My dream is to become the CBN governor –AAUA Best Graduating Student

Modupeoluwa Solawon (Nee Ogunyele) was the best graduating student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, in the 2010/2011 academic session.

How easy was it to graduate with first class honours?

I must confess, it was not easy, because it deprived me of so many things my friends were exposed to which later qualified as frivolities. It involved investing a large chunk of my money in buying both local and foreign books, and spending most of my time reading wide in a bid to read ahead of lectures and exams.

What influenced your decision to study Banking and Finance?

I had passion to study in the Management Sciences and my teacher in the secondary school, Mrs F. T. Ezekhadi, influenced me greatly. It was my choice, I felt satisfied with it and I don’t think any other course would have satisfied me as much.


When did you start leading your class?

To the glory of God, I had always been leading my class up to university level. I wrote UME three times. The first one was withheld and on other two occasions, I passed both UME and Post UME, but I was not offered admission by the schools. So, I decided to go for diploma programme at OOU where I came out with the best result. I wrote my SSCE once and I had distinctions in the nine subjects, so, I had always been ahead, and I thank God for it.

Did you ever aim to be the best graduating student in your set?

I worked harder to be the best in my department, but God made me the best in the entire school. Thanks to God. Actually, my friends and my seniors showed me impossibilities when I gained admission, but I saw possibilities. So, it depends on how we see challenges. Such stories motivated me to study harder, because if you are extremely outstanding, no one can tamper with your grades.

During your convocation ceremony, Governor Mimiko promised you a job either in the civil service or to be retained in the school as a lecturer. Why did you choose lecturing?

I chose lecturing because I am more pleased with lecturing and my passion is to impart knowledge in the upcoming generations.

What decisions helped you in your academics?

My decision was to have the best result in my department, having had the best results from my diploma programme at the Olabisi Onabanjo University. Then, my God, my parents and my fiancé, who is now my husband, all played a role in helping me, and importantly too, the rewards attached to excellence at Adekunle Ajasin University spurred me to work. Then, my mother had the best result in the faculty of Arts at Lagos State University, and being a teacher, she influenced me greatly.

How many hours did you devote to studying daily?

I spent almost 10 hours reading; five hours during the day and five hours at night. And I could read anytime as long as the environment was conducive for reading, and my room was my library, so I rarely used the school library. However, during exams, I spent less time with my books and slept a lot because I would have done most of the reading before then.

Were you involved in other school activities?

Apart from being a member of the campus fellowship, I did not involve myself in any other activity in the school.

What about social gatherings

I only attended departmental dinner once because I won an award. Apart from that, I did not have time for socials.

What else were you doing with your time?

I was always reading or I could be in the fellowship, so, there was really no time to play around. Some of my friends saw me as too serious and boring and some of them used to tell me to relax my brain by doing some social stuff but I knew it would be a distraction, so I declined.

How about gestures from male friends, how did you handle them?

I had a few male friends, but I turned down any passionate friendship gesture. I saw it as a big distraction and more so because I wanted to marry my husband a virgin.

How about pressure from your female friends?

Some of my female friends thought I was not sharp but I was more interested in what they didn’t know; my God and my future. So, some of them got enraged each time they saw my result. Besides, university is the most dangerous place where many youths trade away their purpose of existence without knowing it, only to regret it in the future. I was conscious of that.

Can you still remember your happiest moment?

That was when I was called as the best graduating student and I met people I might not have met ordinarily. Moreover, my parents were very happy seeing me delivering the valedictory speech and having handshake with the governor. That was enough reward for me.

What are your future plans and aspirations?

I aspire to be a renowned professor of finance and, from my childhood, I have always been praying to become the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. I believe God will see me through.

How would you reconcile your academic excellence with the economic situation of the country?

Apart from academic excellence, one should discover his or her talents with which I believe no one can be jobless. I was never discouraged because I have a giant in me that is moving me towards my desired future.

What is your advice to students, whether newly admitted or already in the system?

I advise students to set their targets from the beginning and have a strong desire to reach them. My husband will always say there are jobs in Nigeria but no qualified people for the jobs. For you to secure jobs after school, you must be outstanding in your studies and discover what your talents are.

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