Folafoluwa: A name fit for a genius!

Another rising star, a 21-year-old lady from Osun State, has joined the list of Nigerian youngsters writing the name of the country in positive bold print by graduating in a Law degree programme in a United Kingdom university with a perfect score of 360 points out of 360.

HER name literally means ‘Give honour to God’. And who says there is nothing in a name? Folafoluwa Oginni, 21, is a literal translation of a genius.

She last week graduated from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom with a perfect score of 360 points out of 360. She achieved that feat in a spectacular style, finishing her Law degree without getting a B score throughout her programme.

She spoke of her experience while delivering the university’s 2017 graduation address:

“As an individual, my experience at the University of Hertfordshire has definitely been one of the most interesting of my life. It’s been full of a diverse range of experiences from a 17- hour shift at the airport welcoming international students to the UK and the University of Hertfordshire, to organising the first ever diversity event in the Law School alongside some amazing student and staff planning committee members.

“I know I speak for us all when I say we have gained more than just an academic qualification. A lot of us got to travel the world and experience different cultures. The less adventurous ones like myself got involved in extra-curricular activities that have greatly complimented our skill set and made us desirable to any employer.

“At the beginning of this degree, I know we all had our different doubts and concerns, but we made our decisions and went through with it. Even when the going got tough, we pushed, fought and prayed our way through. And look where we are today. I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved as individuals and as a class.”

But her father was not at the event and risks not being at her thanksgiving event coming up soon. She explained: “Speaking of support systems, I would like to take a minute to thank my dad, Dr. Adeniyi Oginni, who unfortunately has been deprived the honour of witnessing this wonderful occasion by the UK Visa Decision Making Centre who have held on to his application for over 2 months now.”

Her father, Dr Oginni, told Saturday Tribune: “I and my wife believe that we are not our  children’s maker, we are only to guide them to fulfill destiny, the purpose determined by God, who is their maker. So we study each of them and pray for God’s leading in the choice of their careers.

“For example after her elder sister who studied English completed her NYSC she got a job with a bank but after three months she said it was not giving her fulfillment and she opted out to pursue a career in corporate communication / television and film production and we are prayerfully supporting that decision. The third of them, however, chose to be a doctor and we have been assisting her in all legitimate ways possible to realize her dream.

“Parents must unite in the training of their children. Where there is no agreement between the father and mother as to how to grow the children, the result will be unpleasant. Children also must learn to obey their parents and seek to please God in everything they do. They must not join the multitude to do evil for the gain of every evil act is short-lived. They must be godly, diligent and focused in the pursuit of their dreams.”

On how he felt as a parent of an award winning girl, he said:

“It feels great and I thank almighty God who is the author of all good and perfect gifts. She is a gift to my family and we are excited about all God has done for us through her.”

Fola Oginni’s brilliance is by no means a flash in the pan. Over the years, she had maintained a consistent record of academic brilliance.

In 2013, while still 17 years old, Folafoluwa was adjudged the overall best student in the May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) after scoring the highest grade in all her eight subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

That year, she beat two other girls (Oluwakemi Olalude and Chinelo Ibekwe) to lift the prestigious WAEC National Distinction/Merit award.

While she scored a cumulative score of 653.9318, she was trailed by Olalude (who also obtained Grade 1 in all her eight subjects) with 649.3797; and Anambra State-born Ibekwe (also with Grade 1 in all her subjects) with 647.9675.

The Council honoured them during its Nigeria National Committee 51st Annual General Meeting held in Owerri, Imo State, that year.

Folafoluwa sat the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examiniation (UTME) and scored 312, and applied to study Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

At the end of her first session at OAU, she emerged as the best with a CGPA of 4.53 (First Class division), but the 2014 national strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) expectedly disrupted academic activities, and her momentum. She was eventually enrolled to study at the University of Hertfordshire.

The rest is history, as they say.

Folafoluwa, born of Ijesa, Osun State, parents, broke records at the institution, amassing a Credit Point of 360 out of 360.

Born on December 13, 1995, she attended Folorunsho Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government Area between 1999 and 2000 as well as St. Clare’s Nursery and Primary School, Isale-Aro, Osogbo, between 2001 and 2006.

Oginni attended Our Lady and St. Francis Catholic College, Isale-Aro, Osogbo.

Folafoluwa in 2009 was said to have come first in the Junior Category of International Digest Competition entitled ‘Raising IT Champions for 2020’.

She won the second position in the junior category of the NAFDAC (National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control) Consumer Safety Club Schools Competition in 2009, and took the first position in the Caremi Essay Competition to mark the 2010 World Mental Health Day.

She also came second in the competition in 2011 at the SSS category, as well as third in the senior category of the International Digest 2010 contest.

Folafoluwa has two books – The Joy and Agony of Reaping (2005) and the Despised Corner Piece (2008) –to her name.