In a country where academic journeys are often shaped by uncertainty, delay, and disruption, stories of perseverance carry special weight. At the University of Lagos convocation ceremony for the Class of 2025, one such story resonated deeply with graduates, parents, and faculty members alike.

Chukwuzubelu Benedict Umeozor, a graduate of the Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student with a perfect 5.0 CGPA. His convocation address went beyond personal achievement, offering a reflection on faith, endurance, collective struggle, and the quiet strength of a generation that refused to give up.

Background

Convocation ceremonies typically celebrate academic success, but Umeozor’s story stood out for what it represented beyond grades. His speech captured the realities faced by Nigerian students whose university experience was defined not by ease, but by resilience.

Standing before the audience, he emphasized that his achievement was not solely the result of personal effort. ‘This moment is not just a result of my efforts, but proof of God’s faithfulness,’ he said, framing his success as a testimony of grace rather than individual brilliance.

A Journey Shaped by Delay and Faith

Umeozor’s academic path did not begin smoothly. After completing secondary school in 2017, he sat for JAMB in 2018 but did not gain admission. The disappointment was significant, yet formative.

‘It was painful, yes, but it taught me patience,’ he recalled.

Like many Nigerian youths, he tried again in 2019 and gained admission into the University of Lagos. That admission marked a historic milestone, as he became the first person in his family to enter - and eventually graduate from - a university.

Family Sacrifice and Silent Support

Central to his journey was the unwavering sacrifice of his parents. Though they never had the opportunity to attend university themselves, they committed their limited resources to ensure their child could access higher education.

Addressing parents during the convocation, he acknowledged their unseen struggles, remarking that ‘today, your sacrifice is wearing a cap and gown.’ For Umeozor, his graduation symbolized not only personal success but the fulfillment of his parents’ long-deferred dreams.

A Class Defined by Disruption

The Class of 2025 entered the university with a four-year academic plan, but circumstances extended their stay to six years. Their first academic year coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing an abrupt halt to on-campus learning.

When activities resumed, the academic structure had shifted to online classes, demanding rapid adaptation. Just as students began to regain stability, academic strikes again disrupted the calendar.

Reflecting on this period, Umeozor noted that students became ‘experts in waiting,’ constantly following news updates for information on industrial actions and resumptions.

Turning Waiting into Opportunity

Despite these disruptions, many students used the prolonged breaks productively. Some ventured into entrepreneurship, others learned new skills, while many worked to support themselves financially.

For Umeozor, the period became a turning point. He taught himself front-end development while maintaining his academic responsibilities. As he progressed into his third and fourth years, the pressure intensified as he balanced coursework, professional tech work, and peer-led tutorials for fellow students and juniors.

‘I was learning to code, attending lectures, working professionally, and teaching others at the same time,’ he explained. The experience, he later reflected, reinforced a critical lesson: ‘pressure creates growth.’

The Power of Community

Umeozor was careful to stress that his success was not achieved in isolation. Early in his academic journey, he joined a study group known as The Achievers. The group fostered discipline, accountability, and high academic standards.

‘The people you surround yourself with matter,’ he noted, explaining how being among focused and hardworking peers pushed him to aim higher.

He also expressed gratitude to his course adviser, departmental leadership, lecturers, and non-teaching staff, acknowledging that their guidance and dedication played a significant role in shaping his academic experience.

Redefining Excellence

Graduating with a perfect 5.0 CGPA - a faculty record - was an achievement Umeozor described as humbling rather than self-defining. He rejected the idea that academic excellence is rooted solely in exceptional intelligence.

‘It is not proof of extraordinary intelligence, but of faith, consistency, and the belief that background does not limit horizons,’ he stated.

His story stands as evidence that delayed beginnings do not prevent exceptional outcomes.

A Message to Fellow Graduates

Addressing the graduating class, Umeozor reminded his peers that their degrees represent more than academic credentials. They reflect years of surviving strikes, a global pandemic, financial pressure, and persistent uncertainty.

‘We are not just graduates of our various disciplines,’ he said. ‘We are graduates of resilience, adaptability, and perseverance.’

He described the Class of 2025 as a cohort ‘shaped by crisis,’ equipped not merely to seek stability but to create it wherever they go.

Looking Beyond the Convocation

As the ceremony concluded, Umeozor urged his fellow graduates to carry the values of the University of Lagos into the wider world. He encouraged them to become leaders who create value, solve problems, and apply the lessons of discipline and resilience learned during their university years.

In his final charge, he framed the Class of 2025 not just as alumni, but as proof of the enduring strength of the Nigerian spirit.

‘Go out and build, create, lead, and serve,’ he urged. ‘The world is ready for us.’