In today’s interview, we feature Mr. Ayodeji Akinsanya who finished with a 4.97 CGPA, from the Department of Mathematics, University Of Ilorin (UNILORIN) . He is also the best graduating student.
Akinsanya shares his story of how he emerged as the overall best graduating for UNILORIN with the highest CGPA.
Abimbola Adesina: Can you tell us about yourself first? How do you feel personally?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: I feel very, very happy to carry this kind of emblem. I have been very happy since the beginning of this week, my WhatsApp has been very busy. My Twitter, LinkedIn, and lots of congrats are pouring in. I’m very happy.
Abimbola Adesina: Can you please introduce yourself, we would like to meet you. Who is Mr Ayodeji?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Okay, He’s a graduate of the Mathematics Department University of Ilorin. He is from Ogun State. He finished with a CGPA of 4.97 out of 5 from the University of Ilorin Department of Mathematics. That’s all about Mr Ayodeji.
Abimbola Adesina: So is there a particular reason why you chose the University of Ilorin?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: The first reason was because of the academic stability. And secondly, my dad sent me down here to the University of Ilorin to bring something, which is a first class.
Abimbola Adesina: Okay. Did you get motivated because your dad did not get this first class? So it was something you had to do. Or because you wanted to.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: I can say both, I was motivated by my dad. because my brother also finished here and invested in every line. My dad said he wanted us to finish with a first class because he almost finished with the first class.
My elder brother, up unto his final year, was on a first-class 4.65. Unfortunately, he did not get the first class. He finished with a 4.44. So seeing that alone actually motivated me, and I tried my best to make the family proud.
Abimbola Adesina: Didn’t you feel pressure at any point? is there any point you’ve got demotivated?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Yeah, I felt pressure but I was able to manage it and the way they put pressure on my head, they also tell me that I should not stress myself too much. if it’s not possible. There is no problem.
And a lot of time, I got demotivated due to one or two reasons, maybe financial constrain or sometimes difficulty, but thank God. I was able to scale through.
Abimbola Adesina: Oh, that’s amazing. Who were those who assisted you during this journey?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: First I’ll start with the brain behind my success. Which was my elder brother. He checks up on me every time, asking me questions like what is the situation? How is it going today? what have you done? How are you? What are you facing? And how do you intend to solve it? He gives me advice. Talking about the financial parts. Yeah. He tried a lot.
Number two, I’ll talk about my parents, they tried their best and I’ll talk about my friends too. We are about three that work together. Sometimes when we are facing some difficulties, or some difficult topics we sit together and then try to brainstorm on the topic, how do we go about this? How do we go about that?
Abimbola Adesina: So you mentioned your friends. So, you think it was possible that in a scenario where one of your friends wasn’t as good as the rest of you? Do you think it was going to impact your grade in any way?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Um, no. I just believe in collaborative efforts. so I feel when you have like minds, one person can be better than the other and just because I have the highest CGPA does not imply I’m the best among them. So we sit down together and everybody contributes their little ideas and we turn into something very significant.
Abimbola Adesina: You don’t think because I’m in a group with someone who isn’t as good as I am will affect my grades. Is that what you’re trying to say?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Yes. Yes. that’s what I’m saying.
Abimbola Adesina: So the people I work with, should make me focus more.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Yes, and they should make you do better.
Abimbola Adesina: Okay. That’s the key word. Make me do better. if I see that the person I am working with isn’t impacting me positively. would you advise me to cut off that person?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: I wouldn’t say cut off that person because we don’t know tomorrow, where we are going to meet but you can question the relationship. So, maybe step back a little bit.
Abimbola Adesina: Okay, how are you able to put the idea of graduating as a first-class into work?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Okay, when I gained admission, first of all, I sat down, because I had this PDF then that contained all the courses I will be doing from 100 level to 400 level, so I just made a little sketch.
Like in my 100 level, 4.8GP, my 200 level also maybe a 4.7 and so on, that if I can get up to this, definitely I will finish with first class. I tried working hard and I did better than the target
Abimbola Adesina: So you said 100 level you fixed Let’s say 4.8, 200 level you fixed 4.9. Probably. So now, confession time.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Okay, in my 100 level, I had two B’s and they were both 69’s Then what I finished with was 4.89 I was not the scholar in my 100 level, it was one of my friend that we move together that was the scholars. So, in the 200 level, I had the highest took over being the scholar 300 level I wrote a 5.0, and 400 Level a 5.0.
Abimbola Adesina: How are you able to select your friends or how did you pick your friends?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: We just met; one of them was my roommate in 100level. we met along the way. But before we did our tests in the first semester, we already met each other.
We collaborate and give ourselves tips. Then when anybody encounters any difficulty, we reach out to each other. How do you solve this? Do you mind solving it and then sending it to me? let me go treat it. Then we share materials, too. we met before any exam.
Abimbola Adesina: That’s amazing. How were you able to maintain such academic records throughout the levels?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: I learned about time management. I do complain of something that there is no time. My brother told me. I have the whole time in the world that I just have to learn how to manage my time.
Then I sat down. I evaluated myself. Okay, what do I do exactly with my time? When I checked what exactly I did. With my time, it was insignificant .
Maybe watching a movie and hanging out with some of my friends. Then I cut most of those things down, then I saw that i had more than enough time to eat and to rest.
Abimbola Adesina: Okay, I know there’s a saying that says all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. How are you able to manage your time effectively between your coursework and extracurricular activities? and your personal life knowing that the saying, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Okay, at the beginning of the week on Sunday, I sit down. I have a draft of my plan. Okay, I have to cover this academically, my personal life. I have to do this and that. I also make a draft for every day. I have what to do and have like a to-do list. Following them accordingly, made me manage my time and it’s good. So I made use of a to do list.
Abimbola Adesina: So that means I’ll be correct to say you were involved in other extracurricular activities.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Yes. starting with my 200 level. I taught tutorials at the departmental level and the faculty level. Most, especially the 100 level students. Also, most 100 level wanted me to share my experience with them on how they could navigate through the journey. so, the same with the 300-level at some point, we also trained people in tech. I and my friends collaborated and founded a non-profit organization. That’s a non-profit organization. We trained people. Then in my 400 level, I also acted as the chairman of the electoral departments,
Abimbola Adesina: Wow. That’s amazing. You mentioned tech skills would I be correct to say you are into tech?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Yes. Web development.
Abimbola Adesina: Wow. okay, with the way I mentioned this course, I don’t know. You know, we all have this idea that mathematics is had I know you’re a mathematician and it’s not every day. we get to meet scholars. like you but really what would you say about? this norm, that everyone says that mathematics is hard. Is it just a misconception or is it really hard?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Just as people said mathematics is hard if you should ask me a question concerning another subject I’ll tell you it is hard. Because I don’t like it. I don’t know much about it and when you meet somebody in the field, the person also says that it is not difficult. You just have to follow this and this and this.
Abimbola Adesina: Okay so, were you able to cram all of many, formulas because I saw that you have three publications already approved? are we able to Have this? What were your secrets?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: So one thing is you need a structured plan. So, I’m the type of person who loves doing so because of I don’t like pressure. So for my academics I starts as early as during the holiday. So I do it gradually, I cover my gns and have basic knowledge across all my courses. so on the first day of school, I can tell you about each courses that this is what we should expect. This help me have a background knowledge. So once the lecture starts, it will be like what I’ve learned before, but it’s just building on it and immediately I get how I go through it again.
So concerning my publication, at first the journey with my supervisor was a bit off because my supervisor is a very disciplined man. So if he tells you to come to school, at seven o’clock and you arrive a minute past. He won’t attend to you that day. So, I tried to understand his principle. then the relationship begin to get smooth. I think he also spotted my zeal for research. Since then he has been putting me through till today. Two of my research paper have been accepted, the only thing remaining for that paper is just for it to be published because the journal we published it on publishes only twice a year. So they accepted it and they will be publishing it on the 1st of January my last paper, which was published yesterday can be accessed on Google Scholar, Research gate.
Abimbola Adesina: that’s what you did there and that was what stood out for you. So, it’s all about. we looking for ways to make life better for people and easier. You mentioned Professor Taiwo helping, what’s your take on the importance of mentors? During any significant life impact.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: The significance of a mentor, you have to have a mentor and a very good mentor. So, sometimes when you don’t know something and you have a mentor, the mentor can you expose to those things
Having a mentor affects one’s life significantly likewise if you have a bad mentor.
Abimbola Adesina: So, how are you able to pick your mentor?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: When my supervisor was pushing me, it was very, very difficult when I knew that what this man was pushing into was a good thing, I just kept pushing and then actually, talked to my elder brother about it, and he told me that. okay, just keep trying, pushing it’s going to come out good tomorrow when you’re enjoying, nobody would enjoy it with you.
Abimbola Adesina: so, I’m sure you must have had quite a couple of challenges during this journey. Would you mind sharing some challenges you faced?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: One of the major challenges I faced was because I came from a humble background, my parents tried their best. and my brother did his best to support me, but not every time. I can’t be calling every time to ask for money to buy this and that, so I had to sought for extra source of income.
So, what I did on this faithful day, it was a Saturday. I walked the journey about four kilometres. so I walked down to inquire about IJMB centre.
Are you looking for a tutor? I’m a first-class student. My second year, University of Ilorin Department of Mathematics, if you need a tutor, or if it is for jamb lessons. And I went round about five or six centres, then one of them reached out back to me then gave me a jamb class then.
I also taught IJMB class there too as I move as I move forward. So I also work with some private tutorial sessions in school to help incoming student. especially maybe the 100 or 200-level students assisted them with teaching. In my third year. I also got an online teaching work. So juggling everything together was very, very difficult.
Abimbola Adesina: Okay. Now I’m getting more motivated because what would have expected that most mathematicians are all about the book? Well, from all you said, now, you were quite involved in a whole lot of activities and then I’m wondering how you were able to balance everything?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: At some point, I was tired. It affected me in that semester as my test scores were not too good. I still tried my best to manage everything. the teaching and my academics, but at some point, I saw that if I should continue like this it’s going to affect my academics. I paused the teaching for a while, just to balance myself.
Abimbola Adesina: Well. okay, so what I can say from days is identifying. Early on if there are any excesses then being able to shed off the excess. So priority your priority was to exhale. Yes, so not the money. At that time.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Yes. I know. So now, I was actually talking about also, the money, then, from the teachings was not too encouraging. But the major thing was being able to impact people’s lives and they come back to you. and they’ll be like Thank you so much for the tutorial. It was more like you were the one that set the question, something like that.
Abimbola Adesina: Yes. Yes. I think I understand knowing that you were able to help people and you know, they see you on the road and you’re like Oh that was the person I helped pass.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Exactly.
Abimbola Adesina: What study techniques or strategies did you find the most effective in achieving your High CGPA? what technique in particular?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Okay, just as you said earlier, every technique is different. So for me now, which I read very early and also find it easy to read very early in the morning.
Maybe sometimes I wake up at three. So what I read between the hours from four o’clock to around 7 o’clock. You see that time between four to seven is the most precious time. So I make use of the time, very well.
Abimbola Adesina: Okay. so that means you have a photographic memory.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Yes, something like that.
Abimbola Adesina: Well, okay. so you mentioned waking up early. were you an on-campus student or an off-campus?
Ayodeji Akinsanya: Off-campus.
Abimbola Adesina: did you feel like if you stayed on campus You can’t achieve my goal. So you had to stay off-campus.
Ayodeji Akinsanya: No, the major reason why I stayed off campus is because I love my privacy. If I would stay with someone I’d prefer to be by myself or maybe just a person with me. So, trying to get an accommodation like that at school. It’s going to cost a lot, and I’m from a humble background. I can’t afford that. Or my parents cannot afford that.
