For Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga, graduating as the Best Student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) with an exceptional CGPA of 4.89 is a story of discipline, purpose, and timely support. While his academic excellence was driven by intentional study habits and personal resilience, a defining factor in his journey was the intervention of NELFUND at a critical moment. In this interview, Oladepo shares how strategic financial support helped lift the burden of uncertainty in his final year, allowing him to focus fully on his studies and ultimately achieve outstanding success.
You graduated as the Best Student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology with an outstanding CGPA of 4.89. What personal habits or strategies were most critical to achieving this level of academic excellence?
Several habits were critical to my success. First, I always started with topics I understood best to build momentum and confidence. I used AI as an analytical study aid to expand my research scope and gain deeper insight into complex concepts. Beyond reading, I meditated on my books—I pondered and reflected deeply on the material instead of just memorizing. I also tutored myself and my peers, because teaching others solidified my own understanding. I created extensive lesson notes that went beyond the standard manuals for nearly every course. I preferred deep, focused study sessions on one subject rather than shallowly mixing several courses. Finally, I meditated on scriptures to activate deeper insight before proceeding to study, which helped me grasp concepts more effectively.
How did support from NELFUND shape your academic journey, and what specific challenges did it help you overcome?
NELFUND came at the perfect time. Without it, my final year would have been far more draining emotionally and financially. It directly supported my living expenses, tuition fees, and final year project costs. A specific challenge it helped me overcome was the fear of navigating final year after my IT period. Despite receiving a smartphone from a friend and a laptop from a benevolent school father, I was anxious about funding. After exploring other options without success, a friend introduced me to NELFUND. Once I applied and it was approved, I stopped worrying excessively about finances. On days when I had nothing, NELFUND came through like a miracle. I can boldly say it was part of God’s plan to help me navigate a very intense final semester.
Many students struggle with consistency. How did you stay disciplined and motivated throughout your time at LAUTECH?
My discipline was anchored on four things: a desire to cooperate with what I believe is God’s ordained purpose for my life, a strong sense of responsibility and accountability, the drive to make my parents proud, and a personal commitment to give my absolute best. I also overcame time management challenges by learning to classify tasks and ensure I was doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right place. When motivation dipped, I reminded myself of my background and how hard things were—that awareness kept me consistent.
Can you walk us through a particularly difficult academic moment you faced and how you navigated it?
A difficult moment was during the holiday before my second semester in fourth year. I was heading into final year—the most demanding period—and I was scared about how to fund it. I tried several financial opportunities and none worked out. I had almost given up. Then a good friend explained NELFUND to me in detail. Despite the rumors I’d heard, I decided to apply immediately for myself and my younger brother. That decision changed everything. The funds came through in final year and eased the pressure significantly, allowing me to focus on my academics instead of survival.
Beyond academics, what extracurricular activities or personal development efforts contributed to your success?
Tutoring my peers was a major personal development effort—it forced me to master concepts and stay accountable. I also engaged in interactive teaching sessions and group reading for certain courses, which demanded seriousness from everyone involved. Spiritually, meditating on scriptures became part of my study routine and gave me clarity. While I wasn’t heavy on formal extracurriculars, these practices built my leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills, which fed directly into my academic excellence.
What advice would you give to students who may be considering applying for financial support through NELFUND?
Apply without hesitation. In many countries, institutional loans are a standard way to fund education, alongside competitive scholarships that aren’t available to everyone. NELFUND is interest-free and designed to ease access. Don’t let misconceptions or rumors stop you from accessing support that could define your future. I was once skeptical too, but applying was one of the best decisions I made. If you’re eligible, take the step—it might be the external force you need to keep moving.
As the Best Graduating Student, how do you plan to leverage this achievement in your career and future aspirations?
I plan to further my Master’s and PhD in Embedded Systems Engineering, specializing in IIoT and Robotics, followed by a postdoctoral focus in Business Planning. My long-term goal is to become an entrepreneur and give back by funding and implementing educational financial support schemes, creating opportunities for students, graduates, and tech enthusiasts, and facilitating partnerships with foreign companies to invest in Nigeria. This achievement is not the end—it’s leverage to open doors for impact.
Looking ahead, what changes or improvements would you like to see in Nigeria’s higher education system to better support students like you?
First, sustain and expand current educational support initiatives like NELFUND and ensure they remain accessible to all. Second, strengthen monitoring systems to ensure funds are used effectively. Third, create structured mentorship and job placement pipelines for beneficiaries to ensure return on investment for the nation. I also propose appointing credible brand ambassadors for NELFUND to build trust, and implementing job opportunities for early beneficiaries. Finally, more private sector partnerships are needed to scale funding and opportunities.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.