An exceptional Nigerian man named Oladimeji Shotunde has made history at Lagos State University (LASU) by graduating with a record-breaking 4.95 out of 5.00 cumulative grade point average in Business Administration.
His achievement not only earned him the title of the overall best graduating student of the 2019/2020 academic session but also broke a 37-year-old academic record in the university’s history.
In recognition of his feat, the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Sanwoolu, awarded him a cash prize of five million naira.
In an interview, Shotunde described how elated he felt to discover he had made history. He emphasized that beyond his academic abilities, it was his mindset, the kind of company he kept, and a deep understanding of his environment that helped him stay focused and excel.
Shotunde mentioned that the journey to earning the degree was not smooth. Having a passion for Business Administration, it took him three attempts to secure admission into LASU. The first attempt came too early—he had written his GCE at the young age of 14.
In his second attempt, although he performed excellently in the Post-UTME and ranked among the top candidates, an error in shading led to him being offered a science-related course he did not want.
He tried again the following year and was given Physical Health Education, which he rejected. Shotunde waited for the following year and hge was eventually admitted to study his dream course.
Throughout his time in school, Shotunde remained deeply committed to both his personal development and that of others. He founded Excel Minds Academic Group, a platform that grew to have over a thousand members across Nigeria.
Through this initiative, he organized regular tutorials for his peers. While he never charged a fee, he said the group was a source of motivation as he wanted to be a model of excellence for those he taught.
Sharing his achievement on LinkedIn, he reflected on the journey with a mix of gratitude and pride. For him, achieving the highest CGPA in LASU’s history was no small feat, but what made it more meaningful was the opportunity to make his parents proud.
Shotunde recalled the sacrifices they made, especially his father, who once sold his car just to pay school fees for him and his siblings. Having them by his side at convocation to share in the celebration was, in his words, deeply fulfilling.
Looking ahead, Shotunde shared that his goal is to become a consultant—someone who bridges both academia and industry. Immediately after his mandatory one-year national service, he went on to earn a master’s degree in Innovation from University College London in the United Kingdom.
