In this exclusive interview conducted by THOMAS ABIDOYE, Osun-born UNILAG graduate AKANO ABISOLA ELIZABETH shared the emotional story of a journey that nearly ended before it truly began. After gaining admission into Obafemi Awolowo University in 2015 to study Biochemistry, her academic struggle led to a withdrawal in 2018 when her CGPA dropped below 1.0. The experience left her broken and uncertain about her future, but with the support of her family and renewed determination, she decided to try again.That decision changed everything. Abisola later gained admission into the University of Lagos to study Education Economics, where she rebuilt her confidence and excelled academically.
She graduated with a First Class degree, a CGPA of 4.91, and earned multiple honours, including Best Graduating Student, Education Economics Cohort, Best Graduating Student in the Social Sciences Education Department, Second Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Education, and one of the Best Graduating Students of the University of Lagos.
How she made this remarkable turnaround, the lessons she learned, and the message she has for young people facing failure are revealed in the full interview below;
Can you introduce yourself, where you are from, and the course you studied?
My name is Akano Abisola Elizabeth, a recent First Class Graduate from the University of Lagos. I am also the Founder and Lead Baker of BiziCakery. I live in Lagos and I am from Oluponna, Aiyedire Local Government Area of Osun State. I studied Education Economics in the University of Lagos.
Can you take us back to the moment you were advised to withdraw from OAU, how did that experience affect you emotionally and mentally at the time?
I would say that it was the hardest time in my life thus far. I was actually depressed and there were days I cried myself to sleep and hoped that it would all go away. I tried everything I could to try and cross to Economics but I was told that my CGPA was too low to move to other departments. The only option I had was to withdraw. I went through all the emotions; confusion, anger, self-doubt, loss of self confidence and pain. I felt I had disappointed my parents who invested so much in my education so I felt really ashamed. I felt somehow about coming back home but thanks to my Mum, she enrolled me in baking school during that time which was around the time I started my baking business, BiziCakery and later furthered my training in 2022.
Many students would have given up after such a setback. What kept you going, and who or what gave you the courage to try again?
I am very opportune to have a family that is very supportive. I remember the night I called home from school to tell them I was done. I called my immediate elder sister, Olamide Akano, because I was too scared to tell my parents directly. She said “Calm down. Let me tell Mummy and Daddy and I will call you back”. Less than 5 minutes later, my Dad called and started begging me to stop crying because he was so afraid that I would hurt myself. He came the following morning to take me back to Lagos. I remember him asking me my age then and I told him 18 and he said “You are still very young. You will pick yourself up and try again. I lost my Dad in 2020 and I just needed to make him proud so I kept going. My mum became my backbone and my siblings kept cheering me when I send in my results after every semester. My family and the help of God kept me going.
When you gained admission into the University of Lagos, what fears or doubts did you carry with you, and how did you consciously work to overcome them?
The only fear I had was the fear of failing again and that fueled my determination. I was given another chance at a University education and I wasn’t going to waste it. I never actually fully overcame it while in school because it was one of my driving forces. And above all else, I had God on my side. He worked on me from the inside and I gradually built confidence.
You mentioned that you never scored below a B at UNILAG and you graduated with 4.91 CGPA. What changes did you make in your study habits, mindset and daily routine compared to your first university experience?
I made so many changes. The very first thing I did was to stop keeping quiet and ask questions. Part of what affected me in OAU was that I was too timid to talk to people and ask for assistance. I was just in my little bubble. For my study habits, I got to know myself first and the type of learner I am. I got to know that I understand things better visually and also by writing things out. I also got to know that I learn better when I start at the beginning of any topic and work my way to the complex parts. I learnt most of this while I was preparing for JAMB in 2019. I was like a child learning to walk for the first time.i took things step by step and it followed me into UNILAG. For changes in mindset, there is this belief I have about man’s relationship with God. Everything is a covenant. Do your part and God will always do His part. You can’t pray to God for retentive memory and you are not reading. You have to give Him something to work with. Which is exactly what I did, I read as if I wasn’t going to pray and I prayed as if I wasn’t going to read. I left nothing to chance and I attended classes regularly and did my part. There were scenarios that the Holy Spirit nudged me to read some things and I saw it in the exam so God did His part. I didn’t study daily but I made sure that when I did, I learnt something. It paid off because throughout my UNILAG journey, I only had 5 B’s and the rest A’s. I also made a 5.0 GPA in 5 semesters out of 8.
How important was the support of your family and faith in God in your journey from being a dropout to becoming a first-class and Best Graduating Student?
It was the most important thing. I had the full support of my family. They were behind me every step of the way. I send my results for every semester to them. I could see that they were very proud of me and it gave me the motivation I needed to push through. Faith in God kept me going and sane throughout my journey and I saw His hand in my academics.
At what point did you realize that graduating with a first class, and even emerging as Best Graduating Student, was possible for you?
I had a 5.0 in my first 3 semesters. I think that was the point I knew that I was on to something and I would get a first class. At that point, I knew if I maintained the streak, I could be a BGS. The plan was to have a 5.0 all through and when I had my first B, I settled for the next best thing, not going below a 4.9. By the grace of God, I didn’t go below a 4.9.
What message would you like to pass across to students currently struggling academically or facing dismissal, withdrawal or failure?
You are not dumb or a dullard. Sometimes, you are not in the right place. You failed academically doesn’t mean you have failed in life. It is good to take a step back and realign yourself. You are not academically dumb; you might be doing the wrong course. Look at your strengths and pick a course that aligns with it. Failure is not the opposite of success. For you to succeed, you need to fail. I realized that pure sciences wasn’t for me but Social sciences are my biggest strengths. Speak up when you are failing, never keep it to yourself. Seek help early. I also have a message for parents and guardians, support your children and never compare them with anybody. Academic depression is real. I have experienced it and it takes a toll. I am happy I had parents who showed me unconditional love. Never allow your children to think that your love for them depends on how they do academically. And most importantly, have a relationship with God. He doesn’t need us for anything but we need Him for everything.
Looking ahead, how has this journey shaped your future plans, and what legacy do you hope your story will inspire in young people from Osun State and beyond?
I plan on furthering in the education line because I know my story is not for me alone. There are so many people currently going through what I have gone through. The problem I had could have been avoided if I had discovered myself earlier.” I want to be is a lot different from I have what it takes to be”. I would like to help other young people to discover their strengths and what they are capable of doing and not doing because of expectations. I hope my story will inspire young people stuck in academic depression due to failure to know that there’s light at the end of the tunnel if they can just take a step back and realign.
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