What should have been a moment of pure celebration quickly turned into a national conversation—but now, Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga is reclaiming his story.
Fresh from emerging as the Overall Best Graduating Student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), the young engineer has issued a deeply personal account of his journey, pushing back against criticism that trailed his public appreciation of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, NELFUND.
Rather than retreat, Oladepo chose to speak—offering a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the life behind the accolades.
Born into a modest family in rural Osun State, Oladepo described a childhood defined not by comfort, but by endurance. Public schools were not a preference—they were the only option. Even then, survival was uncertain.
“We lived within sight of basic amenities, yet beyond their reach,” he revealed—recalling nearly a decade without electricity, relying instead on lanterns and candles to study.
Each school day began with long walks. Each night ended with persistence against the odds.
His journey to academic excellence, he insists, was not a solo climb.
From a coursemate’s father who gifted him his first smartphone, to lecturers who quietly provided clothing, Oladepo painted a picture of a support system built not on privilege, but on kindness and timely intervention.
“These are the rungs I held onto,” he implied—moments of help that made survival, and eventually success, possible.
At the heart of the controversy is his public acknowledgment of NELFUND, a government-backed initiative designed to ease financial barriers for students.
Critics questioned the timing and tone of his praise. But Oladepo’s response was firm—and personal.
“For me, NELFUND was not incidental; it was instrumental,” he stated, rejecting suggestions that his appreciation was politically motivated.
In doing so, he reframed the debate—not as politics, but as lived experience.
His message cuts deeper than a single policy argument. It challenges a broader assumption—that success stories are always self-made or detached from support systems.
“Not all of us are born with a silver spoon,” he said. “Some of us climbed by holding every legitimate help we could find.”
It is a reminder that behind many academic triumphs lies a mosaic of sacrifice, resilience, and often invisible assistance.
As reactions continue to trail his statement, Oladepo’s story is already resonating far beyond campus walls—touching on issues of inequality, access to education, and the role of institutional support in shaping futures.
For many, it is no longer just about a top graduate defending a post.
It is about a voice insisting that gratitude should not be politicised—and that survival stories deserve to be told, unfiltered.
And from lantern-lit nights to national spotlight, Oladepo has made one thing clear: his success is not just a personal victory, it is a testament to what becomes possible when resilience meets opportunity.
LAUTECH valedictorian fires back, says NELFUND shaped his success
