Meet Two Makoko Graduates Who Earned First-Class Honours

For Mustapha Oseni and Sisianu Melawakou, graduating with First-Class Honours from Benson Idahosa University, Edo State, represents the culmination of years of determination, personal sacrifices and opportunities made possible through educational support.

The two graduates, who grew up in the Makoko community in Lagos, earned scholarships through the Slum2School organisation and emerged among the outstanding students in their respective departments during the 2025/2026 academic session.

Oseni obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.89, finishing as the second-best graduating student in his department, while Melawakou graduated in Mass Communication with a CGPA of 4.57, also emerging as the second-best student in her department.

Their achievements have been accompanied by efforts to establish careers in their chosen fields, with Melawakou pursuing her interest in journalism and reporting, while Oseni has gained experience in technology and product management.

In a LinkedIn post following her convocation, Melawakou reflected on her four years at the university, describing her experience as one that extended beyond academic performance to leadership, volunteering and personal growth.

“So… God actually did it. Four years ago, I walked into Benson idahosa University as a scholarship student. Today, I’m walking out as a First-Class graduate of Mass Communication.

“But honestly, the First Class is only one part of the story. I served. I led. I built. I volunteered. I made mistakes. I met incredible people. I took on responsibilities I sometimes wondered if I was ready for, all while trying to keep my academics together.

“But looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t have to choose between being an excellent student and becoming the person I wanted to be outside the classroom.

“Today, I’m closing this chapter with a very full heart. BSc. Mass Communication. First Class. Benson idahosa University. What a Journey. And this is only the beginning,” she wrote after her convocation.

Her educational journey began in 2012, when Slum2School enrolled her in formal education for the first time at the age of eight.

The organisation’s founder, Otto Orondaam, said Melawakou was among the children whose circumstances influenced his decision to leave his job in 2011 and establish the initiative.

Now 23, she encountered difficulties that threatened to interrupt her education, including the possibility of being forced into early marriage, but continued her studies and eventually secured a university scholarship through the organisation’s partnership with Benson Idahosa University.

Orondaam, who attended her convocation in September, described her graduation as especially significant because of the challenges she had faced.

“She was one of the kids who challenged me in 2011 to quit my job to launch @SlumSchool. We eventually enrolled her in school in 2012 for the very first time. She was 8 years old then. Today, she is 23 and has graduated with First-Class Honours.”

Oseni’s academic progress was similarly shaped by his early exposure to technology and the opportunities provided by Slum2School.

According to Orondaam, Oseni joined the organisation’s digital learning programme in 2018 and distinguished himself as one of its leading learners, with his enthusiasm for technology contributing to the development of a virtual learning classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organisation encouraged him to pursue Computer Science at university, although his final year was disrupted by the death of his mother, an experience that nearly made him abandon his studies.

Orondaam recalled the difficult period and his reaction to learning that Oseni had completed his degree with outstanding results.

“During his final year, he lost his mom and almost gave up. So imagine the joy when I learned that he graduated with First-Class Honours as 2nd Best Graduating Student with a 4.89 CGPA.”

Beyond his academic record, Oseni has accumulated professional experience through internships and other engagements in the technology sector.

Sisianu Melawakou, who progressed from a child in Makoko to First-Class graduates of Benson Idahosa University through Slum2School’s scholarship

His LinkedIn profile indicates that he worked as a Product Management Intern at BeTechified between August 2025 and July 2026, and as an ICT and Public Relations Intern at Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, from March to September 2025.

He also served as a Field and Programmes Intern at Slum2School Africa between 2022 and 2023, where he said he coordinated activities across more than 10 projects, and was listed as a Cowrywise Ambassador from February 2026.

Both graduates attended Word of Faith Secondary School and completed their secondary education in 2022 before proceeding to university on scholarships secured through Slum2School’s partnership with Benson Idahosa University.

Orondaam said he had visited the students on the final day of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination before later joining them at their university convocation.

He also acknowledged the university management, including its Vice-Chancellor, Bishop Feb Idahosa, and other partners for supporting the students throughout their academic journey.

According to him, their accomplishments demonstrate how access to education and sustained support can help children from underserved communities pursue opportunities that might otherwise remain beyond their reach.

“When we believe in a child, invest in their dreams and give them the opportunity to thrive, we don’t just transform one life; we change the future of entire families, communities and generations,” he said.