UI Celebrates Two Graduates with Stellar 3.97 CGPAs

The University of Ibadan (UI) is buzzing with news of two exceptional graduates, Adeoye Thomas Adesoye and Abdullah Ishola Hammed, who have achieved remarkable cumulative grade point averages of 3.97 out of a perfect 4.00. Both students were awarded first-class honours in their respective fields during the ongoing convocation ceremonies for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Adesoye, a Physics graduate from the Faculty of Science, and Hammed, who studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the Faculty of Technology, have also been recognized as the top graduating students within their individual faculties. Adesoye proudly identified himself as one of the joint overall best graduating students among the 6,025 students graduating this session. Hammed, on his part, asserted that he holds the highest CGPA in the entire university, in addition to being the best graduating student in the Faculty of Technology, though this university-wide claim awaits official confirmation.

**Adesoye’s Journey from Iwo to Academic Zenith**

Hailing from Iwo, Osun State, Adeoye Thomas Adesoye is a trailblazer in his family, being its first university graduate. He completed his Physics programme with an impressive 3.97/4.00 CGPA, earning him the titles of best final-year student, best graduating student in the Department of Physics, and the overall best graduating student in the Faculty of Science for the 2024/2025 session. His academic record is extraordinary, featuring 61 ‘A’ grades across 63 courses, the highest scores in over 13 courses, and four perfect examination scores. Furthermore, he was a recipient of five scholarships: the Bovas Foundation Scholarship, MTN Foundation Scholarship, David Dickson Educational Foundation Scholarship, FSB Scholarship, and the Egbe Omo Oduduwa Inc. of South Florida Scholarship.

In an interview with IndyPress, UI’s campus publication, Adesoye shared that his parents did not advance beyond secondary school education, and none of his siblings had attended university. He highlighted the significant challenges faced by public schools in his hometown of Iwo, particularly the scarcity of qualified teachers. His passion for Physics was ignited in secondary school by a corps member, Andrew Adeboye Adesanya, who introduced him to the subject and provided free extra lessons. Adesoye recalled how Adesanya supported him, even providing food, despite his inability to pay for the lessons.

Initially, Adesoye aspired to study Computer Science at the University of Ibadan but narrowly missed the cut-off mark by one point, scoring 64 against the required 65. Following his pastor’s advice, he accepted admission into Physics with the intention of later changing departments. However, he soon developed a profound interest in computational Physics, leading him to remain in the programme. Adesoye emphasized that he did not begin his university journey with the ambition of becoming the best graduating student. Instead, his focus was on achieving good grades and learning from his peers. He stated, “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.” His undergraduate research explored superconductivity in B2F2, utilizing machine learning and density functional theory to identify materials capable of conducting electricity without resistance. He believes his research could contribute to the discovery of superconducting materials that operate at higher temperatures, potentially reducing the cost of technologies like MRI machines. Currently undergoing his national youth service at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Adesoye is actively applying to graduate schools abroad to pursue a master’s and subsequently a PhD in computational materials science.

**Hammed’s Engineering Feat with a 3.97 CGPA**

Abdullah Ishola Hammed also secured a first-class honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with an identical CGPA of 3.97/4.00. He was recognized as the best graduating student in his department and the overall best graduating student for the Faculty of Technology in the 2024/2025 academic session. In a social media post celebrating his achievement, Hammed claimed to hold the highest CGPA across the entire University of Ibadan, a statement that, as mentioned earlier, is yet to be officially verified by the university authorities. His path to academic distinction began early; at just 14 years old, he represented Nigeria at the International Physics Olympiad in Lisbon, Portugal, during his secondary school years.

During an interview with IndyPress, Hammed revealed his initial preference for Chemical Engineering. However, he opted for Electrical Engineering after discovering that the University of Ibadan did not offer his first choice. He described his decision to pursue Electrical Engineering as spontaneous, noting that his enjoyment for the course grew significantly as he progressed through the programme.

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