EDUCATION WAS MY ONLY TICKET OUT OF POVERTY — LASU FIRST-CLASS GRADUATE

By NaijaParrot October 10, 2026 

 LAGOS, NIGERIA —

 Ayomide Olubunmi, a first-class graduate of Lagos State University (LASU), has shared how determination, academic discipline and the pursuit of education helped her overcome childhood poverty and financial hardship. Olubunmi graduated from the Department of Communication and Media Studies with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.77, emerging as the department’s best graduating student for the 2024/2025 academic session.

In an interview published by Punch Newspapers, she recounted growing up in a financially disadvantaged household, hawking sachet water on the streets of Lagos and facing uncertainty about how she would fund her university education. 

 A DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD SHAPED HER AMBITION  

Olubunmi said she lost her father when she was just five months old and was raised by her mother, who struggled to provide for the family. According to her, her mother took on different jobs to survive, including selling goods on the streets and cooking noodles for customers. At one point, the family had to sleep in a shop. As a teenager, Olubunmi also hawked sachet water to support herself and her family. Despite these difficulties, she said she viewed education as an opportunity to move beyond her immediate circumstances and gain access to possibilities she had not previously experienced. She explained that university education exposed her to new ideas, people and opportunities, helping her develop a broader understanding of what she could achieve. For her, academic success was not simply about earning a certificate but about building a different future. 

 HOW SHE FOUND HER WAY INTO LASU 

 After completing secondary school in 2019, Olubunmi took a gap year to teach and raise money towards her university education. She said she initially struggled to find a way to finance her studies and had considered attending a federal university because of the relatively lower tuition fees. She wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) twice, scoring 245 on her first attempt and 252 on the second before gaining admission to study Mass Communication at LASU. Even after securing admission, paying her fees remained a major concern. Olubunmi said her mother’s connection with a member of her late father’s family eventually led to an unexpected breakthrough. An uncle living in Germany learned about her situation and agreed to sponsor her education throughout her university years. She described the support as a turning point that enabled her to pursue her academic ambitions despite the family’s financial challenges. 

 COMBINING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH WORK 

 Although her uncle covered her tuition, Olubunmi said she still needed to earn money to meet her daily expenses. While studying, she sold goods and later worked as an event host. She also became involved in student leadership and established a 30-member initiative known as LASU Fellows to create opportunities for other students. She said these activities allowed her to develop professional and organisational skills while continuing to pursue her academic goals. Her first-year performance provided an early indication of her academic potential, as she recorded a GPA of 4.91. She eventually graduated with a CGPA of 4.77, earning recognition as the best graduating student in the Department of Public Relations and Advertising for the 2024/2025 academic session. Olubunmi said she had always hoped to achieve a first-class degree and initially aspired to emerge as the overall best graduating student. 

 FINAL YEAR BROUGHT SOME OF HER TOUGHEST CHALLENGES 

 Despite her strong academic record, Olubunmi said her final year was particularly difficult because she had to balance a full-time remote job with examinations, coursework and her final-year project. She explained that securing employment before graduation was important to her because she wanted to avoid leaving university without a job or a clear career direction. However, the demands of work and academics eventually affected her grades. She recalled receiving her first C in an examination, describing the experience as heartbreaking because she had spent years maintaining strong academic results. She also recounted periods when she struggled with basic necessities, including food and electricity. On some occasions, she slept at school so she could study when there was no electricity in her hostel. Despite the pressure, she said she remained determined to complete her degree successfully. Her experience highlights the difficulties faced by students who must combine academic responsibilities with paid work to support themselves. 

 HER STRATEGY FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS 

 Olubunmi attributed her performance partly to understanding her learning habits and developing a study routine that suited her. She said she preferred studying alone rather than in groups and often read course materials ahead of classroom lessons. She also emphasised the importance of reading beyond prescribed textbooks, explaining that wider reading helped her build vocabulary, understand concepts and draw on broader knowledge when answering examination questions. According to her, students should recognise that different people have different learning patterns instead of measuring their progress against others. She also stressed the importance of physical and mental well-being, noting that academic performance requires energy, discipline and an environment that supports concentration.

 FROM UNIVERSITY GRADUATE TO COMMUNICATION STRATEGIST

 Olubunmi currently works as a communication strategist at a gadgets company, having started the role after graduating. Her professional experience includes working with public relations agencies and businesses in the technology industry, including companies involved in software development and the sale of electronic devices. She said she began pursuing career opportunities while still at university because she wanted to build professional experience before graduation. Her journey from hawking sachet water as a teenager to earning a first-class degree and beginning a career in communications illustrates the role education played in her personal development. However, her story also highlights the importance of financial support, access to information and opportunities that enable students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education. 

 A MESSAGE FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES 

 Olubunmi’s experience offers a reminder that academic achievement can be possible even when students face difficult financial circumstances. Her account also shows that determination alone may not remove every obstacle. Support from family members, access to educational opportunities and the ability to balance work with study played important roles in her journey. For students facing similar challenges, her experience underscores the value of seeking scholarships, mentorship, career opportunities and other forms of support that can make higher education more accessible.

 NaijaParrot will continue to highlight stories of Nigerians whose experiences offer insight into education, resilience and the pursuit of opportunity. 

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