Meet two UI graduates with outstanding CGPAs

Two graduates of the University of Ibadan, Adeoye Thomas Adesoye and Abdullah Ishola Hammed, have drawn attention for recording impressive cumulative grade point averages of 3.97 out of 4.00 in the ongoing varsity’s convocation, earning first-class honours in their respective disciplines.

Adesoye graduated from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, while Hammed studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the Faculty of Technology.

Both have also been acclaimed as the best graduating students in their respective faculties for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Adesoye described himself as the joint overall best graduating student among the university’s 6,025 graduating students in the session.

Hammed, on his part, announced that he graduated with what he described as the highest CGPA in the university, alongside the overall best graduating student award in the Faculty of Technology.

Their faculty-level achievements and individual CGPAs, however, have been highlighted in interviews published by the university’s campus publication, IndyPress.

From Iwo to the top of the Faculty of Science

Adesoye, a first-generation university graduate from Iwo, Osun State, finished his Physics programme with a CGPA of 3.97/4.00.

He was the best final-year student and best graduating student in the Department of Physics, as well as the overall best graduating student in the Faculty of Science for the 2024/2025 session.

His academic record included 61 A grades in 63 courses, the highest scores in more than 13 courses and four perfect examination scores.

He also received five scholarships: Bovas Foundation Scholarship, MTN Foundation Scholarship, David Dickson Educational Foundation Scholarship, FSB Scholarship and Egbe Omo Oduduwa Inc. of South Florida Scholarship.

Speaking in an interview with IndyPress of UI campus, Adesoye said he was the first person in his family to graduate from a university, explaining that his parents did not study beyond secondary school and none of his siblings had attended a university.

“I come from Iwo in Osun State, where public schools face serious challenges, one of them being a lack of relevant teachers,” he said.

He explained that his interest in Physics developed in secondary school after a corps member, Andrew Adeboye Adesanya, introduced him to the subject and offered him extra lessons.

Recounting how the teacher supported him despite his inability to pay for the lessons, Adesoye said, “I had no money, and I was discouraged. I went anyway. It turned out he was the one feeding me. He would buy food for me when I came for lessons.”

He said he initially wanted to study Computer Science at the University of Ibadan but missed the cut-off mark by one point, having scored an aggregate of 64 when the required mark was 65.

His pastor advised him to accept admission into Physics and consider changing departments later, but he eventually developed an interest in computational Physics and decided to remain in the programme.

Adesoye said he did not enter the university with the ambition of becoming the best graduating student, but focused on achieving good grades and learning from his colleagues.

“I did not enter UI full of knowledge. I knew where I was coming from, and I still achieved great things. Excellence is not meant for only some people,” he said.

His undergraduate research focused on superconductivity in B2F2 using machine learning and density functional theory, with the aim of identifying materials that could conduct electricity without resistance.

He explained that the research could contribute to efforts to discover superconducting materials that operate at higher temperatures, potentially reducing the cost of technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging machines.

Adesoye, who is currently serving at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, said he had started applying to graduate schools abroad to pursue a master’s degree and later a PhD in computational materials science.

Hammed’s 3.97 CGPA in Engineering

Hammed also graduated with a CGPA of 3.97/4.00, earning first-class honours in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

He was named the best graduating student in his department and the overall best graduating student in the Faculty of Technology for the 2024/2025 academic session.

In a post announcing his achievement, Hammed described himself as the holder of the highest CGPA in the University of Ibadan, although that university-wide claim has not been officially confirmed.

His academic journey was preceded by an achievement in secondary school, where he represented Nigeria at the International Physics Olympiad in Lisbon, Portugal, at the age of 14.

In an interview with IndyPress, Hammed said he had initially wanted to study Chemical Engineering but eventually chose Electrical Engineering after learning that the University of Ibadan did not offer his preferred course.

He said his decision to study the course was spontaneous, adding that he grew to enjoy it as he progressed through the programme.

Asked how he felt about emerging as the best graduating student in the Faculty of Technology, he said the recognition was an acknowledgement of years of consistent effort.

“Honestly, it feels normal, and I don’t say that to be proud. In previous interviews I have said that when you hold yourself to high standards, being the best graduating student is more like a gift, an appreciation of the effort you have put in,” he said.

Hammed said he balanced his academic work with social activities, including football, table tennis, social nights and conferences.

He also disclosed that financial constraints were among his major challenges during his undergraduate studies, explaining that he lived outside the university and sometimes trekked from Agbowo to the Science area to attend lectures.

His final-year project involved developing a mobile solar-powered generator designed to provide a more affordable energy option for small businesses.

Explaining the project, he said the team adopted a subscription-based model that would allow businesses to use the equipment without having to purchase the generator outright.

Hammed said he was preparing to resume work at a multinational fast-moving consumer goods company, while also considering postgraduate studies outside Nigeria.

The two graduates’ identical CGPAs have attracted attention, but whether they share the overall best graduating student distinction across the university remains subject to official announcement by the University of Ibadan.