How I overcame hardship to excel — LASU best graduating student

The overall best graduating student of Lagos State University for the 2025/2026 academic session, Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide, has narrated how he overcame financial hardship, academic disappointment, and other challenges to graduate with a 4.97/5.00 cumulative grade point average.

Oluolamide, an Aerospace Engineering graduate, shared his story in a series of posts on X, recalling how his academic journey began in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, after his family relocated from Lagos following severe financial difficulties.

He said he was sent home from his previous school in Lagos during JSS3 because of unpaid 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 continued his education at Top’s Bright International School, Sango-Ota, where he said financial difficulties remained a major challenge.

“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.

According to him, his dedication eventually caught the attention of the school proprietor, who decided to intervene.

“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,” he wrote.

Oluolamide also remembered teachers who supported him during his difficult 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.

“Everyone supported me with the little they had. That kindness proved to me early on that hard work and diligence pay off,” he said.

On gaining admission to LASU, Oluolamide said his motivation was to repay the confidence placed in him by those who supported his education.

“Entering LASU, my drive was simple: to make my family, my teachers, my proprietor, and everyone who invested in me proud,” he wrote.

However, his university journey did not begin with the outstanding grades that would eventually make him the institution’s best graduating student.

He said he scored a 4.81 grade point in his first semester at 100 level.

“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, he added, encouraged him to focus on how he would finish rather than how he started.

“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, Oluolamide recorded 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.

He said achieving the results came with significant sacrifices.

“Behind those numbers were physical and financial sacrifices, yet I never gave up by God’s grace,” he wrote.

Across five years studying Aerospace Engineering, Oluolamide completed 81 courses, recording 77 As and four Bs.

“Out of 10 semesters, God blessed me with 7 perfect 5.0 GPs. It wasn’t meant to be easy, but doing it diligently, coupled with divine grace, made it possible,” he said.

By the end of 400 level, his consecutive 5.0 grade points had pushed his CGPA to 4.96, leading to his selection for the OPay Scholarship as the only engineering recipient.

He eventually finished with a 4.97 CGPA, emerging as LASU’s overall best graduating student for the 2025/2026 academic session.

His performance also earned him a N10m cash prize at the university’s combined 29th and 30th convocation ceremonies.

(https://punchng.com/lasu-2026-best-graduating-student-gets-n10m-cash-prize/))

Beyond academics, Oluolamide said his faith and the support he received from his Christian fellowship played an important role in his university experience.

Quoting Matthew 6:33, he wrote, “Seek first the kingdom of God…”

He said his involvement with Living Spring Fellowship began in 100 level after its Bible studies attracted him.

“Coming from an RCCG background, Living Spring Fellowship’s Bible studies in 100L drew me in to the fellowship,” he said.

According to him, the fellowship later helped him secure accommodation when he faced difficulties in 200 level.

“By 200L, when accommodation was a struggle, LSF stepped in and helped secure my hostel,” he wrote.

He also recalled receiving support from several individuals when meeting basic needs became difficult.

“When basic survival was tough, God provided through great people,” he said, listing Pastor Bukola, Bro Abidemi, Mummy Winner and Bro ID among those who supported him.

He also credited his fellowship brethren, coursemates and level mates for helping him through his university years.

Oluolamide, however, said he was not only a beneficiary of support but also made efforts to help other students academically.

“Remembering my seniors’ advice to never hold back knowledge, I spent every pre-exam season running tutorials for my department,” he said.

He explained that his earlier experience as a teacher helped him simplify difficult engineering concepts for his colleagues.

“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.

“Teaching didn’t take away from me, it made us a family and made us ace courses,” he wrote.

Reflecting on his journey from being a secondary school student who struggled with fees to becoming LASU’s overall best graduating student, Oluolamide attributed his achievement to hard work, diligence, persistence and divine grace.

“I rose from 4.9 to 4.92 with 4.96 GPA, 1st semester and 4.94 with 5.0 GPA, second semester

“I believe it was the grace of God, doing things Diligently (DID) and Never Giving up,” he said.

Expressing appreciation to those who supported him, he said, “I am deeply grateful to my family, my lecturers, my mentors, and my friends who stood by me.”

He added, “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.”