A young Nigerian man named Uthman Oloyede has achieved exceptional success after graduating from Abiola Ajimobi Technical University (Tech-U) with a remarkable 4.98 cumulative grade point average over 5.00 in Physics with Electronics.
His outstanding success earned him the overall best graduating student of the 2024 class of the university.
During his valedictory speech, Uthman credited his parents for their unwavering support despite their limited income. Uthman grew up in a modest home with his father working as a committed secondary school teacher, and his mother selling firewood to support the family
“I am the son of a dedicated teacher and a hardworking woman who sold firewood. Today, I stand as a testament that no background is too humble for excellence,” he said, with pride and gratitude.
After his secondary school education, gaining admission into a university was tough. Uthman sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) five times before he finally got in.
The repeated setbacks nearly discouraged him, but he remained determined. Eventually, Uthman was awarded a scholarship by the Lagelu Local Government in Oyo State. That support, he says, changed the direction of his life and made his dream of a university education possible.
He also expressed gratitude to the Oyo State Government for their commitment to making education accessible to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Throughout his time at the university, Uthman maintained outstanding academic performance, earning almost all A’s across his coursework, earning a 5.0 grade point average in six out of eight semesters—a rare academic feat.
Beyond academics, Uthman also took on leadership roles, serving as Ameer and Chairman of the Education Committee in the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN).
He believes that taking up responsibilities outside the classroom helped him grow in discipline, leadership, and time management.
Also, Uthman’s academic excellence earned him several prestigious recognitions, including the Federal Government Scholarship Award (FSB), the MTN Foundation Scholarship, and the Oyo State Bursary, which further lightened the financial burden on his family.
Now looking ahead, Uthman hopes to pursue advanced studies and contribute meaningfully to research and innovation in Nigeria
