Aarinola Olaiya is a Nigerian medical student who has achieved remarkable academic excellence. She is the first student in 28 years to graduate with 12 distinctions from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Nigeria, where she studied medicine and surgery. She also broke the record by being the first student to have a distinction in surgery at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences.
Aarinola’s journey to success began from her early years, when she won her first scholarship in primary four as the best student among her peers. She continued to shine throughout her secondary education at the Federal Government Girls’ College, Efon-Alaaye Ekiti, where she was appointed Assistant Head Girl in her final year and won 22 prizes on graduation day.
She gained admission into OAU in 2011, where she displayed her academic prowess by scoring a Cumulative Grade Point (CGPA) of 4.74 in her first year. She maintained her high performance throughout her studies, scoring distinctions in numerous courses in her second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth years. Her achievements culminated in a total of 11 distinctions, a feat that had not been achieved in 28 years in her university.
In an interview with Sunday Vanguard, Aarinola attributed her success to her drive to be great, her yearning to be impactful wherever she found herself, and her spirit of excellence. She also spoke about her meticulous approach to her studies and her constant drive to beat her previous achievements.
“I have always wanted to be great and I have always wanted to be impactful wherever I find myself. I have always wanted to be excellent at whatever I do,” she said.
Aarinola’s story is an inspiration to young people around the world, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to pursue their dreams with dedication, hard work, and a spirit of excellence. She is also a role model for women and girls who aspire to excel in male-dominated fields such as medicine and surgery.
Last week, Aarinola emerged as the best graduating student from OAU and was honored by the governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi. Governor Fayemi praised Aarinola’s hard work and excellence, promising to support her in her future academic pursuits.
Aarinola plans to further her education by specializing in neurosurgery or cardiothoracic surgery. She also hopes to contribute to the development of the health sector in Nigeria and Africa.
Jennifer Agbo is a shining example of academic excellence and intellectual achievement. She graduated from the University of Nigeria (UNN) with a first-class degree in economics, scoring a remarkable 4.90 out of 5 grade point average (GPA). She was the best graduating student in her department and one of the top students in the university’s history.
Jennifer’s story is inspiring and motivating for many young Nigerians who aspire to pursue higher education and contribute to the development of their country. She told Weekenders Magazine that she had always loved economics since her secondary school days, and that she was determined to study hard and excel in her chosen field.
“I love economics because it helps me to understand how the world works, how people make decisions, and how policies affect outcomes. I also love mathematics and statistics, which are essential tools for economic analysis,” she said.
Jennifer attributed her success to her passion for learning, her discipline, her supportive family, and her faith in God. She said she faced some challenges during her studies, such as inadequate facilities, power outages, and strikes, but she did not let them deter her from achieving her goals.
“I always tried to make the best use of the available resources, such as the library, the internet, and my lecturers. I also had a study group with some of my classmates, where we discussed assignments and revised for exams. I also prayed a lot and trusted God to help me overcome any obstacle,” she said. Click here to read more about Jennifer’s story.
