Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga, the Overall Best Graduating Student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, has shared a compelling account of hardship, resilience, and academic excellence that shaped his journey to graduation.
Hailing from a rural community in Osun State, Olugbenga recounted growing up in a modest family of five where access to basic necessities was limited.
He said he attended public primary and secondary schools due to financial constraints that made private education unattainable.
He described a childhood marked by difficult conditions, including years without electricity, reliance on lanterns and candles, and long daily walks to school. Despite these challenges, he remained determined to succeed academically.
His perseverance eventually earned him a scholarship that paved the way to university education at LAUTECH, where he distinguished himself through consistent academic excellence.
Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga, the best graduating male student from his department, recorded a First-Class cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.89, a performance of exceptional brilliance that earned him the distinction of Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and, ultimately, the historic Overall Best Graduating Student of LAUTECH at the 18th Convocation.
He also reflected on the role of support systems in his journey, noting that kindness from individuals helped sustain him during difficult moments. In his third year, a coursemate’s father gifted him his first smartphone, while lecturers also extended assistance, including clothing support.
Responding to discussions surrounding his appreciation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Olugbenga emphasized that acknowledging such interventions was an act of gratitude rather than controversy, stressing that the support was instrumental to his academic progress.
“Not all of us are born with a silver spoon. Some of us climbed the ladder by holding on to every rung of legitimate support we could find,” he said.
He encouraged students facing similar challenges to remain resilient, describing his achievement as proof that determination, opportunity, and support can combine to produce excellence.
