By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
A 17 year old poor son of a satchet water seller, Muslim Adewale has emerged with the best WAEC result in Lagos State.
The teen was a student of 17 Birch Freeman Senior High School in Surulere, Lagos.
He emerged as top achiever in the 2024 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
His exceptional earned him the highest score within Lagos State’s Education District Six, as well as a scholarship award.
Adewale also scored an impressive 302 out of 400 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), a national exam that saw many candidates struggle this year, according to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Only about 40 percent of students that took JAMB scored above 200 this year.
His remarkable achievements were recognized during the annual merit awards and honors event organized by Education District 6, Lagos State. The event celebrates excellence among school administrators, teachers, staff, and students from Ikeja, Mushin, and Oshodi-Isolo local government areas.
The scholarship, valued at 500,000 naira, was provided by God’s Covenant Church of All Nations in Ikeja. The church supports indigent students like Muslim, helping them pursue higher education. Muslim, a science student who secured six As, including in Mathematics, along with other notable grades, expressed his gratitude for the unexpected prize.
“The organizers only called me on the phone and asked me to dress formally without informing me that I would be receiving an award based on my WASSCE result,” Muslim told the Nigerian Tribune. He added that the scholarship arrived at the perfect time, as his family was unsure how they would afford the required fees for his admission to the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he plans to study Computer Science.
Muslim’s parents, Rasheed and Rasheedat Adewale, have always prioritized education despite their modest backgrounds. Rasheed is a commercial bus driver, and Rasheedat is a petty trader. Their determination to provide a better future for Muslim and his sister, a student at Lagos State University (LASU), shines through in their sacrifices.
My parents may not have gone beyond secondary school, but they’ve always pushed me to excel, Muslim expressed. “This scholarship is a huge relief for them.”
Muslim aspires to become a computer scientist and hopes to make a lasting positive impact on his community. He also called on public and private organizations to support students like him, helping to ease the financial burden on their families.
During the award ceremony, Dr. Shareefah Yusuf, the Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary of Education District 6, praised Muslim and the other awardees. She encouraged them to continue their hard work and pursue even greater success. Dr. Yusuf also highlighted the importance of the annual event, which recognizes not only outstanding students but also teachers and staff who have made significant contributions to education.
The event saw over 800 nominations for various award categories, with 36 honorees, including Best Principals, Vice Principals, Heads of Departments, and outstanding students in both WASSCE and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Dr. Yusuf emphasized that teachers play a critical role in shaping future generations, and the annual event, now in its 18th year, aims to inspire both awardees and others to strive for excellence.
In a closing statement, Mr. Olusola Ajala, Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to take an active role in guiding children, particularly in their use of social media, stressing that conventional parenting methods must evolve.
The event left a lasting impact on attendees, with calls to sustain dedication in both teaching and learning, ensuring continued excellence in the years to come.
