From Market Hustle to First-Class: UNILAG Graduate Earns 4.84 CGPA in Accounting:Â A Nigerian student who once worked as a market boy to support his education has graduated with a first-class degree in Accounting, achieving an outstanding 4.84 CGPA from the University of Lagos.
Francis Ezeakunwanne, a Nigerian graduate, recently shared the story of his academic journey, which began with financial struggles but ended with remarkable success. He gained admission into the University of Lagos in 2019 after scoring 300 out of 400 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. Although securing admission was a major achievement, paying school fees and meeting daily expenses became a serious challenge for him and his family.
Instead of allowing the situation to stop his education, Francis decided to work and support himself. He started working at Kantangowa Market in Lagos, a popular second-hand goods market, where he carried out different tasks to earn money. The experience demanded strength, patience, and discipline, especially because he had to combine long working hours with academic responsibilities.
Despite the stress that came with balancing work and school, he remained committed to his studies. His determination began to reflect in his academic and professional progress. In 2022, during his second year at the university, he wrote the Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS) Examinations 1 and 2 organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and successfully passed both examinations in one sitting.
He continued this impressive performance in 2023 when he sat for ATS 3 and the Skills Level examinations. Once again, he passed all the examinations at once, even while managing demanding university coursework. By 2024, Francis advanced to the Professional Level examinations and achieved another success by passing them in a single sitting.
Apart from academics, Francis also contributed to leadership and student development activities. In 2024, he served as the Director of Research and Development at the Impact Leaders Club, UNILAG Chapter. During his time as a student, he received several scholarships that supported both his education and professional examination expenses. These included the FSB Scholarship, Seplat Energy Scholarship, and the SNEPCO Scholarship.
After years of dedication, discipline, and consistent effort, Francis graduated with one of the highest cumulative grade point averages in his class, earning a first-class degree in Accounting with a 4.84 CGPA.
While reflecting on his journey in a post shared on LinkedIn, he explained that his achievement came from persistence and daily commitment to improvement. He stated that success was built on years of choosing hard work over comfort and preparation over excuses. According to him, a person’s background does not determine their future, and where someone starts in life does not limit where they can eventually reach.
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