{"id":7549,"date":"2026-11-03T11:48:44","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T11:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/03\/meet-makoko-scholars-who-defied-odds-to-bag-first-class\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T11:48:44","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T11:48:44","slug":"meet-makoko-scholars-who-defied-odds-to-bag-first-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/03\/meet-makoko-scholars-who-defied-odds-to-bag-first-class\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Makoko scholars who defied odds to bag first class"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two children from the Makoko community in Lagos, Mustapha Oseni and Sisianu Melawakou, have graduated with First-Class Honours from Benson Idahosa University, Edo State, after receiving scholarships.\n<\/p>\n

The duo, who gained access to formal education through the Slum2School organisation, emerged among the top-performing students in their respective departments during the university\u2019s 2025\/2026 academic session.\n<\/p>\n

Oseni graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, recording a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.89 and emerging as the second-best graduating student in his department.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Mustapha Oseni graduates with First-Class Honours from Benson Idahosa University\u2026.Photo Credit: Slum2School<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Melawakou earned a degree in Mass Communication with a CGPA of 4.57, also finishing as the second-best graduating student in her department.<\/p>\n

Beyond their academic achievements, the graduates have begun pursuing careers in their respective fields.\n<\/p>\n

Melawakou has expressed a passion for journalism and reporting, while Oseni has gained professional experience in technology and product management.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sisianu Melewakou graduates with First-Class Honours from Benson Idahosa University\u2026.Photo Credit: Slum2School<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Reflecting on her achievement in a LinkedIn post after her convocation, Melawakou said she entered Benson Idahosa University four years ago as a scholarship student and graduated with First-Class Honours.<\/p>\n

She said her university experience involved leadership, volunteering and personal development alongside her academic work.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sisianu Melawakou in a before-and-after photograph showing her journey from the Makoko community to graduating with First-Class Honours from Benson Idahosa University\u2026.Photo Credit: Slum2School<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2026 God actually did it. Four years ago, I walked into Benson idahosa University as a scholarship student. Today, I\u2019m walking out as a First-Class graduate of Mass Communication.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cBut honestly, the First Class is only one part of the story. I served. I led. I built. I volunteered. I made mistakes. I met incredible people. I took on responsibilities I sometimes wondered if I was ready for, all while trying to keep my academics together.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut looking back, I\u2019m grateful I didn\u2019t have to choose between being an excellent student and becoming the person I wanted to be outside the classroom.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, I\u2019m closing this chapter with a very full heart. BSc. Mass Communication. First Class. Benson idahosa University. What a Journey. And this is only the beginning,\u201d she wrote after her convocation.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A before-and-after photograph of Mustapha Oseni and Sisianu Melawakou, who progressed from children in Makoko to First-Class graduates of Benson Idahosa University through Slum2School\u2019s scholarship programme.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Her journey into formal education began in 2012, when Slum2School enrolled her in school for the first time at the age of eight.\n<\/p>\n

In an instagram post on Monday, the organisation\u2019s founder, Otto Orondaam, said Melawakou was among the children whose circumstances inspired him to leave his job in 2011 to establish the initiative.<\/p>\n

Now 23, he stated that she faced several setbacks during her education, including the threat of early marriage, which nearly forced her to drop out of school. <\/p>\n

\n
Related News<\/header>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\"\"
Mustapha Oseni and Sisianu Melawakou on their convocation after graduating with First-Class Honours from Benson Idahosa University\u2026Photo Credit: Slum2School<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, she continued her studies and eventually secured a university scholarship through Slum2School\u2019s partnership with Benson Idahosa University.\n<\/p>\n

Orondaam described her graduation as particularly fulfilling, considering the challenges she had overcome.\n<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cShe was one of the kids who challenged me in 2011 to quit my job to launch @SlumSchool. We eventually enrolled her in school in 2012 for the very first time. She was 8 years old then. Today, she is 23 and has graduated with First-Class Honours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Slum2School Founder and Mustapha Oseni in a before-and-after photograph showing his journey from the Makoko community to graduating with First-Class Honours from Benson Idahosa University\u2026.Photo Credit: Slum2School<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Oseni\u2019s interest in technology also shaped his educational journey and influenced his choice of degree.\n<\/p>\n

According to Orondaam, he joined Slum2School\u2019s digital learning programme in 2018 and became one of its top learners. His passion for technology also inspired the organisation to launch a virtual learning classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic.\n<\/p>\n

The organisation encouraged him to study Computer Science, but his final year was marked by a personal tragedy when he lost his mother and nearly abandoned his studies.<\/p>\n

Recalling the experience, Orondaam said, \u201cDuring his final year, he lost his mom and almost gave up. So imagine the joy when I learned that he graduated with First-Class Honours as 2nd Best Graduating Student with a 4.89 CGPA.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Little Mustapha Oseni in Makoko community<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Oseni has also gained experience in the technology sector.\n<\/p>\n

His LinkedIn profile lists him as a Product Management Intern at BeTechified between August 2025 and July 2026, as well as an ICT and Public Relations Intern at Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, from March to September 2025.\n<\/p>\n

He also worked as a Field and Programmes Intern at Slum2School Africa between 2022 and 2023, where he said he coordinated activities for more than 10 projects. His profile also lists him as a Cowrywise Ambassador from February 2026.\n<\/p>\n

Both graduates completed their secondary education at Word of Faith Secondary School in 2022 before receiving scholarships through Slum2School\u2019s partnership with Benson Idahosa University.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sisianu Melawakou, who progressed from a child in Makoko to First-Class graduates of Benson Idahosa University through Slum2School\u2019s scholarship<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Orondaam recalled visiting them on the final day of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination and later attending their university convocation in September.\n<\/p>\n

He thanked the university\u2019s management, including its Vice-Chancellor, Bishop Feb Idahosa, and other partners for supporting the scholars throughout their academic journey.<\/p>\n

He said their achievements demonstrated the impact of providing children from underserved communities with access to education and opportunities to pursue their ambitions.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we believe in a child, invest in their dreams and give them the opportunity to thrive, we don\u2019t just transform one life; we change the future of entire families, communities and generations,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>\n

Source: <\/p>\n

Punch Newspapers – Latest News<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two children from the Makoko community in Lagos, Mustapha Oseni and Sisianu Melawakou, have graduated with First-Class Honours from Benson Idahosa University, Edo State, after receiving scholarships. The duo, who… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7549\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}