QUESTIONS

1. Congratulations on your incredible achievements! Can you walk us through your

To begin with, the journey towards achieving these heights was undeniably a very
tough path to tread. There were countless challenges that made me feel like giving up
and even made me wonder if it was all worth it. However, the major thing that helped
me was determination, unwavering confidence, and my school persistence on success
which has always been my inner drive towards achieving my goals. Of course, I got
discouraged along the way, I failed along the way, and I also felt very overwhelmed
along the way, but I managed to pull through by understanding that good things never
come easy- you always have to sacrifice something to get something bigger and better.

2. Many students struggle with maintaining consistency. What strategies did you use to
stay disciplined and motivated throughout your studies?

I must say that it wasn’t that easy to keep going and remain consistent because there
would always be distractions and distractors along the way, but it all depends on how
you are able to make wise decisions and pay attention to the things that matter most
to you. Always remember that the goal is to keep forging ahead and to help you stay
consistent, you must have a stress relief system and a support system. For me, My
stress relief mechanism is talking to friends in school for help, playing the basketball,
floral designing, listening to music and most importantly, talking to God in silent
prayers.

3. Apart from excelling academically, you also made remarkable landmarks in MCE and
other competitions. What inspired you to participate, and how did you prepare for
these challenges?

To begin with, I was never a tech savvy or the one who would sit behind a laptop and
do all of those tech- related stuff but when I got into City of Knowledge Academy, I
began to see things from a different perspective and I saw that the world is evolving
beyond academic excellence, therefore I saw the need to hone my soft skills and
participation in extra curricula activities. Over the years, I unleashed my potential in
public speaking, spoken words, AISEN competitions and I also saw that I had the
ability to pass the MOS exams. I am currently certified in MOS Word 2016 as well as
MOS PowerPoint 2019 and I am still going to take other Certification Exams. Moreover,
it wasn’t that easy for me to just pick up everything and balance it with academic
expectations but I found my way through it solely because I was determined to attain
excellence.
4. Were there moments when you felt overwhelmed or discouraged? How did you
overcome setbacks and keep pushing forward?

D: Absolutely! There were times when the workload felt overwhelming, especially
during exam seasons or while preparing for competitions. I’ve had moments of self-
doubt, but I reminded myself why I started. Breaking tasks into smaller goals helped,
and I also relied on a strong support system— my teachers, friends, family, and
mentors. Whenever I felt discouraged, I took breaks, played basketball, or engaged in
creative reflections to refresh my mind.

S: Yes. There have been times when I felt like I wasn’t making enough progress or that
others were doing better than me. But I’ve learned that success isn’t about being
perfect, it’s about improving at your own pace. Whenever I felt discouraged, I
reminded myself why I started, took breaks when needed, and sought support from
friends, teachers, and family.

5. Balancing academic and extracurricular activities can be tough. How did you manage
your time effectively?

D: Time management is definitely a challenge, but I’ve learned to prioritize and stay
organized. I use planners and to-do lists to allocate time for academics, extracurricular
activities, and rest. I also focus on efficiency—maximizing study time with active
learning techniques and avoiding procrastination. Balancing isn’t always perfect but
staying disciplined and knowing when to have fun has helped me maintain both high
performance and personal well-being.

S: It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve found that setting priorities and creating a
schedule really helps. I try to plan my day so that I can get my schoolwork done while
still having time for activities I enjoy. I also focus on working smarter, not just harder—
breaking tasks into smaller parts and avoiding last-minute studying has helped me stay
on top of things.

6. Did you have any mentors, teachers, or role models who played a significant role in
your success? What advice or support did they provide?

D: Yes, several teachers and mentors have guided me along the way. My teachers have
always encouraged me to challenge myself and provided invaluable academic
guidance. My parents have also been a strong source of motivation. One piece of
advice that stuck with me was to always maintain curiosity—learning isn’t just about
grades but about truly understanding and applying knowledge.
 S: Yes! I’ve had teachers who encouraged me to keep pushing forward even when I
didn’t feel confident in my abilities. One of the best pieces of advice I received was
that effort matters more than talent. It reminded me that as long as I keep putting in
the work, I will see improvement over time.

7. Many students look up to you now as a source of inspiration. What key advice would
you give to those aspiring to achieve similar academic excellence?

D: First, believe in yourself—self-doubt can be your biggest enemy. Second, develop

S: My biggest advice would be to never compare yourself to others—focus on your

8. Beyond academics, what are your personal interests or hobbies? Do you see them
playing a role in your future career?

D: I enjoy floral designing, creative writing, and public speaking. I also love playing
basketball to de-stress. These interests have helped me develop different skills, like
creativity, communication, and teamwork. While I’m passionate about a Medicine and
Surgery, particularly Neurosurgery, my love for writing and public speaking could play a
role in advocacy, science communication, or leadership roles in the future.

S: I enjoy research, checking out new ideas on Pinterest, drafting dresses, listening to
music, watching movies, advising people and it helps me take my mind off school when
things get stressful. While I’m still figuring out my future career, I believe these interests
will help me develop important skills like creativity, teamwork, and resilience.

9. What’s next for you? Do you have specific goals for higher education, research, or
future competitions?

D: Right now, I’m looking forward to higher education and exploring opportunities in
research and innovation. I want to push myself further by engaging in global
competitions, internships, and leadership programs. My goal is to contribute
meaningfully to my field of interest and give back by mentoring younger students.
 S: For now, my goal is to keep improving academically and exploring different
opportunities that will help me grow. I’m open to new challenges, whether it’s
competitions, internships, or leadership roles. More than anything, I just want to keep
learning and getting better.

10. If you could change one thing about the education system to help students perform
better, what would it be and why

D: I would love to see an education system that focuses more on critical thinking and
real-world applications rather than just memorization. Many students struggle with
applying knowledge because they’re only trained to pass exams. Incorporating more
hands-on learning, research-based projects, and problem-solving activities would make
education more engaging and beneficial in the long run.

S: I think there should be more focus on helping students understand concepts instead
of just memorizing for exams. Also, not every student learns the same way, so having
different teaching methods would make learning more effective and enjoyable.
Education should be about building skills, not just passing tests.

1. "Tell us about the Conrad Challenge. What amazing things are students inventing?

"Oh, the Conrad Challenge is such an exciting experience! It’s a global innovation competition
where students come together to solve real-world problems. You see teams developing things
like eco-friendly packaging, and even sustainable water purification systems. I had the
privilege of participating, and the level of creativity and teamwork is just amazing. Not only
did my team and I work on an innovative solution called GreenTech, but I also won over
$60,000 worth of scholarships through the competition, which is actually taking me into
school this year!

Interviewer: "We hear the orchestra is great! What kind of music do they play?"

You: For the orchestra the school has made it mandatory that a child should learn at least one
instrument and trust me, our orchestra is absolutely incredible! The orchestra isn’t just about
classical music; we also mix things up with contemporary pieces, and even creative renditions
of modern pop songs like Buga by Kizz Daniel. I remember one performance where we
blended modern afro beats songs with generational Yoruba songs—it was such a unique and
beautiful experience!

Interviewer: "Besides classes, what fun clubs and sports do students join?"
You: "Oh, there’s so much to do! If you’re into science and tech, the STEM Club is the place to
be—we experiment, build projects, and even tackle world problems. If you love public
speaking, the Debate Club and Spoken Word Competitions are perfect for developing
confidence and expression. Sports-wise, it’s all about variety! Basketball, football—there’s
always a way to stay active and competitive. It’s a great balance between academics and
having fun!"

Interviewer: What's one thing your school has that other schools would envy

I’d say the sense of community and support among students and teachers. At my school, it’s
not just about academics—there’s a strong culture of encouragement, where teachers
genuinely want you to succeed, and students help each other grow. Whether it’s through
mentorship, teamwork in competitions, or just motivating each other during tough times, that
supportive environment makes a huge difference. It pushes you to do your best without
feeling like you’re in a constant race against others. I think that’s something many schools
would love to have!