Pictures: Samuel Badekale, Similoluwa Scott, and Benedict Umeozor, top-performing University of Lagos First Class graduates
From The Nijasun News Desk
Four outstanding University of Lagos graduates have revealed the secrets, sacrifices and daily habits that helped them achieve First Class honours, with three of them graduating with a perfect 5.00 CGPA.
Four exceptional graduates of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have opened up on the study strategies, discipline and personal sacrifices that propelled them to the pinnacle of academic excellence.
The scholars, Benedict Umeozor, Similoluwa Scott, Samuel Badekale and Haroun Adebakin, shared strikingly different journeys but arrived at the same destination: First Class honours.
Three of the scholars achieved the remarkable feat of graduating with a perfect 5.00 CGPA, demonstrating that academic excellence is not necessarily the product of extraordinary intelligence or luck, but can be built through discipline, consistency and deliberate habits.
Their experiences, highlighted by BellaNaija, offer practical lessons for students seeking to excel in Nigeria’s increasingly competitive university environment.
Umeozor: Studying Even When Exhausted
For Benedict Umeozor, who graduated with a perfect 5.00 CGPA after six years in the Faculty of Business Administration, the dream of becoming a top graduate took shape after he watched a previous UNILAG valedictorian receive recognition.
The moment made academic excellence seem achievable and motivated him to develop a system that could take him to the same level.
His demanding work schedule often meant returning home as late as 11 p.m., but he refused to allow fatigue to completely derail his studies. He made it a personal rule to open his books before going to bed.
Umeozor also started preparing early every semester, sought advice from senior students about past questions and employed artificial intelligence tools to simplify difficult concepts and relate them to practical situations.
His experience demonstrates the power of consistency over last-minute cramming.
Scott: From 3.5 GPA to First Class
Similoluwa Scott’s journey is perhaps one of the clearest reminders that a student’s starting point does not have to determine the final destination.
She began her university career with a 3.5 GPA but eventually became the sole First Class graduate from the Department of Geosciences.
The transformation came through self-awareness, collaboration and deliberate efforts to eliminate distractions.
During examinations, Scott sometimes handed her phone to friends to prevent herself from getting distracted. She also relied heavily on discussions with classmates to understand complex areas of her coursework.
Her advice is straightforward: students should not struggle alone.
She encouraged undergraduates to seek information, speak with senior students and surround themselves with people who can provide support and useful guidance.
Badekale: The 5.00 CGPA Student Who Taught His Classmates
Samuel Badekale, who graduated with a perfect 5.00 CGPA in Cell Biology and Genetics, approached his university education with a carefully structured plan.
Growing up in Mushin, he was determined not to allow his circumstances to dictate his future.
At the beginning of every semester, he created a timetable and set daily academic targets, with an ‘A’ in every course as his objective.
But one of his most powerful study techniques was teaching.
Badekale simplified complicated scientific concepts and explained them to his classmates. The process not only helped others but also strengthened his own understanding of the subjects.
He also urged students to discover how they learn best, whether through visual materials, group discussions or independent study.
Adebakin: The Power of Discipline
Haroun Adebakin, another 5.00 CGPA graduate from the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, believes the biggest weapon in the pursuit of academic excellence is not necessarily a timetable—it is character.
According to him, schedules can be disrupted by unexpected events, but discipline and the right mindset can keep a student moving forward.
His journey was built around patience, resilience and an unwillingness to surrender when faced with difficulties.
He advised students to take university life one step at a time instead of becoming overwhelmed by the enormity of their ambitions.
The First Class Formula
Although the four scholars followed different paths, their stories reveal a striking pattern.
Start early. Stay consistent. Avoid distractions. Understand what you study. Teach others. Ask for help. Build the right circle. And, above all, remain disciplined.
Their journeys challenge the popular perception that First Class graduates are simply naturally gifted students.
Instead, their experiences suggest that outstanding academic performance can be deliberately developed through the right habits, systems and mindset.
For students dreaming of graduating at the top of their class, the four UNILAG scholars have offered a powerful lesson: First Class may be earned one disciplined day at a time.
Tags: #UNILAG #FirstClass #AcademicExcellence #NigerianStudents
