* Former OOU SUG president says student unionism not hindrance to scholastic aspirations
* Says attracted to Islam by the lifestyle of Muslims around him
Omotayo Mabunmi, a unionist and activist, has broken all odds to achieve his long-held dream, as he graduated with Distinction from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and emerged one of the two Best Graduating Students in the Department of Accounting with a 4.92 CGPA in his MSc Accounting programme.
Mabunmi, who was a class governor and the president of Henry Carr Postgraduate Hall, the largest postgraduate hall in UNILAG, was excited that he attained the feat despite seemingly insurmountable probabilities.
He, alongside his colleague from the same department, Alhaji Malik Muhammad Sidiq, graduated as the overall best student in the department after achieving the same CGPA of 4.92.
Muslim News gathered that he missed the feat of emerging best graduating student of the department by 0.01 CGPA during his undergraduate degree at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), as he made 4.36 while the then-best graduating student had a 4.37.
Mabunmi is an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). His expertise includes financial reporting, tax advisory, payroll, ESG, and consulting, among others.
He is also a Financial Modelling Valuation Analyst FMVA under the Corporate Finance Institute CFI in Canada and an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the United Kingdom, among others.
His good grades, he said, dropped drastically because he participated in student unionism and politics.
According to him, “I’m particularly grateful to Allah for this feat. I couldn’t attain it during my undergraduate studies because of 0.01 points. I had a very strong first class, but after being elected as the Student Union Government (SUG) President, I had to travel around 5 campuses of my school spread across Ogun State to perform official duties.
“My activism and student unionism had drastic effects on my CGPA. So, I graduated with a 4.36, while the Best Graduating Student, who happens to be a very good friend of mine, had a 4.37 CGPA. I was happy for my friend but dissatisfied with my first class that eventually dropped to a great extent.”
His excitement knew no bounds, as he was able to prove to himself that “politicking and student unionism are not hindrances to my scholastic aspirations.”
The lifestyle of Muslim friends attracted me to Islam
Mabunmi, who embraced Islam during his postgraduate degree in UNILAG, said the ideals and values of Muslims around him attracted him to Allah’s ordained religion for mankind.
He was particularly motivated by Alhaji Malik Muhammad Sidiq, his colleague, who was also named BGS after graduating with the same CGPA.
He recounted how he was welcomed into the fold of Islam by Alhaji Malik and some other Muslim friends.
“I embraced Islam just before last year’s Ramadan because I did my research and found that my fasting was null and void if I did not accept Islam. I wanted to fast in the month of Ramadan, and I wanted my fast to be accepted as an act of worship. So, I embraced Islam.
“My coursemate, Alhaji Malik, and a few friends welcomed me into Islam. They were there, and they saw me through the process. Alhamdulillah, I was able to fast and engage in other rites during the holy month.”
I have always wanted to study Accounting
The accounting expert disclosed to Muslim News that he had always nursed a soft spot for Accounting.
“I’ve always been analytical from childhood. I loved numbers; loved mathematics a lot. So right from my days in secondary school, I participated in numerous competitions. I was made the Senior Prefect because of that.
“So, I had always known I would study accounting in the future. I had an almost perfect score of 98 in our first unified exam in SS1. I was also motivated by my uncle, a retired Director of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice. He was an FCA/FCTI. As the male senior prefect in my school, I was also privileged to attend an event graced by chartered accountants, and they spoke very well of accounting. I was inspired. I was determined to study accounting.
“I applied for accounting at LASU but was offered admission in Insurance because accounting wasn’t accredited that year. I had to reapply for Accounting for another year in another institution. That’s how I landed at Olabisi Onabanjo University and had to start afresh. That’s how passionate I’ve been about studying Accounting.”
My drive for excellence gets me going
Mabunmi stressed his commitment to excellence, describing it as his driving force.
“My drive for excellence always gets me going. I have audacious ambitions, and I strongly believe in my aspirations,” he said.
“I know I have to exhibit excellence in all ramifications. So, I try to do everything required academically and professionally to prepare myself for the roles I have to play in the future,” he added.
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