Miss Isioma Nwosu, the overall best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2023/2024 academic session, has recounted her emotional journey to academic excellence, revealing that she once believed she had failed in life after being denied admission to study her dream course.
Nwosu, who graduated with a remarkable cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.93 from the Department of Biochemistry, shared her story during her valedictory speech at LASU’s 28th convocation ceremony held at the university’s main campus in Ojo.
Her journey, she explained, was filled with initial setbacks, including having to rewrite the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) after narrowly missing the cut-off mark to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ibadan.
“A valedictorian writing UTME again? It was a bitter pill to swallow,” she said. “I fell just two points below the cut-off mark and the news of my repeat spread like wildfire in my secondary school. I thought I had failed in life.”
Determined to try again, Nwosu applied to LASU, once more for Medicine and Surgery, but was instead offered Biochemistry — a course she admitted she had never heard of at the time.
“My heart broke a second time,” she said, recalling her initial reluctance to embrace the course.
However, through encouragement from lecturers and friends, Nwosu began to excel. Her eventual academic success earned her the top spot among 11,917 graduates, a feat that has inspired many.
In her address to fellow students, she advised: “Never be afraid of having big dreams. Your dreams are the seeds of greatness. Surround yourself with friends who share your values, vision, and ambition.”
She also encouraged her peers to have confidence in themselves, regardless of their final grades. “You completed this phase. You are resilient, capable and prepared for the future. The world is waiting for your greatness.”
In her remarks, LASU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, congratulated all graduates and urged them to take charge of their destinies. “Do not submit your future to the uncertainties of life. Chart your own paths with precision.”
Professor Olatunji-Bello noted that the 28th convocation ceremony marked another milestone for LASU, during which diplomas and degrees were awarded to over 11,000 graduates found worthy in character and learning.
She expressed pride in the accomplishments of the institution and charged the graduates to use their knowledge and skills to drive change in society.
Miss Nwosu’s story stands out as a powerful reminder that with resilience, determination, and the right support system, even the most disappointing detours can lead to fulfilling destinations.
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