Night studies, divine grace, prayers earned me 4.79 CGPA — Ogbomoso-born Unilorin 1st class graduate
pannigeriannews
2 min read
An indigene of Ogbomoso, Mr. Jelil Adeyemi Amuda, has attributed his academic feat of graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in Surveying and Geoinformatics from the University of Ilorin to sleepless nights of studies, divine grace, and the ceaseless prayers of his mother.
The 32-year-old achiever, who emerged as the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics and also the Best in the Faculty of Environmental Sciences with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.79, described his academic journey as a story of resilience, sacrifice, and faith.
“I dedicated my nights to study for at least an hour every day because my days were always filled with school activities and professional work,” he recounted.
“Whenever I faced difficulties, especially in minor courses from other departments, I made friends there, regardless of age, so I could learn from them and make my studies easier. Every semester, I started reading within two weeks of resumption and ensured I completed all my coursewares before examinations.”
Born and raised at Osupa area in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Amuda’s journey to academic excellence was far from smooth.
After losing his father two years after finishing secondary school, he apprenticed in Surveying and qualified as a Survey Technician in 2014.
Determined to build a professional career, he sat the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) four times before clearing all papers in 2015.
He began his tertiary education in 2017 at the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo, where he graduated as the Overall Best Student in his department with a CGPA of 4.44.
At age 28, he proceeded to the University of Ilorin in 2021 for his Bachelor’s Degree.
Reflecting on the challenges, he said, “Having classes at my age wasn’t easy. Most of my secondary school mates had already graduated frombuniversity, but I remained focused. I had to sacrifice my freedom and the chance to make more money as a trained Survey Technician to achieve this dream.”
Despite juggling professional work and academics, Amuda maintained discipline and focus, narrowing his field jobs to a few trusted clients to allow time for study.
“Though I lost some clients and colleagues along the way, I’m grateful to God for how far I’ve come,” he said.
He credited his success largely to divine grace and his mother’s daily prayers, which he described as the spiritual pillar behind his accomplishments.
Looking ahead, the Unilorin first-class graduate hopes to further his education by pursuing a Master’s Degree and working toward becoming a Registered Surveyor under the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON), and an academic.
“This is just the beginning. I believe with God’s grace, hard work, and consistency, greater achievements still lie ahead,” he said with optimism.
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