UNILAG Best Graduating Student – Korede Akinpelumi
For 21-year-old Korede Akinpelumi, mounting the podium to receive
academic prizes is like treading on familiar terrain. Perhaps, winning
laurels and prizes seems to be another fitting middle name for the Ondo
State-born chemical engineer.
No wonder, last Wednesday during the University of Lagos convocation,
Akinpelumi repeated what he knows how to do best. He not only emerged
the best overall graduate for the 2013/2014 session; more than any other
student did, he mounted the podium on many occasions, shaking hands
with and embracing principal officers of the school, including the
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, and the Pro-Chancellor and
Chairman of the Council of the university, Prof. Jerry Gana.
Among the academic diadems he took away are the Vice Chancellor’s
Prize; Dean of Engineering Prize; New Era Foundation Prize; UNILAG
Parent Forum Prize and the Prof. Ayo Ogunye Scholarship Prize.
Others are the Elumelu Legacy Prize; UNILAG Alumni Association Prize;
Prof. W Harmon Ray Prize, and the late Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe Prize.
Did he just emerge a shining star suddenly at UNILAG? To this
inquiry, the youngster, who scored a Cumulative Grade Point Average of
4.96 out of five points, said ‘No’ with a touch of modesty. According to
him, right from his primary to secondary education, it had always been a
harvest of academic successes.
He said, “I had my primary education at the Omoleye Children’s
School, Onipanu, Lagos, where I finished as the overall best science
pupil. I then proceeded to the International School, University of
Lagos, where I also finished as the overall best graduating student with
8A’s in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
“At the secondary level, I participated in many science competitions
for which I represented my school. I participated in the Cowbell
Mathematics contest at the state level in SS1. I won a silver medal at
the NMC Physics Olympiad, Lagos State level, and proceeded to represent
the state at the national level in Abeokuta. I was the winner of the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Science Quiz Competition, right
from the state, zonal to the national final, which held in Abuja in
2008. I also received awards and a full tertiary scholarship from NNPC
for this feat.
“In 2009, I represented and took Lagos State to victory at the
National JETS Competition, which held in Yobe State. I won individual
awards in Mathematics and Physics and was the second overall best in the
JETS competition for the year. I also received a letter of commendation
from the then Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, for my
exploits in representing the state at various competitions for the
year.”
The valedictorian, who gave an insight into the secret of his
success, said his late medical doctor father, Abiodun, and civil servant
mother, Omokehinde, provided the needed elixir for his “solid academic
foundation.”
He added, “My parents did an excellent job of instilling academic
discipline in us (their children), I remember having to read many novels
right from a tender age while others were playing ball or riding
bicycles round the compound. Of course, I also played as a child, but I
was quick to understand the essence of a good reading habit and
developed so much interest in reading.
I was also lucky to have had such an excellent foundation right from
my secondary school education and so it was just a matter of building on
that solid foundation.”
Besides this initial parental guidance, Akinpelumi said, he did every
other thing any good student should do, adding that he identified early
enough a workable reading pattern on campus.
He explained, “For example, I could read efficiently both in the day
and overnight. So if my schedule for the day was tight, I would shift my
reading to the night. Also, I noticed I had more flair and focus while
analysing calculative problems as opposed to reading up theoretical
concepts. So, I always tried to intercept my long reading hours with 15
minutes of analytical calculations so I could stay sharp for the next
hour. This was usually my strategy while reading overnight.
“Overall, I believe what matters most is for every student to explore
various reading approaches and patterns and identify early enough, that
which applies best to him/her under various situations.”
On whether he identified with girls or was just a bookworm,
Akinpelumi, who said that he enjoyed quality social life on campus,
added however that he expressed this within the confines of religious
activities.
“As a worker and Assistant Secretary in the Redeemed Christian
Fellowship, I had meetings every day and so had most of my friends amid
these people. In fact, I had many friends and even felt more comfortable
with the female folk. However, as regards courtship which I term as
relationship with marriage in view, I am very single and not in one.”
To show really that he was not a bookworm, the valedictorian noted
that he participated in many sporting activities on campus. According to
him, he won the gold medal at the VC Chess Competition and played
football as a centre back, helping his class and department to win
medals.
The Chelsea football enthusiast added, “I was the Assistant General
Secretary of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers in my third
year. I was the Head of Academics and Resource Team, a sub-committee
where I worked with 17 others in inter-phasing between the students and
the Head of Department in ensuring our basic academic needs were met. We
also organised tutorial and software training classes across all
levels. So, I was involved in quite a lot of activities which was the
main reason why I had to limit most of my reading to the night.”
Akinpelumi, who wants to further his studies with the aim of teaching
and making quality research in Chemical Engineering, frowns on sorting
and exam malpractice.
He declared, “The school rules are very clear on this. It is illegal.
I personally think it is sad that students indulge in these fraudulent
acts. The reasons span from low self-confidence in one’s ability to poor
reading culture. However, regardless of what reason it may be, it is
definitely wrong.” (Punch Newspaper)
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