Two graduates of the University of Ibadan (UI), Adeoye Thomas Adesoye and Abdullah Ishola Hammed, have attracted attention after both graduated with cumulative grade point averages (CGPAs) of 3.97 out of 4.00, earning first-class honours in their respective disciplines.
Adesoye studied Physics in the Faculty of Science, while Hammed graduated from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the Faculty of Technology. Both were recognised as the best graduating students in their respective faculties for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Adesoye also described himself as a joint overall best graduating student among the university’s 6,025 graduates for the session. Hammed, meanwhile, announced that he recorded what he considered the highest CGPA in the university, although the claim has not been officially confirmed.
Adesoye, a native of Iwo, Osun State, graduated with a CGPA of 3.97, emerging as the best final-year student and best graduating student in the Department of Physics, as well as the overall best graduating student in the Faculty of Science. His academic achievements included 61 A grades in 63 courses, the highest scores in more than 13 courses and four perfect examination scores.
He also received five scholarships from the Bovas Foundation, MTN Foundation, David Dickson Educational Foundation, FSB and Egbe Omo Oduduwa Inc. of South Florida. Speaking in an interview with the university’s campus publication, IndyPress, Adesoye revealed that he was the first person in his family to graduate from a university. His parents had not studied beyond secondary school, while none of his siblings had attended a university.
He recalled facing educational challenges in his hometown, including a shortage of qualified teachers in public schools. His interest in Physics developed in secondary school after a corps member, Andrew Adeboye Adesanya, introduced him to the subject and provided additional lessons. Adesoye said the teacher continued supporting him despite his inability to pay for the lessons, sometimes providing him with food during their sessions.
He initially hoped to study Computer Science at the University of Ibadan but missed the required admission cut-off mark by one point. He eventually accepted admission into Physics and later developed an interest in computational Physics, which influenced his decision to remain in the department. He explained that he did not enter the university with the ambition of becoming the best graduating student but concentrated on performing well academically and learning from his colleagues.
His undergraduate research focused on superconductivity in B2F2 using machine learning and density functional theory. The research explored materials that could conduct electricity without resistance and potentially contribute to the development of superconductors that operate at higher temperatures. Such discoveries could help reduce the cost of technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging machines. Adesoye, who is currently serving at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, disclosed that he had begun applying to graduate schools abroad to pursue a master’s degree and eventually a PhD in computational materials science.
Hammed also graduated with a CGPA of 3.97, earning first-class honors in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He emerged as the best graduating student in his department and the overall best graduating student in the Faculty of Technology for the 2024/2025 academic session. Before gaining admission into the university, Hammed had represented Nigeria at the International Physics Olympiad in Lisbon, Portugal, at the age of 14.
He initially wanted to study Chemical Engineering but eventually chose Electrical Engineering after discovering that the University of Ibadan did not offer his preferred course. In an interview with IndyPress, Hammed described his faculty-level recognition as an acknowledgement of years of consistent effort. He also explained that he maintained a balance between academics and social activities, including football, table tennis, social events and conferences.
Despite his academic success, he identified financial difficulties as one of his major challenges during university. He lived outside the campus and sometimes walked from Agbowo to the Science area to attend lectures. His final-year project involved developing a mobile solar-powered generator intended to provide affordable energy for small businesses. The project adopted a subscription-based model that would allow businesses to use the equipment without purchasing the generator outright.
Hammed disclosed that he was preparing to resume work at a multinational fast-moving consumer goods company while also considering postgraduate studies abroad. Although both graduates recorded identical CGPAs, the university-wide overall best graduating student distinction remains subject to official confirmation by the University of Ibadan.
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