A pregnant 29-year-old lady named Orefunwa Remileku has emerged as the best-graduating student of the Lagos State University (LASU), Nigeria after she earned an Accounting degree with a 4.74 cumulative grade point average.
Remilekun obtained her bachelor’s degree in Accounting Education with a first-class honors grade, Her outstanding achievement earned her the award of LASU’s 2015/2016 overall best graduating student.
She walked the stage to receive her certificate and award while being heavily pregnant with her first child. Orefunwa had the highest grade point out of 36,489 students who graduated in the academic year.
Talking about her achievements, Remilekun stated that it is a testament to her resilience and determination. She mentioned that she wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) seven times before she could gain admission.
Remilekun mentioned that she submitted applications to various universities for seven years, emphasizing her attempts to gain admission to the Obafemi Awolowo University which she applied thrice and was denied admission on all attempts.
Initially, Remilekun said the constant rejections almost led her to abandon her aspirations. However, thanks to the unwavering support and motivation of her sister and father, she persevered and eventually, in 2012, she secured admission to LASU.
“I almost gave up after writing the UTME for seven years in a bid to gain admission into the university without success. I also applied to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, three times without success. But with encouragement from my dad and elder sister, I eventually gained admission to LASU in 2012 to study Accounting Education,” she said.
Despite being on the expectance of admission, Remilekun did not wait at home idle. With the advice of her sister, she became a professional carer at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and was certified as an associate in 2010.
“My sister kept encouraging me and I started a professional career at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria during the long wait for admission. I qualified as an Associate Chartered Accountant in 2010.
Advising others who are in the same situation as she is, Remilekun encouraged them to persevere and remain determined in the middle of their adversity.