- 16-year-old with 354 UTME score tells how he was groomed by parents
Olukayode Victor Olusola, a 15-year-old student of a public secondary school, Government Secondary School, Omu Aran, Kwara State scored 362 in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
Olusola is now among the contenders for the highest scorers in the examination.
Though the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Prof. Isaq Oloyede, organisers of the exam, had said the Board would not announce the highest scorer to avoid last year’s experience of confusing claims, Olukayode’s score is celebratory, as it is among the highest in recent years.
He scored 95 marks each in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry and 77 in English Language.
His exploit, according to a report by Vanguard, was coming against the backdrop of the poor performance of candidates in the exam in which 1.4 million scored less than 200 marks out of 400. The exam was taken by over 1.8 million candidates
“Also, Olukayode’s excellent performance is coming at a time when confidence is greatly eroding in what public schools have to offer and some private schools are boasting of being the most expensive in the country,’” the report said.
Olukayode was born in 2009 and hopes to study Electrical Electronic at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
His mother, Beatrice Tosin, while giving all the honour to God, also praised the studious and hard working nature of her child.
Similarly, Faithful Ebube Ejealor, a 16-year-old student of Hallel College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, revealed the secret behind his 354 score in UTME.
Faithful Ejealor, the current Head Boy of his school, scored 95 in Mathematics, 95 in Physics, 93 in Chemistry, and 71 in English usage.
Born in Umuohie-Ukwu Eziama of Ngor-Okpala local government area, Imo State, Faithful’s upbringing was rooted in values of hard work, determination, and faith.
His parents, recognising his potential from an early age, made a phenomenal investment in his future by purchasing him with a comprehensive collection of JAMB past questions spanning from 1978 to 2023.
The boy revealed this in an interview with Vanguard, saying, “My parents bought JAMB past questions from 1978 till 2023 for me, and I was able to use them to practise by solving the questions.”
Armed with these resources, Faithful embarked on a rigorous study routine, spending countless hours solving problems, understanding concepts, and sharpening his reading skills.
However, Faithful’s journey was not solely defined by academic preparation. In January, he embarked on a spiritual journey, fasting for 15 days and praying fervently for success in his upcoming exams.
He asserted that this fusion of faith and action underscored his belief in the power of hard work coupled with divine intervention.
“I fasted for 15 days in January and prayed to God to give me success in my exams this year. And I took action by reading and studying for the exams. I studied really hard,” he affirmed.
Throughout his preparation, Faithful remained focused and disciplined, undeterred by distractions as his dedication was unwavering, fueled by his ambition to study Electrical/Electronics Engineering at Covenant University.
As Faithful prepares to embark on the next chapter of his academic journey, his story serves as an inspiration to aspiring students everywhere.
His advice to stay focused, determined, and prayerful resonates deeply, reminding others that success is attainable through a combination of hard work, faith, and perseverance.
“My advice for those coming behind me is to stay focused, be determined, study and don’t allow distractions when you are studying. And after that, everything you are doing should be put in the hand of God. We should always be prayerful,” he added.
In the annals of Hallel College’s history, Faithful Ebube Ejealor’s name will forever be etched as a symbol of excellence, a beacon of hope, and a testament to the transformative power of education and faith.
