Meet Okunola Toluwani: Unilorin Best Graduating Student

The best graduating student of University of Ilorin, 2019 gave us some time to share the values that produced the excellent 4.98 CGPA result. Toluwani, first child of a family of 5 is 19 years old and the grand daughter of a professor of Mathematics.

Please, introduce yourself briefly

I'm Okunola Toluwani Deborah. A First Class graduate of the Department of Mathematics, University of Ilorin.

Why Mathematics/Statistics?

I chose to study Mathematics because I enjoyed learning mathematics and solving mathematical problems and I believed that I could start my career along that path.

You have been announced to be the best graduating student of the year, what factors will you say helped you achieve this?

First of all, God's help. Then, good relationships (families and friends), focus, sacrifices, discipline, diligence, good time management and consistency.

You are a beautiful young lady who is also intelligent, how did you handle distractions from the opposite sex?

Ahah! (Laughs) Well, there weren't many distractions. I wasn't usually seen around. If you wanted to see me, you would have to come to the lecture halls, the libraries, the school Chapel's prayer ground, church or home. So, there were very very few trivial relationship requests. There were marriage proposals too. I respectfully said no adding that "I am not ready for the commitment."

Where you ever intimidated by anyone as a student?

No

Students sometimes complain of not getting expected results for exams they prepared well for, how did you overcome this challenge?

Well, I have experienced that twice. I was a little discouraged, but I thanked God for the results, still and pressed on. We can't afford to be held down by setbacks, after all, a man who is successful at something has failed more times than the man who isn't successful yet has tried

What was your favourite course and why is it the most preferred one?

I don't have a favourite course. But, generally, I enjoyed Pure Mathematics courses the most.

Who was your best lecturer? The one you liked the way he/she lectured and interacted with student...

I don't have any. I learnt different things from all my lecturers

Have you identified a specific problem you intend to solve with your course of study?

No. But by God's grace, I soon will.

What other things do you do asides reading?

Reading, playing table tennis, gisting, cooking, taking care of the home and sewing.

What roles did your parents play in your success story?
They prayed for me, taught me the right things that helped me to stand strong in the face of temptations and sacrificed pleasure for themselves, so they could get the things my siblings and I needed for us.

On an average, how many hours did you study per day?

Well, I don't know. But I study everyday

Kindly highlight some if your future plans.

I plan to get a Master's and PhD in mathematics in a university in the USA or in the UK, get married and build a godly, lovely, peaceful home, show God's love to people by creating employment opportunities for the masses and helping the needy. I also plan to become a professor of mathematics. By God's grace.

Interviewed by Bolanle Akinsanola.

Compiled by Olaniyi Olanrewaju.