Meet Adeleke Sherifat, OAU’s best graduating student who earned 4.89/5.00CGPA in Computer Science

By her second year, Sherifat had fully adapted. She discovered study strategies that worked for her and began to dominate math-intensive and logic-driven courses, consistently earning top grades.

Her motivation in the early years was deeply personal. Coming from humble beginnings, she was driven by the desire to maintain a strong CGPA and earn scholarships.

As she progressed, she became more inspired. Watching convocation ceremonies and seeing the names of top graduates ignited a belief that she could one day stand among them.

In her third year, Sherifat’s excellence was recognized when she received the OAU Star Award and began earning recognition as a top student. While the accolades were motivating, they also came with pressure. Her five-year courses extending to seven years intensified expectations, and maintaining excellence became mentally demanding.

Her final year, by her own account, was driven by pure determination. Fatigue, long-term academic pressure, and the weight of expectations required discipline and focus to push through to the end.

To manage stress, Sherifat leaned on her support system, family, friends, and coursemates. She learned to pause when necessary, rest intentionally, and embrace a calm philosophy:
“Stress doesn’t solve anything. Relax, think it through, and solutions will come.”

Sherifat’s excellence was not limited to academics. She is also a graphic designer and actively volunteers with the Nigeria Association of Computing Students (NACOSS), where she served as Head of the Design Team in her fifth year.

She has worked with companies across Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, gaining international exposure and practical experience alongside her studies.

Known for her bubbly and cheerful personality, Sherifat enjoys social outings and reading thrillers and romantic novels, proving that balance played a key role in her success.

Reflecting on her journey on LinkedIn, Sherifat shared: “I have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with Mathematics, graduating with a CGPA of 4.89/5.00 (3.91/4.00). I was honored to receive the award for Overall Best Graduating Female Student at Obafemi Awolowo University.”

She also received the OAU Star Award for Best Student in her department for two consecutive years, a rare academic feat.

Looking ahead, Sherifat plans to complete her mandatory national service, advance her tech career, and pursue a PhD with fully funded scholarships.

She remains passionate about building meaningful user experiences and is open to new academic and professional opportunities.

Her advice to undergraduates is simple yet powerful: ”Know yourself, avoid unhealthy comparisons, study at your own pace, and discover what truly motivates you.