The awards were presented during the association’s 40th Refreshing Conference held at Shepherd Hill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos, as part of efforts to encourage students to pursue academic excellence while upholding strong Christian values.
Speaking during the presentation, President of the Lagos State Baptist Student Alumni Fellowship, Sunday Oguntola, described the cash awards as a modest gesture of appreciation for the recipients’ dedication and sacrifices throughout their academic journey.
He noted that no monetary reward could truly compensate the graduates for the sleepless nights, discipline and hard work that went into achieving first-class results.
“But this is just a token to say we appreciate you for representing academic excellence and godliness, and that’s very important because all of them are Christians. They didn’t cheat; they didn’t have to go to the examination halls with prepared materials. They went to the examination hall, they read, they depended on God, they didn’t have to sleep their way to success. They trusted God, and that’s why we are rewarding them. This is just a token of our appreciation to all of them,” he said.
‘You Can Also Graduate With First Class’
Oguntola urged other students in the fellowship to draw inspiration from the achievements of the award recipients, stressing that obtaining a first-class degree was possible with determination, consistency and reliance on God.
“Our advice to them is: try harder; you can always make it. It’s never too late. Some of the people who made it didn’t start with first class; some of them had lower grades when they started. But you know they started working on it,” he said.
According to him, the fellowship is seeking to instil in students the belief that academic challenges can be overcome through diligence and faith.
He added that the lesson extends beyond university education, noting that the same discipline that produces academic success can also help young people excel in other areas of life.
The president said the association wanted students to understand that there was no limit to what they could achieve when they combined hard work with faith in God.
Recipients Share Success Stories
One of the award recipients, Oluwatimilehin Olalere, expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing his journey to graduating with a first-class degree as demanding.
Olalere graduated with a 4.6 CGPA in Accounting from the University of Lagos. He attributed his academic performance to consistent studying, paying attention during lectures and making effective use of tests and other assessments throughout his programme.
According to him, he remained committed to his goal despite the pressure and challenges that came with pursuing academic excellence. Rather than contemplate giving up, he focused on maintaining a steady pace with his studies.
Another recipient, Alade Ololade, said graduating with a first-class degree was not initially part of her plans, as she deliberately avoided comparing herself with other students.
Ololade graduated with a 4.51 CGPA from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, while simultaneously running a business and participating actively in fellowship activities.
She explained that managing the different responsibilities required discipline and proper planning, adding that balancing academics with business and religious activities was challenging.
Speaking about how she managed her various commitments, she said, “I built a structure around it and balanced all of the activities I had at the same time….”
The recognition of the 11 graduates highlights the association’s emphasis on academic excellence alongside Christian character, while the recipients’ experiences demonstrate the importance of consistency, discipline and effective time management in achieving academic goals.