Lagos State University Graduate Who Faced Financial Struggles Emerges Best in Faculty, Shares CGPA
- Gift Awugo graduated from Lagos State University with a first-class degree in Economics, earning a CGPA of 4.89 out of 5.00
- She asked her mother to transfer her to a public secondary school so the cost of her education would not become a financial burden on the family
- Gift was named Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Best Graduating Student of the Department of Economics at her LASU convocation
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Gift Awugo, a fresh Economics graduate of Lagos State University, stood at her convocation ceremony in August 2026 and was announced as the Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Best Graduating Student of the Department of Economics, and Best Female Graduating Student of the Faculty of Social Sciences, finishing with a CGPA of 4.89 out of 5.00.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Source: UGC
LASU graduate shares family struggles
Growing up, Gift was so conscious of the financial strain her education placed on her mother that she once asked to be moved to a public secondary school, one the family could comfortably afford. That awareness of sacrifice followed her into university, where she initially set her sights on a federal institution to keep costs manageable.
On the final day of the LASU screening exercise, she changed course and applied to Lagos State University, even after being told admission was unlikely. She applied for Stream 2. By December 2022, her admission letter had arrived.
The programme came with a fee of roughly 151,000 naira per session, and she also took on an entrepreneurship programme alongside her degree. She accepted the challenge anyway.
LASU student shares her motivation
Knowing what her mother was sacrificing, Gift said she could not afford to take the opportunity lightly. She described the pressure of maintaining a top position as something that went beyond academic ambition.
Once she reached the summit, the fear of losing her standing pushed her deeper into her books.
She wrote on her LinkedIn post:
"It is one thing to work hard for a good result. It is another to become afraid of losing it. I knew what a B could do to my CGPA, so I buried my head even deeper into my books."
She graduated with a first-class degree, closing a chapter she says began not with ambition but with sacrifice.
LASU graduate's achievement sparks reactions
Her post drew warm responses from connections who were moved by the honesty and determination behind her achievement.
Chimdiebube Onuorah said:
"Congratulations 🎊 Gift Awugo. Some journeys begin with a dream. Others begin with a sacrifice, and somehow become both. What moves most is that you never forgot the weight of where you started while rising into everything you were capable of becoming. You didn't just honour the opportunity; you honoured the sacrifice behind it. This is what it means to keep going."
Hadassah Asede said:
"Big Congratulations, Gift Awugo. This is really really inspiring. Greater Heights ahead."
Adekunle Moses said:
"Thank you so for sharing your inspirational story! I enjoyed reading every single word in your write up and it brought tears to my eyes."
In a related story, UNILAG's best graduating student shared how he was rejected by the University of Ibadan, while another graduate staged a one-man protest over unemployment.
LASU BGS shares admission experience
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Lagos State University's (LASU) best graduating student opened up about her admission experience.
In an insightful interview with Legit.ng, the young lady shared her admission struggle, experience in school, and future goals.
Source: Legit.ng
