For Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga, the journey to academic excellence began in a rural community in Osun State, where life was defined by hardship, limited resources, and resilience.
Growing up in a home without electricity for nearly a decade, Oladepo relied on lanterns and candles for light. There was no television, and meeting basic needs like food, clothing, and school fees was a daily struggle for his family.
Despite these challenges, he remained focused on his education. He attended public primary and secondary schools, as private education was beyond his family’s reach. Each day, he walked long distances to school while his parents worked tirelessly to support the household.
Years later, that determination paid off. On January 14, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology named him the overall best graduating engineering student for the 2024/2025 academic session in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, with an outstanding CGPA of 4.89 out of 5.0.
Speaking after his convocation, Oladepo credited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (Nigerian Education Loan Fund) as a major support system in his academic journey. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he expressed gratitude to the scheme, noting that the loan made it possible for him to complete his studies.
His statement quickly gained traction online, drawing both praise and criticism. While many celebrated his achievement and transparency, others questioned the need to publicly acknowledge a government-backed initiative. Some even suggested that his loan should be waived in recognition of his academic excellence.
NELFUND responded by congratulating him, describing his success as a reflection of the programme’s impact in empowering students to achieve their goals.
In a follow-up post, Oladepo addressed the mixed reactions, explaining that his appreciation was genuine and rooted in his personal experience.
He recounted how financial limitations shaped his upbringing, noting that survival itself was often uncertain. Yet, along the way, he benefited from acts of kindness and support from a scholarship that helped him secure a first-class degree to a smartphone gifted by a coursemate’s father, and occasional assistance from lecturers.
“Not all of us are born with a silver spoon,” he wrote, adding that many succeed by holding onto every legitimate support available.
Defending his acknowledgement of NELFUND, he stressed that recognising the role of such support systems is not political but simply an act of gratitude.
“For me, NELFUND was not incidental; it was instrumental,” he said.
The initiative, introduced under the administration of Bola Tinubu, provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to ease the burden of tuition and living expenses.
As of March 2026, the scheme has supported over one million students nationwide, with billions of naira disbursed. However, some beneficiaries, including thousands at LAUTECH, are still awaiting full payments.
Closing his message on a hopeful note, Oladepo encouraged others facing similar challenges to remain determined.
“Greatness awaits all of us,” he wrote.
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