PurpleWorld Exclusive: An Unforgettable Conversation with FUOYE’s Triumphant Scholar, Samuel Sodunke

In an exclusive interview with PurpleWorld correspondent Sarah Adeyemo, recent Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) graduate Samuel Sodunke shares his remarkable journey of academic triumph over adversity.

Sodunke details how he overcame challenges, including adjusting to university life, balancing extracurricular activities, and maintaining academic excellence despite facing personal struggles.

Sodunke’s unwavering determination earned him recognition as the Most Outstanding Student in his department.

His story serves as an inspiration for students navigating their own academic journeys and offers valuable insights into achieving success against all odds.

Hello, can we meet you?

I am Samuel Sunday Sodunke, a recent graduate from the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, from the Department of English and Literary Studies.

Can you share your academic journey from your first year to graduation?

My academic journey had its challenges, but I stayed determined and persistent.
I ended my first semester with a 4.90 GPA. I aimed higher in the second semester and earned a 5.0 GPA. This gave me a final CGPA of 4.95 for my first year.
I maintained my first class with a CGPA of 4.83 in the second semester of Year 2.
But something had changed—I stopped chasing grades and started focusing on adding value to myself, gaining skills, and impacting lives.
By this time, I had taken on leadership roles and responsibilities. I was doing a lot more than I did in Year 1 while ensuring that I kept up my academic performance.
From starting and owning a tutorial recognised across faculties in FUOYE to joining and leading departments in church, to being a member of writing and journalism associations in school, among other commitments, my grades must not, and thankfully, did not suffer.
However, a wind blew in Year 3 first semester, almost sweeping me off my feet.
Despite my unparalleled preparation, I scaled through the tides with a CGPA of 4.67 in the second semester.
In Year 4, I thought the wind had died. It resurfaced. It was more brutal despite my preparation.
I ended the first semester with a CGPA of 4.61. It was heartbreaking and frustrating. I had so many unanswered questions humming beneath my belly.
With more determination and in the thick of things, I fought back and conquered the wind in the second semester to achieve a 4.62 CGPA.
I felt overjoyed when I gaped at my result. I saw an A in my final year project and took a deep sigh of gratitude. First, gratitude to God; second, to my supervisor (Dr Sandra Nwagboso) and third, to myself for not giving up.

Did you engage in extracurricular activities while in school? If yes, how did you balance these activities with your studies?
Yes, I engaged in many extracurricular activities. They were what I used to unwind on campus.
I was able to balance all the activities by trading time and not stealing time. That is, I made sure that the time I allotted to academics was not affected, even as I dedicated time to other things.

What were the challenges you faced while in school and how did you overcome them?
More than anything else, the first challenge I faced was peer pressure. While I was in year one, I met those who were more affluent than I was. They were using the latest phones. Questions like “Which phone are you using?” or “Do you know this or that?” were common then.
I felt as though I knew nothing and had nothing meaningful then. But, I stopped the thoughts with God’s word and reminded myself daily where I was coming from and where I was going. Since then, that always kept me humbled and focused such that nothing that would not contribute to my purpose on campus moved me anymore.
Also, I faced the challenge of balancing activities and time management. I am glad I overcame this early enough. My mentor asked me one time, “What brought you to Oye-Ekiti?” and I told him, “FUOYE” So, he said, “It means you should give it first place in everything.” His response changed my mentality in how I prioritise my engagements.
I would add that I faced financial challenges in my first year. Sometimes, I needed materials, and it could take days or even months for money to come from home. I grew tired of waiting and so I resolved to be entrepreneurial. I monetised my skills to support myself on campus.

Can you share the study methods and strategies that contributed to your success in earning a first-class degree with a CGPA of 4.62 at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti?

The top on my list would be my mindset and the fact that I included God in my academics. My mindset is if I could study, I would pass. I never allowed the thought of failing. Also, at the beginning of every semester, I would always write out all the courses that I would be doing for that semester. I would also write out my desired grades in them. I would even write out the lecturers, and I would just tell God, “God, this is what I want this semester, help me obtain favour from my lectures, grant me the grace and grant me the strength.” It was my way of including God in my academics and it helped me.
Strategically, I met with some of my seniors before the new semester began. I would request a meeting with them, virtually or physically. There, I would ask them about my lecturers and their experiences with them. They would then give me advice on how I could get good results in my courses. Some of them gave me books and past questions. Those things always prepared me ahead of my lectures and exams.
Likewise, I also believe the principle of learning one thing once and for all contributes to my success. What that means is, if you teach me anything today, that day, I will make sure that I go through it. I won’t wait till the next day. And, of course, because I’m trading time, and I’m not stealing time, if it has to wait till tomorrow, I will make sure that it does not wait another day.
On campus, I always made sure to go through whatever I was taught. Even on days when I was super tired, I still tried to do a reflection. Most of the time, I felt motivated to grab my notes when I could not remember one thing.
This principle helped me during the exam period and test. I was never caught unprepared because I had made a habit of reading ahead.
Likewise, my reading strategy helped me. To me, there is no general studying method. I made sure I did not follow the crowd. When I noticed I did not always enjoy reading at night, I stopped it even though my friends were doing it. I discovered that was when I should be resting. And when I noticed that anytime I read early in the morning, I assimilated, I embraced it. That decision helped me a lot.
Finally, what also helped me was getting to know my lecturers. I wish I had known them earlier. I only started to know them in Year 2 (second semester). Getting to know them made a difference. Part of the strategies I tried was answering some of the past questions and taking them to some of them to help review, and they shared a lot of tips with me.

How have you contributed to promoting quality education (SDG 4), and what role do you think education plays in driving global change?

Yes, while on campus, I was vocal about the quality of education. In year one, I founded FOUYE Question Bank (FQB), a platform dedicated to helping, building, and rebuilding undergraduates towards academic excellence. I saw the need that we did not have a platform where we could get access to past questions that would prepare us for exams. Aside from this, I discovered that sometimes when we came for lectures, some of us did not understand, so we needed extra help. With the help of some seniors, FQB became a reality. Since 2020, the platform has helped over 5,000 students access materials, questions, and free tutorials.
On the role education plays, I believe it is at the forefront of driving global change. It brings enlightenment. Education can change the world. When people are educated and have the right mindset, they can contribute positively to society without any trouble.
Where citizens are skilled, such a nation will thrive. Change in society would be rapid when everyone is educated.

Were there times when you almost gave up on your goals?

I was demotivated in Year 3 (first semester). I became rebellious for about one week. I had always had it in mind that I was going to graduate with a very high CGPA. As I can remember, I entered Year 3 with a 4.83 CGPA. When I saw my result, I dropped to 4.67. It weighed me down, especially because that semester I had put in a lot of effort. It was a semester I really prepared for.
What brought me back on track was having to look at where I was coming from and where I was still going. I can remember I sought help, too. One of my lecturers also pacified me and told me to remain focused.
There were other days when the workload was too heavy. I had to meet tight deadlines from the associations I joined. But in all of that, I remained focused on my target.

How has your academic journey impacted your personal growth and development?

Today, I am not the same person I was in my first year. I can remember I was not an excellent writer and I could not even speak well. I was this average student.
I now know how to write because I joined an association on campus that pushed me to grow. I can also speak well because I had the opportunity to learn from the best and represent my department on different platforms.
I also met people who introduced me to life outside the university. Their influence made me eager to learn and develop new skills.

What is your take on the popular slang “School na scam”?

My story is a testament that school is not a scam. Of course, we can say the educational system in Nigeria is not at its best, but that does not mean “school na scam.”

Looking back, is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance?

What I would do differently would be to take bolder actions.
In my first year, I did not have boldness. I was quite timid. Yes, I had some level of audacity, but I was timid. I would have made more impact if I were bolder. I would have done more extracurricular activities. I would have applied for more opportunities. I would have thought outside the university walls.

What skills did you develop or acquire during your undergraduate days?

Like I said earlier, I was not very good at writing. I was not very good at speaking. The first skill I developed while on campus was writing. From there, I moved to speaking, and from speaking to reading. In fact, my course required that you read, read, and read.
The associations I joined, and eventually led, required taking responsibility and achieving results. I can remember how I improved my design skills by having to come up with a magazine for the English Writers’ Association. I had to learn Canva Pro which is helping me now for designs. I now include it in my resume, and it has opened doors for me.
Beyond this, I also got exposed to opportunities to learn new things through the associations I joined on campus. The Union of Campus Journalists, FUOYE Chapter, trained me in journalistic writing.

What advice would you give to students striving for academic excellence?

I recently wrote 9 winning tips for undergraduates, and I would love to recommend that every student read the things I shared.
Above all, I would like to mention that they should put God first. I always say this: “You can’t separate your spiritual life from your academic life.” God must be at the centre of their striving.
And then, they should not give up even when it seems they are not getting what they aim for. They can never tell what could happen. It is not over until it is over.