Academic Spotlight Interview With Badmus Aminat Adesola, ACA

Welcome to Academic Spotlight, a platform by the MSSN OAU Academic Committee dedicated to celebrating academic excellence and inspiring students through the stories of outstanding individuals within our community.

Every edition features a student whose journey reflects resilience, consistency, and excellence. Beyond highlighting achievements, Academic Spotlight explores the habits, challenges, lessons, and principles that have shaped these remarkable journeys, with the hope that every reader will find practical insights and renewed motivation for their own academic pursuit.

Whether you are striving for better grades, preparing for competitions, seeking scholarships, or simply looking for inspiration to keep going, we believe there is something valuable for you in every conversation.

This week’s Academic Spotlight features Badmus Aminat Adesola, a Part IV Accounting student at Obafemi Awolowo University whose academic journey is marked by excellence, consistency, and remarkable achievements.

A Chartered Accountant and the current Internal Auditor of MSSN OAU, Aminat has distinguished herself both in the classroom and on the national stage. She emerged as a winner of the National Tax Debate Competition, was a finalist in the EY Tax Professional of the Year Competition, and represented Obafemi Awolowo University at the Taxation Challenge Nigeria (South-West Region), where her team secured first place and is now preparing for the national finals.

Her commitment to academic excellence has also earned her several prestigious awards, including being a two-time recipient of the Dallas OAU Alumni Scholarship, a two-time UNIFEMGA Scholar, and a two-time ICAN Prize Award winner.

Beyond her impressive résumé, Aminat is someone who values quiet reflection, continuous learning, and intentional personal growth. In this edition of Academic Spotlight, she shares the experiences, habits, and lessons that have shaped her journey, offering practical insights and encouragement for every student striving for excellence.

With an impressive record of academic excellence and leadership, we sat down with Aminat to learn more about the journey behind her achievements. From study strategies and competition experiences to personal growth and advice for students, she shares valuable lessons that have guided her path.

Let’s dive into the conversation.

Q1: Many students believe excelling academically requires sacrificing almost everything else. Yet you’ve managed to maintain outstanding grades, participate in competitions, and serve as the Internal Auditor of MSSN OAU. What systems or habits have enabled you to balance these responsibilities without compromising excellence?

Badmus Aminat: I don’t think there’s one strategy that works for everyone. From the outside, it may look easy to balance academics, competitions, and other responsibilities, but honestly, it’s not. At some point, one responsibility will demand more attention than the others.

Above all, I thank Allah for making the journey easier for me. I always pray for barakah in my time because I believe that with Allah’s blessings, you can achieve much more than your own effort alone. Beyond that, I try to prioritise what is most important at every point, stay organised, and avoid unnecessary distractions. Consistency has helped me more than trying to be perfect.

Q2: Looking back, what is one mistake or misconception about studying that held you back initially, and how did overcoming it change your academic performance?

Badmus Aminat: One misconception I had was believing that I had to do overnight reading to succeed because that was what many people told me. The problem was that I’m not a night reader, so I found it difficult and thought I was at a disadvantage.

With time, I realised that success is not about when you read but how disciplined and consistent you are. Once I stopped comparing my study pattern with others and focused on what worked for me, my academic performance improved.

Q3: You’ve represented yourself in various competitions within your field. Beyond winning or participating, what lessons from those experiences have made you a better student and future professional, and how can other students begin preparing themselves for similar opportunities?

Badmus Aminat: The first thing I would say is: put yourself out there. Don’t shy away from opportunities, and don’t be afraid to let people know what you’re capable of. I was able to participate in my latest competition because I had consistently put myself out there, and over time, my coursemates and lecturers came to believe in my abilities and recommended me for the opportunity.

My advice is to keep striving to be better and see yourself as worthy of every opportunity that comes your way. Never look down on yourself or think you’re less than others. If someone else can do it, you can too. We are all ordinary people, and no one is born more special than another. Believe in yourself, prepare yourself, and be ready when opportunities come.

Q4: Every high-performing student has moments when motivation is low or things don’t go as planned. During such periods, what keeps you disciplined and consistent, especially when the results are not immediately visible?

Badmus Aminat: I believe people often see the achievements but not the struggles behind them. For example, if I apply for ten opportunities and only get two, most people will only notice the two successes. They don’t see the rejections, the waiting, or the disappointments along the way.

One verse that keeps me going is Allah’s saying:

إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

“His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.” (Qur’an 36:82)

This verse reminds me that Allah is in control of every outcome. I do my best, make the effort, and leave the results to Him. At the end of the day, I have accepted that not everything will go my way, and that’s okay because Allah knows what is best.

Q5: If you had just ten minutes to mentor a Part I student who genuinely wants to graduate with a First Class, what practical advice would you give them, and what habits would you encourage them to develop from their very first semester?

Badmus Aminat: The first thing I would tell them is to build a strong relationship with Allah because He is the source of all success.

Secondly, spare no effort in pursuing excellence. In my Part I, I started searching for scholarship opportunities and realised that many of them required outstanding academic performance. That became a strong motivation for me to stay committed to my studies.

I also looked up to some of the top students in my department. I wanted to be like them, so I learned from their habits and allowed their achievements to inspire me. Interestingly, today, some of those same people now look up to me, which reminds me that consistent effort truly pays off.

Finally, put yourself out there, strive for excellence, and choose your friends wisely. Surround yourself with people who will challenge you to grow academically, morally, and spiritually, not people who will make you settle for less.

Q6: If your academic journey had a movie title, what would it be and why?

Badmus Aminat: Movie Title: The Courage to Try

Why?

I think The Courage to Try best describes my academic journey. I’ve never been afraid to take chances or pursue opportunities, even when I wasn’t sure how everything would work out. Some things worked, while others didn’t, but each experience taught me something valuable.

For example, financial challenges almost stopped me from starting my ICAN journey. I didn’t have everything figured out, but I decided to begin anyway and trust the process. Today, by Allah’s grace, I have completed it. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t allow fear or uncertainty to stop me.

My journey has taught me that you don’t always need to see the finish line before taking the first step. Sometimes, all you need is the courage to try and the determination to keep going.

As our conversation drew to a close, we asked Aminat to leave one final message for every student striving for excellence. Her response was a thoughtful reminder that true success is not measured only by achievements, but also by the person we become in the process.

Final Advice

One piece of advice I would leave with every student is to make self-assessment a regular habit. One quote I really love says, “When you look in the mirror, you should love what you see.”

For me, that means being honest with yourself. Regularly assess your progress, your character, your habits, and your relationship with Allah. Don’t deceive yourself about where you are, but also take time to appreciate how far you’ve come.

When you genuinely love the person you are becoming, it gives you the motivation to keep growing, keep improving, and become an even better version of yourself.