Right from secondary school days, Abdulganiyu Abdulrahman Akanbi has been a determined student poised for excellence. The determination made him to be among the top students of his class in a public school — Government Secondary School, Adewole in Ilorin, Kwara State.

This made him plan to graduate with First Class when he gained admission to study Islamic Studies in 2018 at the Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto(UDUS). Thus, at the just-concluded convocation, he broke the school's 49-year record by becoming the best graduating student ever with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.96.

The highest CGPA a student got at the 49-year-old university was 4.95 produced by the Mathematics Department in 2015. No student had ever achieved that in the history of the institution. Interestingly, Akanbi has set a new record.

“Before I was given admission to study Islamic Studies, I already had a strong determination to graduate with First Class honours in any course I'm given to study. That's why I put all the efforts required for such a challenging feat,” he said.

When Akanbi arrived in Sokoto, he realised that there was no place like home but had no choice but to adapt with the new home. He didn't allow the weather conditions in the seat of Caliphate to affect his determination. As a result, he transitioned from 100-Level with Grade Points (GP) of 4.89 out of 5.0. It was because he had C in a two-unit course among the courses he offered.

Moreso, he had B in a 2-unit course while in 200-Level, which made him come out with 4.92 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).He had a perfect GP of 5.0 in 300-Level and 400-Level which cumulatively formed 4.96 CGPA.

“It is notable that I had the best results in my 300 and 400 levels respectively while I built my academic excellence right from my first year,” he said.

Findings showed that UDUS is one of the hardest universities to study in Nigeria and it produces very few First Class graduates. Evidently, at the just-concluded 2024 combined convocation for 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st sets, only 167 graduates bagged First Class honours out of more than 13,000 graduates.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lawal Suleiman Bilbis, said: “In terms of academic achievements for all the four sets, 167 students graduated with First Class; 3,486 with second-class upper division, 9,573 with second-class lower division, and 15 with pass degrees.”

“Adeyi Mercy Enyo-Ojo (B.Agric) is the best-graduating student of the 38th set — 2018/2019 session with 4.78 CGPA; Ismail Abdullateef (B.Forestry) topped the 39th set — 2019/2020 session with 4.72 CGPA; while Salahudeen Sodiq (B.Sc Accounting) is best of the 40th set — 2020/2021 session with 4.73; and Abdulganiyu Abdulrahman Akanbi (B.A Islamic Studies) stood out of the 41st set — 2022/2023 with 4.96 CGPA.”

Excellence with no incentive

Many students of the university were shocked that Akanbi was not given any special recognition or prize for attaining such a great academic feat. He was not even called onto the stage for proper recognition in the presence of several dignitaries who graced the event.

Not only Akanbi, many best graduating students of various faculties who deemed it fit to attend the convocation despite all odds were disappointed.

Regardless, Akanbi expressed delight at the feat

“I believe every winner is always happy. And as such, I'm very excited to have graduated with a First Class and top of my class. Not only that, as the best graduating student in my faculty and the whole university during the 2022/2023 academic session.

“When I gathered that my CGPA was the highest so far since the establishment of the university, my happiness increased while I remained grateful to the Almighty Allah for His blessings and grace, and my lecturers, mentors, and all those who made the journey possible,” he said.

Challenges

When he was asked about his academic challenges, he said: “Definitely, there is a price for any good thing achieved. In my case, though I easily adapted to the environment, I faced some challenges ranging from unstable weather causing differing health issues, and minimally, paucity of funds. I could remember how I became a monthly-visitor to the clinic.”

In his 200-Level, he couldn't afford some of the recommended materials to enhance his studies which left him in deep worries. He was able to overcome it through connection with friends, lecturers, mentors and more.

Akanbi's source of motivation

Akanbi loves reading, writing (especially in Arabic Language) and exploring productive opportunities. He enjoys playing at leisure time. He communicates in Yoruba, English, Arabic and Hausa properly.

He was motivated by his parents, especially his mother who he promised to always make proud and his lecturers.

Akanbi said: “Aside from my lecturers who have been instrumental in shaping my intellectual prowess, successful individuals in the profession such as Prof. Isiaq Oloyede, the JAMB registrar, also motivated me.

“My constant motivation is deeply rooted in some inspiring, mind-soothing and enticing religious texts of the Glorious Qur'an and Prophetic traditions,” he added.

First Class is the best

He advised all undergraduates to be determined and know the class of degree they want to graduate with.

“My advice to undergraduates is that they should aim for First Class and work for it because that is the best class of degree. They should research what it requires to bag it, be focused on it and have adequate planning,” he said.

He encouraged extracurricular activities such as campus journalism which would help them to develop good writing and communication skills. Akanbi said prayers will also help, urging students to be fervent in prayers and to always seek elderly advice.

“I do not know what life after campus has for me, but my plan is to explore more opportunities and go for postgraduate studies immediately. This is because I don't want to relent at all,” he added.