A brilliant young lady named Animashaun Sulykho has rewritten her story in the most inspiring way rising from one of her lowest academic moments to graduating as the only first-class student in her class at the University of Abuja, Nigeria.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Primary Education with an outstanding 4.65 CGPA, emerging not just as the best in her class, but also setting a record as the first student in her program to graduate with a first-class.
Sulykho's Story and How She Did It
But her journey was far from smooth. From the very beginning, Sulykho’s university experience was marked by deep personal challenges.
In her first year, while trying to adjust to academic life, she was also going back and forth from school to care for her sick mother. Despite the emotional and physical strain, she remained focused and finished her first year strong with a 4.50 grade point.
Then came her second year, and a painful turning point as her mother passed, leaving her with an overwhelming grief.
Beyond academics, she was dealing with the loss of someone who had been her biggest motivation. For a moment, she stopped chasing the dream of a first class. It no longer felt the same without her mother to witness the success.
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Despite the pain, Sulykho remained determined, and she kept pushing forward. She completed that academic year with an impressive 4.92 GPA, proving that even in brokenness, strength can still exist.
Her third year tested her even more. Sulykho battled depression and came close to dropping out of school entirely. With the support of people around her, she kept going, but then came another blow.
In one of her courses, she received a “D”, the only student in her class with that grade. This moment broke her.
Her overall performance dropped to a 4.14 GPA that year, and it felt like everything she had worked for was slipping away. For many students, that moment would have marked the end of the dream of graduating with a first class.
But not for Sulykho. Instead of giving up, she made a decision to rise again.
In the following semester, she gradually found her strength, held on to her faith, and recommitted herself to her goals. She bounced back with a 4.67 grade point average, returning to first-class form.
By her final year, the transformation was clear. With renewed focus, discipline, and resilience, she gave her all. She poured herself into her studies, blocking out distractions and staying committed to her purpose. At the end of it all, she achieved a 4.82 GPA.
When she saw her final results, she broke down in tears. To her, it was not just about the grades; it was proof that her struggles did not define her ending. That one “D” did not have the power to cancel her dream.
Against all odds, Animashaun Sulykho graduated as the only first-class student in her class, the best graduating student in her class, and the second-best graduating student in her department.
She was also recognized with multiple awards for her outstanding performance. Interestingly, Sulykho revealed that she intentionally avoided extracurricular and social activities during her time in school.
For her, staying focused on her academic goal was a priority, and she made sacrifices to protect that vision. Yet, at the heart of her success lies something deeply emotional.
She dedicated her achievement to her late mother, expressing a heartfelt message: “Iya Anike, can you see me? I wish you had waited a little longer. I fought, and I won.”
She also reflected on the semester she received that “D,” admitting it felt like her efforts had been overlooked. But in hindsight, that moment became a turning point. “What was meant to discourage me only pushed me higher,” she said.
Sulykho said now that she has achieved success, it is a powerful reminder that delays, disappointments, and even moments that feel unfair do not define the end of one’s story.
Sulykho’s achievement is even more significant as she becomes the first person in both her mother’s and father’s family to graduate with a first-class degree, breaking generational barriers and setting a new standard.
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