FUNAAB First-Class Student, Olabamiji Dolapo, Recounts How She Overcame Health Challenges to Achieve 5.0 GPA

In an extraordinary tale of resilience, Olabamiji Dolapo, a first-class graduate of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has shared the highs and lows of her academic journey. Despite facing severe health issues caused by intense studying, Dolapo’s determination led her to achieve a perfect 5.0 GPA while overcoming unimaginable physical challenges.

Dolapo’s path to excellence was anything but smooth. After initially studying Science Laboratory Technology at Okeogun Polytechnic, Saki, she navigated through various setbacks, including rejections from other universities. Finally, a friend suggested she apply to FUNAAB, where she started her journey in 2018. Dolapo’s academic struggle in her first year nearly caused her to abandon her aspirations of a first-class degree. Yet, as she progressed, her commitment grew, and she began to realize her potential.

By her second year, Dolapo’s efforts paid off when she achieved her first 4.65 GPA. As her GPA climbed, so did her ambition. She recalls, “I met people with a 5.0 GPA, and I thought, ‘I can also get it.’” Her relentless drive led her to push beyond her limits—often studying at the university mosque when the library was closed due to the pandemic.

In 2021, during her 300-level exams, Dolapo’s intense study schedule took a toll on her health. Despite severe physical distress, including internal bleeding, Dolapo refused to defer her exams. On exam day, she discharged herself from the hospital, signing a waiver to take full responsibility for her decision. “The doctor advised against it, but I had to write that exam,” she shared. “I knew I was risking my health, but I had worked too hard to give up.”

With sheer determination, Dolapo entered the exam hall, carried in an ambulance. Despite missing the first two questions due to her weakened state, she managed to achieve her first 5.0 GPA, astonishing her professors and peers alike. “That result felt like a reward from God,” she reflects.

Dolapo’s journey has not only inspired her colleagues but has also become a symbol of resilience and the unyielding pursuit of academic excellence. Her story highlights the importance of mental and physical self-care amid academic pressures, reminding students of the risks associated with overexertion.

As Dolapo now stands as a first-class graduate, her story continues to inspire students across Nigeria, marking her as an emblem of perseverance and the unbreakable human spirit.