Student Who Wrote JAMB Four Times Bags Doctorate Scholarship

University of Ilorin 2023 best graduating student with CGPA of 4.97, Ayodeji Akinsanya, has begun a fully funded Doctor of Philosophy programme in Mathematics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States, where he will also serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

Akinsanya, who arrived in the United States three weeks ago, described the new phase as the beginning of a journey focused on advanced research, teaching and academic growth. The 2023 valedictorian, who had earlier spoken about the challenges that shaped his academic path, recalled writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) four times before eventually securing admission into the University of Ilorin.

The experience, he said, taught him resilience and helped him develop a disciplined and strategic approach to learning. He developed a study method that involved reading materials several times to ensure deep understanding.

He noted that graduating as the best student at the University of Ilorin marked the conclusion of one phase of his life. At the same time, the beginning of his doctoral programme represents the beginning of another.