Inspiring student Jelili Babalakin graduates from the University of Bath after overcoming financial deprivation and family loss
Last updated 12/20/2011 9:10:30 AM
nspiring student Jelili Babalakin graduates from the University of Bath after overcoming financial deprivation and family loss
Academic staff have praised the achievements of a talented student from Nigeria who's graduated from university after striving against the odds to obtain his degree.
Congratulations indeed to Jelili Babalakin who has graduated from the University of Bath with an MSc in Management & Finance.
Jelili's father died when he was just 15, leaving his mum to raise him and his five brothers and sisters in their rural home in Nigeria. Jelili left home during his schooling and worked in a local store to fund his living costs and put himself through school. He was determined to go on to university, to realise his ambitions for a career that will make a positive impact on his country's economy and political system.
Jelili, now aged 33, spent seven years saving for university, and completed his first degree at the University of Lagos, combining geography with accounting.He was consistently one of the highest achieving students and was offered a scholarship to complete a masters degree at the University of Bath. Jelili supplemented his bursary with evening jobs cleaning offices.
"Growing up was full of ups and downs. As a child, I learnt the hard way. Combining work with schooling was a difficult task but I wasn't going to give up," Jelili explained. " My ambition is to take up a political career in Nigeria to fill the loopholes in the current political system and to benefit public services and rural, community development. I wanted to study abroad to immerse myself in another culture, and deepen my personal, academic and political understanding of international affairs."
Jelili's mum and cousins journeyed from Nigeria to watch him graduate. "They're very proud of me and all my efforts," he said.
Mike Willis, Jelili's lecturer in the School of Management, said: "Jelili has been very successful in completing his degree through much turmoil and financial deprivation. He has been dealt a difficult hand in life though always managed himself impeccably. He has shown tremendous commitment, fortitude and I have no doubt his career will be every bit as successful as he deserves."
Jelili is in the final stages of graduate interviews with global management consulting firm, McKinsey and Company, and Exon Mobil Nigeria.