Bank cleaner bags first class in Mathematics, shares success story

Ramoke Lasisi, a former cleaner at Guarantee Trust Bank, has recently achieved a Bachelor of Science degree with first-class honours in Mathematics, graduating with a commendable CGPA of 4.94 out of 5.00 from the University of Ilorin.

On August 20, 2025, she shared her inspiring journey on her LinkedIn profile, detailing the challenges she faced in securing admission to the university.

Ms. Lasisi highlighted that her mother was unable to cover her educational expenses; therefore, she took the initiative to engage in various side hustles while pursuing her studies. Her financial difficulties reflect a broader narrative experienced by numerous students in Nigeria.

“I still remember the worry on my mother’s face when I told her I wanted to further my education. She has always been my greatest support, but I knew our finances couldn’t carry the cost of university. So, I promised her I would support myself by offering dry-cleaning and cleaning services when I gained admission,” she recounted.

To achieve her dream, the exceptional student worked as a sales representative and later applied for a cleaning job at a GT Bank. Lasisi also worked as a nursery school teacher before securing admission on her second attempt.

“After secondary school, I worked as a sales rep while preparing for JAMB, but my first attempt didn’t get me admission. Later, I taught as a nursery school teacher, and then I took a job as a cleaner at GTBank.”

While in university, she co-founded and facilitated several initiatives, including The Emerging Minds Foundation and a Python for Data Analysis workshop. Looking back, Ramoke appreciated every stage of her life and concurred that a poor background doesn’t affect one’s success if one is determined to make good out of it.

Her words: “Looking back, every stage — from sales rep, teacher, and cleaner to first-class graduate and data science educator shaped me into who I am today.

“My journey is a reminder that where you start doesn’t determine where you’ll finish. With resilience, faith, and hard work, things can get better.”

“I’m open to postgraduate opportunities, data science roles, research collaborations, and impactful projects where I can apply my skills and grow further,” she revealed.