Yahaya Bello: Kogi Student Bags UK First-class Degree

A Kogi State indigene and former Cambridge examination award winner, Oluwabukolami Adeyemi, has graduated with a first-class degree in Law from a university in Newcastle, United Kingdom.

Oluwabukolami, who hails from Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, completed her undergraduate studies through a scholarship awarded by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

The scholarship reportedly covered her tuition, accommodation, living expenses and other academic costs throughout her studies in the United Kingdom.

Following her latest academic achievement, Bello has also offered to sponsor her master’s degree programme in the UK.

Oluwabukolami gained national attention in 2023 after receiving recognition for her outstanding performance in the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education and Cambridge Advanced Subsidiary Level examinations.

She reportedly recorded the highest scores in the 2022 Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge AS Level examinations among candidates from 146 countries.

Her achievement attracted commendations from prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The then Kogi governor received her at the Government House in August 2023 and subsequently announced a private scholarship to support her university education abroad.

Bello fulfilled the promise in September 2023, enabling her to pursue a law degree in the United Kingdom.

In a video message following her graduation, Oluwabukolami expressed appreciation to the former governor for supporting her academic ambition.

She described Bello as “God-sent to humanity” and thanked him for ensuring that financial limitations did not prevent her from pursuing her education.

The former governor, who was said to be pleased with her first-class result, approved a fresh scholarship for her postgraduate studies.

Oluwabukolami’s father, Olumide Adeyemi, also thanked Bello for helping his daughter fulfil her ambition of studying abroad.

Adeyemi said it would have been difficult for the family to independently fund her foreign education despite her exceptional academic ability.

He said the former governor’s intervention ensured that his daughter’s potential was not wasted.

Adeyemi added that Bello had extended similar support to several other students and prayed for long life and good health for the former governor.

Oluwabukolami’s graduation adds to the growing number of Nigerians recording notable academic achievements at universities abroad.