I always took the last position in class ―Adunola Shoge, UI’s overall Best Graduating Student (2024)

With 6.4 out of 7.0 CGPA and 13 awards, Adunola Shoge emerged the overall Best Graduating Student of the 2020/2021 session of the University of Ibadan (UI). In this interview, the Ogun State indigene tells ENIOLA OYEMOLADE her educational journey, how it was hard for her to learn at first and how she emerged the best graduating student.

At what point did it dawn on you that you were going to graduate with a First Class and even the overall best student?

First class did not just happen; I had badly wanted it and knew I must graduate with a First Class before I resumed at UI. I had always prayed concerning it and promised my dad that I was going to graduate with a First Class and get the best out of my course of study. On resumingatUI, with my mindfixed on that goal, all my actions and activities were directed towards that goal but I honestly did not know I would finally emerge as the overall best student.I only worked earnestly towards becoming the best graduating student of my department and faculty but God helped to getmore than I bargained for.

What extra steps did you take to make sure you finished with a First Class?

While I was in school, I did not believe in a free time because the zeal to succeed kept me on my toes at all times. I was always studying very hard at every single opportunity I got in the university. I read to the extent that reading became my hobby and I ensured to do it every day irrespective of how tired I got or how busy my day was. It became an antidote tomy survival on campus. I made sure to read my notes not lessthan10 times before examinations and invested most of energyinto reading because my heart badly yearned for an outstandingresult.

In the Valedictorian speech, you mentioned you had post UTME score of 50. Take us through your admission process from the moment you started the application, the moment you scored 50, till you gained admission.

During the application process, I honestly did not have any idea as to what the application process was like or what I wanted to study. Becauseof that, I submitted to the societal pressure to apply to study Pharmacybecause my dad had a pharmacy degree and I chose the University of Ibadan because I wanted the best school. On choosing UI, people felt I was shooting beyond my reach because of my poor academic history in the early stage of my life but I had chosen it before people’s opinions, so I stuck toit!It became a do or die affair.

While preparing for the post UTME, I did not have a phone, neither did I have information as regardswhatto read nor did I have adequate time to prepare because I worked between two jobs from 7:00 a.m till 7:00 p.m because my parents had just lost their business to a major financial crisis and I felt the need to support myself in preparation for the university.

I got home very tired everyday but I readthe few textbooks I had during the weekend. On the post UTME day, my uncle whopaid for the examination took me there, and then I saw other post UTME candidates studying avidly for the examination with the study materials that I had never seen before. I almostfelt defeated but I immediately encouraged myself and summoned the courage to put down what I had read irrespective of the pressure around me. Lo andbehold;I had a post UTME score of 50which was the least cut-off mark to gain admission into UI. Ifelt bad because I knew there was no chance of studying pharmacy andhad very little chance of getting admission. However, I kept hope alive by applying for a change of course to study ‘Wildlife and Ecotourism Management’ because I loved and enjoyed tourism adventures since way back in primary school till secondary school and I got the admission.

You also mentioned that for the first 10 years of your life, you were not able to assimilate anything, how were you and your parents able to manage the situation?

It was a challenging moment for my family. Schoolsand teachers felt incapacitated and defeated by my situationand my parentswho did not get the best of education kept ontrying their possible best to give methe bestdespite my situation. They stood up to the situation and believed in impossibilities. I felt very helpless and could not even make sense of the situation. I always took the last positionin class and heard the word, ‘dullard’ being said at me, that it almost stuck asmy name. I was ready to learn but I was not just getting it. At a point, my parents who struggled to pay my fees and ensured I was in school even when my siblings were home because ofschool fees due to my situationcould not afford the school anymore. So they had to opt for a more affordable school which was West African Preparatory School (WAPSCO). I had to repeat four classes in the new school. I was in the Basic four in my previous school but had to start all over again from Basic One in the new school.My parents were not happy butagreed sincethe decision was going to make me better. It was a big but lifechanging decision for me. The teachershandled me with care and took their time to start from the very beginning. I started all over with alphabets and numbers at age 10. Within two weeks of being in the school, I had already mastered alphabets and numbers. In fact,I could read few words. I started emerging among the topfive students inprimary school and topped my classes from secondary school till university level.

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Did you have any challenges or distractions while in school?

I had financial challenges. It did not really bother me until I could not afford a set oftextbooks and I had a B in the course. That was when I realised that theabsence of finances could deter me from achieving my dream of getting an outstanding result. I had to support my parents in financing my academics pursuit by engaging in several businesses on campus.I workedas cosmeticsretailer, housing agent, cleaning agent and salesrepresentative.At a point, my CGPAdropped from a First Class degree to a second class upper because I could not strikea balancebetween academics and business. It was a very painful experiencebutI could not stop the business.Ireallyhad tostruggle to concedea balance. I latter attained a first class in 300 Leveland worked tirelessly to maintain and boost myCGPA till 500 Level.

Did you receive any awards?

Yes, I received some awards. They areTheValedictorian for 2021 set, University of Ibadan, 2022; Best Graduating Student, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, 2022;Best Graduating Student, Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, 2022; University of Ibadan Vice Chancellor’s First Class Honours Recognition, 2022; Overall Best Final Year Student,Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, UI, 2022; Overall Best Final Year Student, Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, UI, 2022;Dean’s Academic Excellence Award, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, UI,2018, 2019;Overall Best Studentin 400L, Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, UI,2018, 2019;Most Intellectual Student (300 Level), Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, UI,2019;Meritorious Award of Academic Excellence and Outstanding Leadership, 2019;Meritorious Award of Service, Member of Renewable Natural Resources Students’ Society Association (RENRSA) Health Committee, 2019;Meritorious Award of Service, Member of Wildlife and Ecotourism Students’ Society (WESS) Electoral Committee, 2018, 2019;Meritorious Award of Service, Secretaryof Wildlife and Ecotourism Students’ Society (WESS)Electoral Committee, 2020.