AFRICA | A young Nigerian lady named Betty Olanrewaju has achieved remarkable success, fighting her way from an extremely difficult academic start to graduating with honors in Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in Nigeria.
Betty earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Engineering with a Second Class Upper Division (4.04/5.00 CGPA).
She was also formally inducted into the engineering profession as a Graduate Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)—a milestone that marks her transition from student to professional engineer.
Betty's Story and How She Did It
Betty’s journey did not begin with confidence or applause. Like many students, she entered the university believing that lecture notes and classroom attendance would be enough to succeed. OAU, however, had other plans.
When her Part 1, first semester results were released, she was hit with a shocking reality: a 1.56 grade point average. For someone not used to having low grades, the experience was devastating.
Betty’s self-esteem took a hit, and doubts crept in. At that point, graduating with honors felt almost impossible. Yet, that moment became a turning point.
EXPLORE SCHOLARSHIPS
Determined not to be defined by her lowest moment, Betty made a conscious decision to change her approach. She began attending tutorials, actively participating in group discussions, and studying smarter, not just harder.
And her effort paid off gradually. By the end of Part 2, her grade point average had risen to 3.01, a significant recovery considering where she started. Still, she was not satisfied, as her goal now shifted from survival to excellence.
She set clear standards for herself, not to score below a B and achieve consistent first-class semester performances.
From that point onward, Betty stayed disciplined. With determination, resilience, and faith, she recorded five first-class GPAs in her final six semesters—4.82, 4.76, 4.60, 4.78, and 4.79—and had only two C’s during that period.
She recalls praying earnestly to graduate with at least a 3.5 CGPA, but by grace and persistence, she surpassed that expectation, finishing with a 4.04 CGPA. In total, her academic record reflected 38 As, 19 Bs, 13 Cs, 2 Ds, and 4 Es—a powerful reminder that growth is often non-linear.
Despite her academic challenges, Betty ranked among the top five students in her class and remained deeply committed to service and leadership.
She volunteered in several roles, including serving in an unorthodox but impactful role as a Janitor, Electoral Member, Association of Materials Science and Engineering Students, OAU (2022/2023), Electoral Chairman, same association (2023/2024)
Balancing academics with volunteering required discipline, time management, and sacrifice, yet Betty persevered and graduated excellently.
Follow our Social Media Channels:
- WhatsApp: Scholarship Region WhatsApp
- Facebook: Scholars Region
- Twitter: @scholarsregion
- Telegram: Scholarship Region