By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
Twenty-one years old Esther Bolaji was among the 492 First Class graduates of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado Ekiti honoured by Pastor Daniel Olukoya, the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM).
The honour was bestowed on Esther at the grand finale of the Church’s 35th anniversary celebration during a thanksgiving and awards service, which was attended by dignitaries including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, traditional rulers, captains of industry, and government officials among others.
The clergy as a priority every year hounour students with First Class from various universities and this year was not a exception.
Esther, who studied Conflict Peace and Strategic Study graduated from Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti was among the First Class graduates bestowed with the Excellence award by the GO of MFM, including students from Mountain Top University (MTU).
Esther wrote the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) twice because of the deficiency in Mathematics, she was offered a provisional admission, until she got the result in her second attempt.
Esther and her mum spoke to Daily Sun on her journey to academic excellence.
“I cannot even count how many days of midnight candles I burnt but I thank God to have survived in school, not just reading but staying away from social lives and other responsibilities. I thank God for the grace to balance it up and how it all ended. And today I am a success and a testimony as well as setting example for my junior ones,” she said.
For Esther, a 2022 First Class graduate of ABUAD shared her journey to academic success, burning midnight candles and constant prayers, adding, “I went through a lot to get this First Class record.”
She disclosed that it was a major challenge to obtain First Class and had to study hard to make good grades in every course.
“I didn’t do well in my first year and l thought I cannot obtain First Class but I ended up with 4.75 CGPA. You will say is it not this person that wrote WASSCE twice. I am crying because it was not easy. I appreciate God, for the journey and the academic achievement.
“When I received my result and my lecturer told me that I kept my CGPA of 5.0, I asked him to cross check again and if he was sure. My 400 level was the toughest but I thank God, I was able to retain that grade and retain my CGPA.”
Despite the poor start in 100 level, Esther said she was not discouraged but was scared, “It was just a horrible start and in second year, I shut my CGPA up and I was able to maintain it till my 400 level.
According to her, she never thought of dropping out of school and advised other students to trust God, believe in themselves, not to give up and strive to be the best.
Sharing in her daughter’s success, Esther’s mum and a lawyer by profession, Mrs. Oluwatoyi Bolaji was full of joy about her First Class and being among the 492 students given award by MFM GO.
“She has done us proud. I never thought that she would come out in flying colours because she did not have her complete WASSCE result before gaining admission,’’ she stated.
The mum confirmed that Esther enrolled again for WASSCE to write five papers and combined it with her 100 level studies, adding, “we hired a teacher for her while on campus to brush her up.”
She further noted: “When the WASSCE result came out, she was successful and we had to take it to ABUAD for her admission to be confirmed. And that was the beginning of success for her. She had to work hard to make good grades and by the time she got to second semester, her result were very good and we keep encouraging her that she will make it.”
Mrs. Bolaji recalled that in 2010, when First Class graduates were given award by Pastor Olukoya, “it has been our prayer points that one of our children should get First Class. It was with great joy when Esther’s result came out that we discovered that she made it.”