We have probably become used to reading stories about the outstanding feats being accomplished by Nigerian students across the world. Records which have stood for decades have come tumbling down in the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, South Africa and many other countries, thanks to the never-ending flow of brilliant minds whose fine deeds have brought joy to the hearts of their families, and to Nigeria as a whole. One of such, a genius in his own right, is Dr Victor Olalusi, who graduated with a perfect GPA of 5.0 from the Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, in 2013.
In 2015, Dr Olalusi was honoured by the Federal Ministry of Education. He had studied at the RNRMU for 7 years under the Russia-Nigeria Bilateral Education Agreement, and his achievement clearly impressed officials in Nigeria and in Russia. Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, was quick to point out the rarity of Dr Olalusi’s attainment, while noting that his success was also a plus for the Federal Scholarship initiative. The fact that it had produced the best graduating student in the whole of the Russian Federation in a year was something to celebrate.
Mr Artem Romanov, a representative of the Russian Embassy in Nigeria, emphasised in his speech that Dr Olalusi’s conquest of Russia was not possible without hard work.
“Victor is a hard working person”, he said. “It is not easy to achieve such in Russia; it goes with talent and hard work.”
Mr Romanov also advised him to engage his knowledge he had acquired in the development of his fatherland.
As impressive as this achievement looks, it is only a part of an exceptional run of successes for Victor. His Senior Secondary Certificate Examination Result was unusually good, and his JAMB University Matriculation Examination score of 321 out of a possible 400 points made him one of the top scoring candidates for the year 2006. He was granted admission to study at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife in that year. Olalusi’s triumph in Russia was a pearl-studded cap on his dazzling procession which left awe-stricken observers in its wake.
In an interview, the young achiever was asked to reveal the secret of his success. In his reply, he thanked God for helping him and spoke of his parents as his role models. Perhaps the most indicative clue he gave in response to the question was this:
“I would say that I was spurred on by a genuine interest to become better than I was yesterday.”