From One Degree to Four: How Ilorin-born Muhammed Olorunoje Defied Stereotypes to Earn UK Honours
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From One Degree to Four: How Ilorin-born Muhammed Olorunoje Defied Stereotypes to Earn UK Honours
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
An Ilorin-born theatre practitioner and academic, Muhammed Olorunoje Bolaji, has narrated how years of discipline, quiet resilience and academic consistency helped him overcome stereotypes and earn top academic honours in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Olorunoje, who spoke exclusively with INCNews247, said his journey has been shaped largely by the need to prove that creative expression and academic excellence are not mutually exclusive.
Widely known for his work in theatre, dance and choreography, Olorunoje said his public persona often led to assumptions that he was less inclined toward rigorous academic pursuit.
“From the outside, I appear expressive, lively, and deeply immersed in the creative world,” he said.
“It is easy for people to conclude that someone like that cannot be deeply committed to academic work, but that has never been my reality.”
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Defying that perception, Olorunoje built a consistent academic record that began with his emergence as the Best Graduating Student in Performing Arts in 2017 during his first degree.
He went on to earn a First Class in Theatre and Film Studies for his second degree, before obtaining a Master’s degree in Performing Arts with Distinction, again emerging as the Best Graduating Student.
His academic pursuit later took him to the United Kingdom, where he completed his Fourth degree with Distinction and was awarded an Outstanding Student honour in the Faculty of Creative Arts, finishing with straight A’s across all modules.
Reflecting on the achievement, Olorunoje said the recognition was the result of years of effort that largely went unseen.
“These achievements are visible, but they are products of discipline and consistency built over time,” he said. “The real work happens in private.”
He revealed that much of his academic progress was achieved through structured routines and late-night study sessions.
“I am, at my core, a product of discipline. The version of me people see publicly is sustained by the version that works privately,” he said.
“My nights are my days. That is when I do the reading, the thinking, and the rewriting.”
Olorunoje described his relocation to the United Kingdom as a major turning point that tested his resilience and adaptability.
“Leaving Nigeria was one of the most difficult decisions I have made. I had to step into a new academic system and constantly prove myself,” he said.
“There were moments of doubt where I questioned if I was prepared for that level.”
According to him, succeeding in a new academic environment required more than intellectual ability.
“It demanded discipline, structure, and the ability to unlearn and relearn. There were sacrifices — decisions that required prioritising long-term goals over immediate comfort,” he added.
Despite the challenges, Olorunoje said his journey was sustained by a strong sense of conviction.
“Excellence is not an event; it is a sustained commitment to becoming,” he stated.
He urged young Nigerians not to allow societal perceptions limit their ambitions, noting that individuals are often judged based on incomplete information.
“People may underestimate you because you do not fit their expectations,” he said.
“But your depth is determined by what you build consistently, not by how you are perceived.”
While acknowledging his achievements, Bolaji maintained that he remains a work in progress.
“I am still in my twenties, and I know I have not reached my peak,” he said.
“Everything I have achieved so far is only a foundation.”
He warned against complacency, describing it as a major obstacle to growth.
“The most dangerous point is when you begin to believe you have arrived,” he added.
Offering advice to young people navigating uncertainty, Olorunoje emphasised persistence and self-belief.
“Do not stop because things are difficult. Do not slow down because the path is unclear. Do not compare your journey with others,” he said.
“Keep going, keep building, keep becoming.”
