability to explain complex engineering concepts to his earlier experience as a teacher.
“Having been trained to teach early in SSS3 and working as a teacher after secondary school, I applied the Feynman technique to break down complex engineering concepts,” he said.
“Teaching didn’t take away from me, it made us a family and made us ace courses.”
Reflecting on his journey from a secondary school student who struggled to pay fees to becoming LASU’s overall best graduating student, Oluolamide credited hard work, diligence, persistence and what he described as divine grace.
“I am deeply grateful to my family, my lecturers, my mentors, and my friends who stood by me,” he said.
“From Secondary School Best to Overall Best Graduating Student at LASU, this degree proves that hard work and faith will always yield results.”
“This BGS award belongs to God and everyone who cheered, prayed, invested, and learned alongside me!”
He concluded: “This is not the finish line; it is just the beginning.”
