Nineteen-year-old Mafolayomi Otujiya has emerged the best graduating student in the Department of Public Administration at Babcock University, Ogun State, graduating with first-class honours and a cumulative grade point average of 4.52.
Otujiya, who gained admission to the university at 15, said her achievement was the result of discipline, consistency and a determination to turn an earlier academic disappointment into motivation for greater success.
Before university, she had hoped to score above 300 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination but received a score of 238, a result she said left her devastated.
Rather than allowing the setback to define her academic journey, the young graduate resolved to perform better at university. She entered Babcock determined to graduate with a first class and maintained first-class standing throughout her four years.
Although she initially hoped to study Law, Otujiya was admitted to study Public Administration. After researching the course, she gradually developed an interest in governance, public-sector structures and policy implementation.
Her university journey was not without challenges. She struggled with some courses, including French, while also balancing academics with leadership responsibilities and her final-year project.
Otujiya served as assistant social director in 200 Level and later became vice president of her department. She said these roles helped her develop skills in teamwork, leadership and project management.
She credited her parents, lecturers and other mentors for supporting her throughout the journey, while stressing the importance of setting clear goals, managing time effectively and adapting when a study routine no longer worked.
Now training in agile project and product management, Otujiya plans to pursue a career in project management and corporate administration, while also developing her passion for faith-based fashion and content creation.
