UNILORIN made me what I am — UK investment banker

As the University of Ilorin prepares for its golden jubilee anniversary, a graduate of the institution’s Department of Agricultural Economics, Miss Grace Abikoye, has paid glowing tributes to the University for nurturing her to become a strong player in the corporate world.

Miss Abikoye, who is now an investment banker in the United Kingdom, explained that her path to what she is now doing was laid at the University of Ilorin.

She explained in an article published in TechCabal, a London-based Business magazine, that the University’s merit-based system, which rewards the best-performing students, has been creating a system where excellence isn’t just encouraged but expected.

At the heart of this culture, Miss Abikoye explained, is The Investment Society (TIS), a student-led organisation existing across different universities that grooms young Nigerians for careers in global finance.

Miss Abikoye, who now works full-time at a leading global investment bank and seconded on a global sustainability initiative in the United Kingdom, said that her role involves more of strategy and project management after she was briefly exposed to the trading floor during her internship before transitioning to a full-time role.

Beyond her day-to-day role in strategy and project management, where she manages relationships and projects, develops strategies, and travels rather infrequently—but necessarily, Miss Abikoye expressed the conviction that her achievements serve as an inspiration to many students of the University coming after her.

Miss Abikoye recalled that her path to securing a full-time role at a prestigious global investment bank was not straightforward. She said that she had to persevere, position strategically, and commit to learning from scratch.

As an Agricultural Economics undergraduate, Miss Abikoye said that her introduction to the financial sector began during her time at the University, where she actively sought out opportunities beyond the lecture room. She had joined societies like TIS and attended networking events.

The distinguished Unilorite recalled that the turning point came when she applied for an internship at a top global investment bank despite having applied and failed to secure a spot multiple times before landing the current one early in 2021. The internship, a rigorous ten-week programme, exposed her to global markets, where she rotated on the linear rates trading and FX sales desks.

“I struggled a bit with the core financial concepts at first,” she admitted. “But I realised I had a strong ability in relationship management and strategic thinking. I leaned into those strengths.”

She said that her resilience paid off. Despite the challenges, she made an impression on her managers and was offered a full-time position while still an undergraduate at the University of Ilorin—a fully sponsored opportunity.

After her internship, she participated in programmes such as the BCG Aspire Programme and the CFA Research Challenge, which strengthened her understanding of sustainability and finance — two areas that would later prove instrumental in the role she plays today.

Beyond her core responsibilities, the Unilorite has found immense value in exposure to leadership at the bank and initiative.

“I support executives with key stakeholder meetings. It gives me the opportunity to understand industry policies, innovation, and the thought processes of leaders,” she said.

Speaking on the rising profiles of Miss Abikoye and other Unilorites, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, said that he was not surprised with the growing positive trends as Unilorites are trained to dominate their environments positively.

Prof. Egbewole, who spoke through the University Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, encouraged Miss Abikoye and her colleagues to continue to keep the flag of the University flying, saying that all they needed to excel has been inculcated in them while in the University.

The Vice Chancellor encouraged other past and present students of the University to emulate the industry and integrity of Miss Abikoye for them to also excel in whatever career they pursue.

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