A first-class graduate of Computer Science at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Joseph Ayodele, shares the story of his academic feat as the overall best graduating student with BIODUN BUSARI
What childhood experiences would you say shaped the person you became?
My parents had three children: two boys and a girl, and I’m the last-born. I’m from a Christian family. I’m an indigene of Ekiti, but I grew up in Abuja. However, I had my education in Kaduna. My dad was instrumental to my education. He was a minister of God, but he’s late now.
Sorry about your dad. What was the cause of his death?
He died in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was unfortunate to lose him at that time.
What kind of student were you in secondary school?
I attended a military secondary school in Zaria. I loved calculations from junior secondary school. So, when I got to senior secondary school, my best subjects were Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. I didn’t enjoy theory and writing long essays. I also engaged in sports such as football, volleyball and tennis.
Did you ever think of becoming a professional sportsman because of your involvement in sports?
No, my involvement in football wasn’t serious. I only played once in a while for fun. Since I wasn’t active, I never considered pursuing a professional career in any of them.
Was your love for calculations what inspired your interest in Computer Science?
In SS3, when we were preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, our teachers brought what they called subject combinations. They listed different courses and the subjects required to study them. Initially, I wanted to study engineering, but later I changed my mind and chose Computer Science. I loved using computers in secondary school, so I was interested in knowing how computers operate. I also knew that Mathematics and Physics were my strengths and that they were required for my combination to study Computer Science.
What made Ahmadu Bello University your university of choice?
I was familiar with the environment in Zaria, Kaduna State, because of my primary and secondary education. So, I had always admired ABU, and it was easy for me to choose the university. I sat the UTME and gained admission in October 2019, but it was not until January 2020 that we resumed. When I was going there, I had the vision to do well, just like every other student who comes to university.
At what point did graduating with a first class become a personal goal for you?
There was a day in the school library when I was reflecting on my admission, and I asked God in prayer about my purpose in the university. Then, I saw a chronicle of past best graduating students. I noticed that the majority of them were from the North. So, I felt God had a purpose for me in the university. Maybe He wanted me to break that record.
I had a strong feeling that God wanted me to be the first non-Northerner to graduate as the best graduating student in a long time. After much thought, I told myself that I would first aim for a first class before thinking about becoming the best graduating student.
Were you certain you would fulfil the dream you conceived from the beginning?
Initially, I didn’t see the possibility of finishing as the best graduating student. That was why I focused on pursuing a first-class. Then, along the way, I started seeing signs that I could emerge as the best graduating student in my department and faculty. I think from 300 level, my CGPA had the potential to become the best in my department and faculty.
I never saw myself becoming the university’s overall best graduating student at all. I thought it was far-fetched. I was in a university of thousands of students who were brilliant in their respective departments and faculties.
How did you build your CGPA?
I began with a GPA of 4.68 in my first semester in 100 level. I was motivated by the result. That was when I told myself that I could do it. I checked the result and saw that only two courses had reduced my GPA, in which I got a B and a C.
In the second semester, I came with a clearer goal because every semester had a new academic target. I could set a goal of achieving a perfect GPA of 5.0. I knew that, to achieve that, I had to create a plan. The plan was to aim for an A in every course.
However, one problem with students is that they sometimes underrate certain courses. I didn’t do that. I always gave every course priority and took them seriously. I think that was what helped me. It kept me going, and I remained consistent.
In my second semester of 100 level, I had a 5.0 GPA. The trend continued until my first semester in 400 level, which was my final year, when I had consecutive 5.0 GPAs. In my final semester, I had a 4.71 GPA. At ABU, the only two semesters in which I didn’t have a 5.0 GPA were my first semester and final semester.
What were the strategies behind your success?
I made a lot of sacrifices. There were times when I chose to focus on my books rather than the excitement that came with exploring relationships and other adventures in school. I wasn’t involved in many social activities.
I was very strategic about the classes I attended, and I built a solid study system. I was consistent. I developed a study routine in which I devoted two to three hours to reading every day. Some days were so stressful that I might not have been able to attend classes, but I was about 90 per cent consistent.
I also dedicated more time to courses I struggled with. I watched YouTube tutorial videos to understand some of my courses, and they helped me understand complex concepts. I also had a reading group in the early days of my academic journey.
Were you discouraged at any point?
The challenges that discouraged me came from difficult courses. Despite that, I gave them my all and met my target of a 5.0 GPA every semester except the first semester of my first year and the final semester.
I felt discouraged when I saw my CGPA drop. I wanted it to be around 4.97 or 4.95, but I saw it drop to 4.92. At that point, I thought there would be someone somewhere who would finish stronger. It wasn’t until the day of the convocation that I was called as the overall best graduating student.
How did you feel when you were announced as the overall best graduating student?
I was shocked. I wasn’t expecting it at all. I already knew that I was the best in my department and faculty, so that was what I had prepared for.
My mum was in attendance at my convocation. At that moment, I was overwhelmed with joy. Despite the assurances I had received from God when I prayed, I had lost hope when I saw my final result. I didn’t know I would still achieve the record.
There were rumours that someone from the Faculty of Engineering would emerge as the best graduating student in the university. But when my name was announced, I just couldn’t hold back my tears, especially when my mum started crying. I was filled with gratitude. Seeing how proud my mum was gave me immense joy.
How did you cope with spending more years in school for a four-year course?
I got worried at some points. Technically, I gained admission in October 2019 and graduated in December 2025. There were a lot of ASUU strikes. Some of my friends in private and state-owned universities that were not affected by the strikes graduated before me. Most of them were my juniors and graduated in 2023.
I felt discouraged whenever I saw this, but the consolation I usually gave myself was that, ‘It is not how far but how well.’ Eventually, I thanked God for the journey when I had my convocation in 2026. Those delays in school were probably part of a divine plan to make me humble and hardworking. COVID-19 also contributed to turning what should have been a four-year journey into six years, but in the end, it was all good.
How close did you come to becoming the military officer you once dreamed of being?
I wanted to be a military officer. My primary ambition was to attend the National Defence Academy. The motivation came from attending a military secondary school. I liked the environment, which fuelled my desire to attend the NDA. I wanted to become a commissioned officer.
I first applied to ABU and gained admission, so while at ABU, I applied to the NDA twice, in 2020 and 2021. I passed the examinations and went for the interview, but I didn’t make it to the final stage. It was the only examination I wrote twice in my life without gaining admission.
I could have pushed harder, but I felt God didn’t want me in the military.
Did bearing the names of Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola ever make you feel you had a legacy to live up to?
I was born into the CAC and grew up there. Later, we started attending the Redeemed Christian Church of God. So, I’m fortunate to share the same name with Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola.
My surname is Ayodele, my first name is Joseph and my middle name is Babalola. In the case of the CAC founder, his name was Joseph Ayodele Babalola. I’m proud to bear those three names.
It is a name that gives me a sense of pride whenever people discover that my name is Joseph Babalola Ayodele. They tell me about the popularity and legacy of the apostle.
I must say the names played a huge role in my success because I believe they carry grace. Whenever I was confused about my purpose, I would pray to God and ask Him to give me grace and strength for success because of the names.
During one of my difficult moments, I was praying at the school chapel and asking God about my purpose. I felt God tell me that my name would be announced as the best graduating student and that it would be an academic record associated with my name as a non-Northerner.
It helped me put in more effort. I learnt from it that the names parents give their children matter a lot.
What is the next step for you?
I’m still in service. I’m exploring fully funded scholarship opportunities. By the time I finish NYSC, by God’s grace, I should have secured a fully funded scholarship to further my education through a master’s programme. Subsequently, my PhD will follow.
What advice do you have for younger and aspiring students?
First, believe in yourself. Success starts with your mindset, and so does failure. In essence, tell yourself that you can overcome any challenge with God on your side. Be your biggest fan and believe that you can achieve anything.
Secondly, start early. If you are coming to university as a fresh student, start preparing for good grades from your very first day. Set academic goals and build towards them early. I think the foundation you lay at an early stage will help you.
Be disciplined. Thirdly, trust in God. Believe in God and rely on Him for help. Be prayerful. I won’t attribute my academic success solely to my intelligence or efforts. I would say God’s grace also played a huge role.
They should not rely solely on their own understanding. There’s a part of the Bible that says that. This helped me a lot. When I was in school, I prayed like someone who didn’t read, and I read like someone who didn’t pray. So, these two can coexist.