The former student of EFVP Wisdom Spring Model School, Ota, described the moment she saw her result as unforgettable.
“When I saw the result, my joy knew no bounds,” she said. “I didn’t even know how to express myself.”
Although she had hoped to rank among the top performers nationwide, Daniella admitted she never imagined emerging as the overall best candidate.
“I prayed, believed in God, and intensified my efforts,” she explained. “I prepared diligently, gave it my best, and trusted God for a great outcome.”
Her journey to academic excellence, however, did not happen overnight. Daniella revealed that she began preparing for the examination immediately after leaving secondary school last year, especially after an earlier UTME attempt where technical difficulties at her examination centre affected her performance.
Despite scoring 293 in that first attempt, she refused to be discouraged.
“That experience pushed me to prepare even more intensely for the next UTME,” she said.
According to her, success came from combining several study methods with disciplined time management. She made extensive use of past questions, topic-by-topic guides, CBT applications and online tutorials. She also joined educational WhatsApp groups where students tackled hundreds of practice questions daily in core science subjects.
Beyond tutorials, Daniella credited her personal study routine as the biggest factor behind her success.
“It’s one thing to attend a good tutorial, and another for a student to put in personal effort,” she noted.
Her preparation schedule was rigorous. She often studied from morning until evening, with short breaks in between, while balancing household chores and rest. Using alarms and carefully planned study timetables, she maintained consistency throughout her preparation period.
She eventually recorded remarkable scores across her subjects: 98 in English, 98 in Chemistry, 94 in Physics and 82 in Biology.
Daniella also highlighted the importance of learning from previous top scorers and adapting effective study techniques to suit her own style.
“I remained consistent, took corrections seriously, and learnt from the experiences of past top scorers,” she said.
Beyond academics, the teenager spoke passionately about her future ambitions. She hopes to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos, a course she says has inspired her since childhood.
“I’ve always wanted to become a medical doctor and contribute to society through healthcare,” she explained. “I’m motivated by the desire to treat the sick, relieve pain, and make a difference in people’s lives.”
The teenager also used the opportunity to encourage other students preparing for UTME, stressing the importance of mindset, discipline and self-belief.
According to her, many students fail before the examination even begins because they convince themselves that success is impossible.
“If you believe something is impossible, you’re less likely to achieve it,” she said.
She urged candidates to remain focused, avoid distractions and make temporary sacrifices for long-term success.
Interestingly, Daniella also delivered a strong message to female students across the country, encouraging them to challenge the long-standing dominance of male candidates among top UTME scorers.
“We should recognise our potential,” she said. “Females are known to be very brilliant, and we should work harder to prove that.”
She, however, clarified that girls are already hardworking but should continue striving for excellence with confidence and determination.
Daniella attributed much of her success to the support of her parents, both staff members at Covenant University. Her mother, Dr Owoeye, recently completed her PhD and works as an academic researcher, while her father serves as an administrator.
According to her, their encouragement went beyond finances and educational materials.
“Sometimes, they would even come into my room to pray with me,” she recalled.
Her parents provided access to paid CBT applications, internet data, textbooks and a conducive learning environment that helped her stay focused throughout her preparation.
Speaking to parents generally, Daniella advised against comparing children with others, warning that such comparisons can damage self-esteem and confidence.
“Parents should believe in their children and encourage them daily,” she said.
Despite her current success, Daniella admitted there were moments she doubted herself, especially when her early CBT practice scores hovered around 268.
Rather than allowing disappointment to weaken her confidence, she chose to keep pushing.
“I stayed determined and kept working hard,” she said. “Gradually, my scores improved.”
Now celebrated nationwide for her exceptional performance, Daniella’s story is quickly becoming a source of inspiration for thousands of young Nigerians preparing for future examinations — proof that resilience, discipline and consistent effort can produce extraordinary results.