A graduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Taiwo Stella Oluwafunmiso, has emerged the institution’s best graduating female student for the 2025/2026 academic session, recording an impressive cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.95 out of 5.00.
Oluwafunmiso, who studied Surveying and Geo-informatics, also won the Best Graduating Student awards in her department and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, earning three major academic distinctions at the university’s 41st convocation ceremony.
She announced her achievement on social media in October, attracting congratulatory messages from colleagues and other users celebrating her academic performance.
According to reports by Legit.ng published on October 26 and 27, 2026, the graduate’s academic journey began at the Federal School of Surveying in Oyo State, where she obtained a National Diploma with Distinction and a CGPA of 3.66 out of 4.00 before proceeding to UNILORIN.
Beyond her academic accomplishments, Oluwafunmiso demonstrated leadership and professional engagement during her undergraduate studies.
She served as General Secretary of the Nigerian Institution of Surveying and Geo-informatics Students (NISGS), UNILORIN chapter, under the GeoVision administration.
She also represented her department at academic and professional events, including the third International Conference on Environmental Sciences in 2025, where her team placed fourth in the student paper presentation competition.
At the 2026 Global Surveyors’ Day celebration organised by the Kwara State branch, she presented a paper titled, “From Data to Decision: Geospatial Intelligence for Evidence-Based Governance and the Evolving Role of Surveyors.”
Her final-year research project focused on Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), an emerging field that combines artificial intelligence with geospatial data to support analysis and decision-making.
Oluwafunmiso has expressed interest in developing expertise in GeoAI, advanced geoinformatics and spatial data science, particularly their applications in environmental management, urban planning and infrastructure development.
She is also seeking opportunities for mentorship, internships and research collaborations that would enable her to deepen her knowledge and contribute to the growing field of geospatial technology.
Her achievement highlights the growing contributions of young Nigerian women to science, technology and other specialised disciplines, while underscoring the importance of supporting women to pursue academic excellence and leadership in technical professions.
As Nigeria continues to explore technology-driven approaches to development planning and environmental management, graduates with expertise in geospatial science and artificial intelligence could play important roles in generating data-driven solutions to complex challenges.
Oluwafunmiso’s academic record and professional ambitions provide an example of how academic excellence, leadership and specialised technical training can prepare young women for opportunities in research and innovation.
Sources: Legit.ng; University of Ilorin’s official website.
