AFRICA | An exceptional Nigerian woman named Naomi Okikiri has made history at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Nigeria after emerging as the Best Graduating Student of the Department of Accounting, earning a remarkable 4.99 cumulative grade point average out of 5.00.
Naomi graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, recording the highest CGPA ever achieved in her department, a feat marked by excellence, resilience, and unwavering faith.
Naomi's Story and How She Did It
She began her academic journey at UNILAG in 2020, but her studies were disrupted by COVID-19 and prolonged strikes.
Rather than slow her down, Naomi used the period to build a strong academic foundation and officially began her ICAN journey in 2022, encouraged by her secondary school English teacher.
After winning three national ATS awards, financial challenges almost stalled her progress. However, with her mother’s unwavering support and God’s grace, she successfully qualified as a Chartered Accountant in November 2024.
Alongside her academic success, Naomi excelled beyond the classroom. She emerged second runner-up at the Ernst & Young Nigeria YTPY 2024/2025 Competition and later came under professional mentorship.
She also represented UNILAG at the highly competitive CFA Equity Research Challenge 2024/2025, where her team emerged as National Champions.
Reflecting on her journey on LinkedIn, Naomi shared that her junior secondary school self, once held back by fear, would never have imagined walking the halls of a university. That fear, she said, was defeated by faith and relentless perseverance.
Her excellence earned her nine awards, including Best Graduating Student, Department of Accounting, Best Student in Cost Accounting, and Best Final Year Research Project (Sustainability in Accounting)
Naomi also received critical financial support through several scholarships, including NNPC/Chevron–Agbami, Federal Scholarship Board, MTNN Foundation, and Sohcahtoa Foundation.
She also acknowledged the support from Touch A Life Foundation and Ituah Ighodalo Foundation.
Naomi expressed gratitude to her support systems, especiallyher friends, mentors, course mates, professional colleagues, and family describing them as her solid rock.
Describing her convocation as a testimony of God’s grace, she encouraged others to remain faithful, work diligently, rise after setbacks, and never give up, citing a bible verse: “I am not yet all I ought to be, but I press on with purpose.” — Philippians 3:13–14
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