Chukwuzubelum Umeozor Emerges UNILAG Best Graduating Student, Smashes 5.0 CGPA

By Daniel Nnamani and Jecinta Emeka

Chukwuzubelum Umeozor, a graduate of Business Administration under the Faculty of Management Sciences, has been named the valedictorian and best graduating student (BGS) for the 56th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Speaking at a pre-convocation press conference on Wednesday, January 14, 2026,  the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folashade Ogunsola, said that Umeozor graduated with a perfect cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 5.00.

Ogunsola added that Umeozor also emerged as the best graduating student in the humanities category.

In an exclusive interview with UNILAG Sun, Umeozor said he had not imagined that he would become UNILAG valedictorian, though he had always nursed the intention to finish with a first class from the university. 

“I never imagined I would be in this position, because when I gained admission to the University of Lagos, my whole goal was to just get a first class,” he said. 

“I saw getting a perfect CGPA as an impossibility until my 300 level, when I heard that somebody by the name David Akomu was able to accomplish it.”

“So then I made it a mission that if somebody was able to finish with this perfect score, I could actually be able to do it, but I never thought I would realise it.”

The valedictorian said he received the news of his emergence as UNILAG’s overall best with shock, saying that it was unexpected. 

“I’m really happy that I made it,” he said. “I feel over the roof and at the same time shocked, surprised… It’s a mix of feelings.”

Umeozor added that encouragement from friends also played a key role in sustaining his motivation throughout his academic journey.

According to him, the significance of emerging as UNILAG’s overall best became clearer when he considered the scale of the competition.

“When I saw the news that over 10,000 undergraduates were graduating this year and I emerged as the overall best, it was a whole new level of excitement for me,” he said.

He noted that the achievement was particularly meaningful to his family, describing it as one of the proudest moments of his life.

“It felt like I put my family name on the map or brought it to the spotlight,” he said. “My friends and family were really happy, and people from my faculty reached out to congratulate me. I think it’s one of the best moments of my life.”

On whether the recognition comes with pressure, Umeozor acknowledged that public expectations are inevitable but said he remains focused on his personal goals.

“Of course, there will be expectations,” he said. “People will want to watch my next step or see if I will fall or not. But I’ve defined my own path, and I won’t be swayed by people’s opinions. I just need to tune out the noise and follow the plan I’ve set for myself.”

Reflecting on his academic journey, Umeozor said he set clear goals from the outset, which helped him remain consistent.

“From the beginning, I set a goal to graduate with the first class,” he said. “When I later set the goal of finishing with a 5.0, I challenged myself to maintain it till the end, even though I knew the higher levels would be more difficult.”

He also addressed common misconceptions about academic excellence, noting that grades alone do not fully define intelligence or success.

“Academic excellence does not only involve writing exams and passing,” he noted. “It’s also about being able to identify problems and apply what you’ve learned to solve them. Everyone defines excellence differently.”

Looking ahead, the valedictorian revealed that he hopes to be remembered as a source of inspiration to younger students, especially those without special advantages.

“I want people to see me as proof that background does not limit your horizons,” he said. “I wasn’t popular, and I didn’t know any lecturer personally, but I still rose. I want parents to mention my name to their children as an example.”

Umeozor advised students not to equate excellence solely with academic performance, stressing that success can be achieved in various aspects of life.

“Excellence is not only in academics,” he said. “People can be excellent in their skills and other areas of life. Academic excellence is good, but it’s not the only form of excellence.”

On his future plans, he said he intends to further his education while also developing his skills in the technology space.

“I want to combine my academic qualifications with tech skills,” he said. “When they come together, it becomes powerful.”