FUTA Alumnus , Marvelous Oladeji , Tells the Story of his academic Odyssey.
Marvelous Oladeji graduated from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) Department of Chemistry in 2019 with distinction. He finished as the best graduating student in his department and made the First Class Mark.
He is currently pursuing a PhD at Purdue University in the United States with his research focusing on nucleotide synthesis and antibiotic resistance.
Read the story of his academic journey from FUTA to PURDUE;
In the beginning , a Dream Deferred
Flashback to when I finished high school more than a decade ago. Motivated by my background, I set my mind on gaining admission to university and finishing with a first-class honour, a dream shared by many. However, that didn't happen immediately because I failed my first attempt at the SSCE. Consequently, I couldn't get admission into university that year (I'll spare you the reason for my failure).
Tenacity of Purpose: And the FUTA Edge :
After working for about a year and receiving support from my late uncle, I reattempted the examination and passed successfully. This enabled me to gain admission into the best University of Technology in Nigeria and one of the best universities in Africa, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), where I started pursuing my dream of finishing with a first-class. I began on a strong footing with a first-class GPA and maintained it until the end. Finally, I graduated as the best student in the Chemistry department in 2019.
Commonwealth Scholarship Advantage:
After these milestones, I thought everything would align well, but unfortunately, it didn't go that way until a very beautiful day. On 26th of April 2021, I received an email informing me that I had been nominated for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship to study Analytical Science and Instrumentation at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. I began the journey in September, and the program was quite challenging, pushing me to challenge my intelligence.
The FUTA INFLUENCE :
Yet, I am grateful for how FUTA prepared me for academic rigor and for the support I received from many mentors. In the end, I completed my program with distinction, ranking at the top of my class. I will always be grateful to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for the opportunity to learn at one of the best universities in the UK.
Mission to PURDUE
Combining the knowledge from my undergraduate and master's degrees, I embarked on my PhD journey in 2022 at Purdue University, USA, focusing on medicinal chemistry research. My current work involves the synthesis of cyclic nucleotides to probe bacterial signaling pathways and the development of enzyme inhibitors that target mechanisms implicated in antibiotic resistance.
A Piece of Advice :
In conclusion, my journey shows that with determination, perseverance, and faith, anything is possible. Success may not come easily, but hard work and resilience pay off. I owe much of my success to the strong foundation built at FUTA, where I learned dedication and excellence.
To current FUTA students, seize every opportunity, equip yourself with knowledge, and strive for excellence. Your efforts now will pave the way for future achievements.