AFRICA | A brilliant young man named Emmanuel Adeleye has graduated from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Nigeria, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with First-Class honours.
His achievement is even more remarkable as Emmanuel became the first person in his family to attend a university and graduate with distinction.
Emmanuel's Story and How He Did It
Emmanuel began his academic journey at UNILAG in 2019 and maintained excellence from his first year through to his graduation in 2025. From the moment he resumed, he made a clear decision:
“Never leave this school wishing you could have done better. It is better to do too much and fail than to do too little and regret.”
That decision became his mantra. It pushed him to stay consistent in the library, disciplined his focus, refined his associations, and challenged him to continually strive for more.
Along the way, he learned that while respect for everyone is non-negotiable, focus requires selective friendships. “For some things to remain in focus, some things must be blurred out—and that is okay,” he reflected.
Being the first in his family to attend university and graduate excellently was a major motivation throughout his journey.
Beyond academics, Emmanuel made a lasting impact. He co-founded a study group that went on to produce the Best Graduating Student of the UNILAG Class of 2025. He also won the Most Entrepreneurial Thesis Award, sponsored by Sahara Group, earning a ₦1 million cash prize.
His final-year project titled “The Role of Entrepreneurship Education in Promoting Self-Employment Among Nigerian Undergraduates” was shortlisted among five finalists and eventually emerged as the overall winner.
In addition, Emmanuel co-founded Ultra Academy, through which he taught and mentored hundreds of students, including the Best Graduating student of the class of 2025 at the University of Lagos.
His passion for teaching and impact on students stood out as much as his academic success.
Reflecting on his journey, Emmanuel noted that while awards and prizes matter, the most meaningful rewards were the messages he received from students whose lives were changed.
“Some things cannot be quantified by money. Some rewards are written on the hearts of people,” he said.
Despite the applause, he acknowledged that the journey demanded sacrifice, discipline, and perseverance. In the end, he credits God for crowning his efforts with success.
To students and young people reading his story, Emmanuel offers a simple but powerful message: “You can do it. Choose to, and you will.”
Emmanuel expressed deep gratitude to his family, church, students, friends, the Achievers, and BSA, whose support played a vital role in his success.
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