With thunderous ovation that rented the University Chapel- venue of the event, Winner Eso-Oluwa Deji-Folutile was elated, as he walked to the podium to receive his scroll as the best graduating student of the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State. It was at the 11th convocation ceremony of the faith-based private university, owned by the Living Faith Church Worldwide.
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. Like the Chancellor of the university and Founder of the Church, Dr. David Oyedepo, an architect, who Deji-Folutile claimed to be his role model, the student also studied Architecture. Also in the manner of the Bishop, who is regarded by many not only as a man of God, but also as a symbol of sound and qualitative leadership, Deji-Folutile has also graduated not only as the best students’ union leader in the history of the 14-year-old institution, but also as the overall best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97 points.
Presenting the 21-year-old to the audience, comprising top government functionaries, captains of industry, principal officers of the university, clerics and parents, for the Chancellor’s handshake, the former Registrar of the university, who is also an alumnus, Dr. Olumuyiwa Oludayo, described Deji-Folutile as a winner, an achiever and a trailblazer. “To you the Chancellor Sir, it is gratifying to inform you that our overall best student this year is not only the best in academics, but also the best Chairman of the Students’ Council,” Oludayo said.
According to Deji-Folutile, 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.”
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