21 year old Winner Deji-Folutile, son of Saturday Punch Editor , Olabisi
Deji-Folutile, has emerged the best graduating student of Covenant
University for 2015/2016 academic session.
Deji-Folutile, who is a student of Architecture and the student
council chairman at Covenant University to win the award, recorded a
CGPA score of 4.974.
He was honoured at the institution’s convocation ceremony held on Thursday.
He was the first students’ union leader to win the award in Covenant University’s 14-year history.
Deji-Folutile has a track record of excellence as his worst results
since he gained admission to the institution few years ago were two B’s.
He scored A’s in all other courses.
He had the best results in the West Africa Senior School Certificate
Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO) at Faith
Academy, Ota.
He also had the third best result in NECO in Ogun State for 2012.
You see, the success story of the 21-year-old student, the first child of a
family of three, is full of many coincidences, which confirm the power
behind a name, vision and spirituality.
According to Deji-Folutile in a chat with New Telegraph, the journey to stardom did not start
on the campus, but right from his secondary school days at the Faith
Academy, also owned by Oyedepo.
He said: “Well, right from when I was in SS2, I could picture this
day coming. Every day, I was writing it somewhere in my book that I
wanted to be the Covenant University’s best student and the best Council
Chairman. So, I had dreamt it and I worked for it both spiritually and
academically.” Speaking on his dream, Deji-Folutile, whose father is a
veterinary medical practitioner and his mother a journalist, noted that
the spirit had directed him. “The first thing is that God is my
strength, but I was determined too.”
But how was he able to cope with the burden of union leadership and
academic workload, Deji-Folutile said: “God gave me the grace and gave
me the lecturers, who were understanding and cooperative. They used to
call me to order whenever they felt I was going astray.” He said though
he had a good social life on campus, there was no room for love affair
with students of opposite sex. According to Deji-Folutile’s mother, the
Saturday Editor of The Punch newspapers, Mrs. Olabisi Deji-Folutile, the
circumstance of the birth of her son had informed the choice of his
name, being a product of parents’ perseverance and strong belief in God,
having been childless for some years after marriage.
She explained: “So, once I was confirmed to be pregnant, we decided
to name him ‘Winner’ even before we began to attend the Winner’s Chapel
church. And, since then, it has been one victory story or another. He
had the best results in the West African Senior School Certificate
Examination (WASSCE) in his school, and was the third best candidate
with NECO result in Ogun State in 2012.
So, once he told us his ambition to achieve the feats, we made it our
prayer points.” Deji Folutile, who hails from Ilejemeje Local
Government Area of Ekiti State, described his success as overwhelming
and thanked God for His grace in his life, even as the best graduating
student commended Bishop Oyedepo for his investment in education.
“Covenant University is a moulding ground where spirituality is key,” he
stressed, saying, “Everything we were taught and the core values
instilled in us have really impacted us. This degree is just a class
that can go at any time, but the experience is what I really cherish.”
Speaking about his career choice, he said he had loved Technical
Drawing, Mathematics and Fine Art right from his secondary school days.
His words: “As far back as when I was in JSS 3, I had wanted to study
Architecture. And so after my Masters programme, I hope to work as an
architect at an architectural and interior design firm. I hope to wow
the world with unique creative designs.”