AFRICA | A determined young Nigerian lady named Lasisi Romoke Adunbarin has defied all odds to graduate with a 4.94 CGPA First Class in Mathematics from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).
Adunbarin’s achievement earned her the third-best overall graduating student of the entire university. Her story is one of grit, faith, and resilience, a powerful reminder that humble beginnings do not define how far one can go.
Adunbarin's Story and How She Did It
In 2021, Adunbarin went viral on social media after sharing a photo of herself working as a cleaner, despite facing criticism from those who mocked her choice of job. At the time, she explained that cleaning was her only means of raising funds for her university education.
“A colleague once asked how I felt posting pictures in a cleaner’s uniform. I told her it doesn’t matter — people who don’t like me won’t suddenly start liking me. That’s who I am presently, but I won’t be here forever,” she recalled.
And true to her words, she was not as that post led her to her exceptional achievement.
Growing up in a humble background as the first child in her family, Adunbarin was determined not to add to the financial pressures at home. She took on different jobs, from sales representative to nursery school teacher, and finally, cleaner, all to save for her university education.
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Although she initially dreamed of studying Computer Engineering, she was offered Mathematics in 2019. Instead of complaining, she chose to give her best.
“Mathematics chose me. I told myself the best way to prove I deserved the course I wanted was to excel in the one I was given — and with hard work, persistence, and God’s help, I did,” she said.
Throughout her studies, Adunbarin showed remarkable discipline and self-belief. She described discipline as her biggest strength, saying,
“Without discipline, nothing can be achieved. My vision of a better tomorrow kept me going, knowing that every little effort was a step closer to my dream.”
Her consistency paid off. She not only graduated with a near-perfect 4.943 CGPA but also became the third overall best student of the 2025 graduating class, just 0.001 points behind the second position.
Adunbarin’s brilliance extended beyond academics. She volunteered as a data analysis tutor using Python in her department and served as a Data Science tutor at the Computer Science Academy Africa (CSA) Workshop at the University of Nairobi, Kenya , a fully funded opportunity that broadened her exposure.
Taking to social media to celebrate her achievement, Adunbarin expressed deep gratitude to everyone who supported her academic journey.
“Thank you to all the amazing individuals who supported me. I’m grateful to share that I finished with a 4.943 CGPA — just 0.001 behind the second best. I hope I made you all proud,” she wrote.
For those from modest backgrounds who feel limited by their circumstances, she encouraged them to remain steadfast and never be ashamed of the situation.
“Don’t let your situation frustrate you. Do your work with joy and pride; never be ashamed of what you do. With faith, discipline, and belief in God, everything gets better with time,” Adunbarin advised.
With her passion for technology and mathematics, Adunbarin plans to further her education to the PhD level in a tech-related or data science field. Her goal is to use her expertise to create real-world impact while continuing to mentor others and contribute to community growth.
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