“My Small Stature Won’t Stop me from Succeeding” – Jumoke, a 19-Year-Old Undergraduate

Despite her small stature, 19-year-old Jumoke Olatunji, a Linguistics and Languages student at FUOYE, remains determined to succeed, recently earning a full scholarship and aspiring to graduate with First-Class honors.

Jumoke Olatunji, a 19-year-old undergraduate at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), refuses to let her diminutive stature stand in the way of her success. Although she appears much younger than her age, she remains determined to achieve her dreams. According to her, her height does not define her capabilities or make her any different from others.

In an interview with Saturday Sun, she shared insights into her upbringing, ambitions, challenges, and the recent scholarship that changed her academic journey.

Born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State, Jumoke is originally from Igbara Odo in Ekiti State. She is the eldest of three children in a family where her father works as a fashion designer and her mother as a teacher. Despite being much shorter than her siblings and parents, she accepts her stature as part of God’s plan for her life.

Throughout her life, she has faced curiosity and misconceptions about her appearance. In public places, strangers often mistake her for a child and assume she is accompanied by an adult. Rather than feeling discouraged, she laughs off such situations and focuses on her goals.

Jumoke approached university life with confidence. On her first day at FUOYE, she sought out the class governor to be added to the class group for updates. It was only later that she discovered some students had secretly taken pictures of her and shared them online. Over time, she became widely recognized on campus and embraced the attention with a positive attitude.

Originally, she had planned to study Theatre Arts but switched to Linguistics and Languages after not meeting the required cut-off mark. Despite this, she remains passionate about the stage and believes she can still explore acting in the future. She envisions a career where her degree will allow her to work in diverse fields, including hospitals, law firms, or the entertainment industry.

Unlike many of her peers, Jumoke is not focused on romantic relationships. She states that she does not have a boyfriend and does not think about it at this stage in her life. Instead, her priority remains her academic success and personal growth.

Her academic journey took a significant turn when a fellow student interviewed her and shared her story online. The video quickly went viral, capturing the attention of a Nigerian philanthropist, Barrister Yemi Ayeni. Unexpectedly, she received a call from him, informing her of his decision to sponsor her education. Initially skeptical, she confirmed his identity and shared the news with her mother, who was overwhelmed with gratitude.

At FUOYE’s 9th Convocation Ceremony, Barrister Ayeni officially awarded her the scholarship, which covers tuition, accommodation, and other expenses. The university also pledged to support her feeding and other needs throughout her studies. Meeting the Vice-Chancellor during the award ceremony was a moment of pride for her, especially since some had doubted her ability to reach such heights.

Jumoke finds motivation in successful actors such as Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, popularly known as Aki and Pawpaw. She believes that if they could overcome challenges and achieve greatness, she can too.

Encouraging young people, she advises them to stay determined and never give up on their dreams. She recalls taking the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam three times before gaining admission and emphasizes the importance of perseverance. Despite financial struggles, she remains focused on achieving a First Class degree at FUOYE.

Jumoke values honesty and straightforwardness in friendships. She dislikes dishonesty, cheating, and cunning behavior. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, singing, and watching movies. She also draws inspiration from her roommate, Joy, a dedicated Biochemistry student whose study habits motivate her to push herself academically.

When younger children speak to her disrespectfully due to her appearance, she chooses to ignore them or politely ask their parents to intervene.

Expressing her gratitude, she appreciates the Vice-Chancellor, Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, university management, and especially Barrister Yemi Ayeni for his generosity. She also acknowledges her parents, her Head of Department, Dr. Oladimeji Olaide, the VC’s Personal Assistant on Student Affairs, the student who made her story go viral, and her supportive roommate and classmates.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Jumoke remains unwavering in her belief that nothing should stand in the way of success.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SUN