Muhammed Abdullahi is a Top-notch graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin. Increasing from Ajegunle in Lagos to academic difference, he emerged as the top scholar of his class across numerous sessions, culminating in his recognition as the Impressive Scholar of the Year for the 2025 finishing class.
In this interview with Edugist, he shares his unconventional journey, discipline, and the state of mind that powered his success.
Let’s Get To Fulfill You
My name is Muhammed Abdullahi, a First-Class Biochemistry graduate of the University of Ilorin. During my undergraduate research studies, I had the benefit of emerging as the scholar of my class, the student with the greatest CGPA throughout several scholastic sessions, which eventually resulted in my recognition as the Impressive Scholar of the Year for the 2025 graduating class.
Impressive Scholar of the Year Award, provided to Abdullahi in 2025. I matured in Ajegunle, a well-known neighborhood in Lagos, where I
completed my secondary education at Tolu Schools Complex. While there, I worked as the Muslim Trainees’President, leading a conglomerate of senior and junior secondary schools within what is considered among the biggest secondary school complexes in West Africa.
Was Biochemistry Your First Choice?Initially, Biochemistry was not the course I pictured for myself. Dentistry was my dream course. However, when I wrote UTME in 2020, I made the decision to study at the University of Ilorin, which does not use Dentistry. I then selected Nursing, but was eventually transferred to Biochemistry throughout the admission procedure. In an effort to pursue my original dream, I wrote UTME twice after gaining admission into Biochemistry. I was later on offered admission to study Dentistry in Sokoto, but might not proceed due to security concerns. As fate would have it, what began as an alternative pathway ended up being a specifying turning point. After my 2nd year, I became the leading scholar in my class. By then, I had actually established a deep appreciation for molecular science. That experience improved my academic identity and taught me that success is not always about where you start, but how deliberately you pursue where you are positioned. The Road To Finishing With a First Class– How Was It?I did not begin university with status in mind. I began with an easy however firm resolve: I did not wish to stop working. In truth, I considered getting a grade B in any course
as a kind of failure. Coming from a neighborhood like Ajegunle, I understood early that education is not simply education; it is movement. It functions as a bridge in between restriction and possibility.
Although my academic foundation was not as strong as some of my peers, I was intentional about my environment. I surrounded myself with top-performing trainees. While some initially excluded me,
I ultimately discovered others who invited collaboration. Together, we built a culture of intellectual rigour through over night research study sessions and cumulative analytical. During those durations, I discovered my capability to study thoroughly, even integrating daytime and nighttime study sessions. That mindset earned me a GPA of 4.91 at the end of my very first year. By my second year, I handled mentor
roles, driven partly by my desire for financial independence. By my fourth year, I was handling multiple duties, teaching in different places, working as the department Muslim Trainees’President, and finishing my final-year seminar and jobs. Regardless of these commitments, I stayed disciplined. After work, rather of resting immediately, I would study at a neighboring mosque between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. I thought that while I was assisting others advance academically,
I must not disregard my own development. It was not convenient, but it was required. I likewise increased my vacations by studying ahead of upcoming terms, which provided me a strong scholastic benefit. One defining minute came on the day I was to submit my project article; my system crashed. However, since I had actually developed a credibility for diligence and integrity, I was able to describe the circumstance to my supervisor confidently. That trust I had actually constructed ahead of time made sure that I did not fail at a critical moment.
L-R: Muhammed Abdullahi and Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, VC, UNILORIN
What Kept You Going Despite The Challenges?A guiding principle for me has actually always been:” What you need to do now is the key to what you wish to do tomorrow.”I understood that lots of chances favour those who are already prepared, not those who are simply preparing. I also comprehended that quality features obstacles, however as long as your focus remains on the goal, you must keep pushing. Remarkably, a few of my skills, like
resolving mathematical problems quickly, as soon as seemed unimportant, but they later on became valuable and even opened doors for me. Above all, my faith played a central function.
The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH ), especially on quality (ihsān), deeply influenced me. If quality is prescribed in all elements of
life, then it must certainly use to education and intellectual development. What Are Your Motivational Words For Undergraduates Aiming For Excellence?Choose your circle carefully. Your academic trajectory can change due to the fact that of simply one or two significant relationships. Surround yourself with people who challenge you intellectually. Even if you face rejection at first, keep positioning yourself near excellence. It is likewise important to develop various circles for different purposes: those who enhance your faith, those who press you academically, and those who expose
you to opportunities. Do not take on individuals’s benefits; instead, learn from them. Finally, comprehend that you can not do whatever alone. An individual running alone remains in a race, however when you position God ahead of
you, the race changes into grace. Read also: “Discover the design of
reading that works for you, persevere, and be disciplined “– Oluwatunmise, UI Law initially class graduate. Muhammed Abdullahi’s journey is an engaging story of durability, intentionality, and transformation. From navigating an unintended scholastic path to emerging as the very best graduating student, his story enhances the concept that quality is not accidental; it is cultivated through discipline, tactical relationships,
and unwavering focus. His focus on preparation, faith, and proximity to excellence offers a useful blueprint for undergraduates seeking to rise above constraints and attain lasting effect.