Interview: My 196 UTME score still remains a mystery to me — UNILORIN overall best graduating student

With the 4.92 CGPA, Adeola ENOLA recently became the overall graduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). In an interview with TRIBUNEONLINE, the 22-year-old mathematician talked about how he achieved this feat, some of the challenges he faced, and how he overcome them.

At what point did it dawn on you that you were going to finish with a very high grade? Or did you even know you would emerge as the best overall graduating student of the year?

I realised I could finish with a very high grade after my 200 level results were released. I knew if I consistently performed exceptionally, I could graduate as the overall best. Well.. Let’s say, I knew about it even though I wasn’t so sure about it.

You scored 196 points in UTME, but you are now the best student. This is a huge shift. What happened along the line?

My 196 UTME score is unexplainable. It still remains a mystery to me. I was a pretty smart kid and was the overall best graduating student in my secondary school. I had the lowest UTME score among all my classmates, some had 256, 283, etc, even though I was the best student in the class. After I failed UTME, I was humbled, and I drew closer to God. It was one of the incidents that crushed me. I began to trust God for success, not Just relying on my efforts alone.

What made you decide to study mathematics?

Since I couldn’t meet up the required cut-off mark for mechanical engineering which I initially applied for, I decided to change my course to mathematics with the thought that God can use a mathematician like me just like He used my fathers in the Lord. Also, I liked calculations and knew I could do well in mathematics.

As a student, what challenges do you face and how did you overcome them?

My main challenge is time management. In addition to academics, I also participated in other activities. I can overcome this problem by sacrificing something.

Whenever I see some of my partners are wasting time, I know I can’t do that because I have to take extra responsibility, and my night is for it. I spend most of my time in class because I mainly read at night. So I deal with other activities during the day.

What is your reading mode?

I don’t have a single reading mode, but I read every day, especially at night. I have several ways of reading.

Tell us a little about your background

I was born on October 27, 1999, to the family of late Mr and Mrs Adeola Johnson Agbana. I am the last of five children.

I had my primary education at Kings Grace Academy, Lokoja, where I graduated as the second best student in 2010. From there, I proceeded to Government Day Secondary School, Adankolo, Lokoja, where I had my secondary education and graduated as the overall best student in 2016.

My father (of blessed memory) who went to be with the Lord in April 2020, was a committed and disciplined Christian who taught us God’s word and the reward of work. Right from when I was a child, my father would always pray for me that I will be the head.

Although we were not rich, my parents sent all of us to school since they couldn’t further their education due to financial challenges even though they were intelligent.

I’m the first university graduate in my family, my siblings attended colleges of education.