Diligence plus godliness equals excellence, say these two exceptional FUTA graduates

They both mounted the rostrum during the Federal University of Technology, Akure ( FUTA)’s combined convocation to deliver the valedictorian speech, having both emerged best graduating students of their respective sets (2017/2018).

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But it didn’t end there; both Tope Adebodun of the Department of Applied Geophysics (2018) and Janet Olufunke Olanrewaju from Food Science and Technology (2017) finished strong, with a CGPA of 4.91 (out of 5.0).

Tope Adebodun

He hailed from Ila Orangun, Osun State (from a family of five) but grew up in Lagos. Tope Abiodun says the determination to be excellent was a personal decision he made long time ago as a child. He had a slow start, somehow, having repeated a class in primary school (Primary 3).

The following year, he came seventh in the same class he repeated. That seemed to have ignited something in him; because, in the remaining years in primary, junior secondary and senior secondary school, he topped his class.

That ‘obsession’ with excellence seemed to have stuck to him like a leach ever since.

He said he chose Applied Geophysics because he couldn’t get his preferred course, Electrical Engineering or Geology, at the University of Ilorin. He also would have chosen to study Geology at FUTA, but he “didn’t like too much note writing.”

Mr Adebodun said he was privileged to teach first year university physics with some third year Relativity Physics (students) for two years on the platform of his students’ fellowship (CCF-NIFES), and later went to teach post-UTME tutorials for about two years.

He was also an active member of the university’s Space Club, and was involved in many projects, including the Balloon Challenge; Youth Mappers (which involved the mapping of municipal waste within Akure to help in waste management in the city), Africa Code Week, through which he went to schools to teach basic computing and introduce students to the concept of programming.

Adebodun says the secret to success is consistency.

“Consistency means that you do the job even when you don’t feel like doing it. I had to operate on a tight schedule. My results were even better while I served as a hall pastor,” he told Saturday Tribune.

He had a pattern to his studies too.

“I had a study habit of never wasting time. I had to go through the notes for the day, on that same day. I never allowed my notes to pile up before going through them,” he said.

“Every day of the semester mattered to me. There was no room for dilly-dallying. I also had friends who at some point pushed me to seek more. At some point in time, there was this pressure not to disappoint many who expected the best from me. I thank God they weren’t disappointed.”

But that said, Adebodun was never in competition with anyone to be the best graduating student. He just wanted to excel and obtain the maximum GPA he could garner each semester.

Pressed for his formula for success, he said: “Always involve God. Work hard. Work smart. Hope you get lucky!”

He has his eyes on postgraduate studies, with the ultimate goal of someday becoming a lecturer.

Janet Olanrewaju

A resident of Badagry, Lagos State, Janet Olanrewaju, first of two children from her parents, is from Kwara State.

Interestingly though, Food Science and Technology was not her direct choice.  After three unsuccessful attempts to gain admission to various universities, she chose FUTA as a second choice, with Biochemistry as a course.

When the first list came out and she was not given admission, her name came out on the change of course list. She took the change of course form with three choices: Food Science and Technology, Biology, and Animal Production and Health. She was given Food Science and Technology.

But she grew to love the course. In fact, she says that her past five years on the course were a very fulfilling part of her life.

Miss Olanrewaju said the willingness and a burning desire to make a difference was her propelling force.

“Lessons from life had made me to always want to make the best out of everything despite many odds and discouragements,” she to Saturday Tribune.

Interestingly, Janet too was not consumed with the goal of graduating as the best student among her set; she also just “wanted to come out with good grades.”

Miss Olanrewaju resumed at FUTA “in a sickly state,” to use her exact words (though she didn’t reveal the particular health challenge she had).

“So, I could not go to night classes as other students did. I did all my readings in the hostel, quiet environments around the school and perhaps afternoon or evening classes when the noise level was very low.

“I asked questions about topics I did not understand from lecturers in classes, consulted textbooks in the library to broaden my reasoning and understanding,” she said.

She socialized, to the extent that she could interact with colleagues on topics in all courses taught, but isolated herself from “extreme social activities that are not expedient for the season.”

Having lived through and excelled despite her initial ‘health challenge’, it is no surprise that she, too, attributes her success to God, “the Source of all wisdom applicable for outstanding success and excellence.”

But she exerted herself too.

“Diligence in one’s work will definitely make a great landmark of success beyond desire,” she says.

That happened. Her first result at FUTA came with a GPA of 5.0, which she said “was a great surprise.”

“On and on, my results kept being high, and it started looking real that I could be the best graduating student. But I just needed to keep up the pace knowing that the end would show the best,” she said.

What does she plan to do next, Janet waxed spiritual again: “It is for man to plan and for God to establish the plans. God leads, I follow.

“But by my plans, I hope to go for my Master’s (degree), create a world of impact for lives, settle down and continue to be a great asset of excellence in my sphere, nation and world.”