In this interview, Rodiyah Adewumi Taiwo, one of the trailblazers of the MSSN Akinyele Area Council’s Extramural Tutorial Center, shared with us her strategies, preparation tips, and how she achieved an outstanding result in the 2025 UTME. Whether you’re a current or an aspiring UTME candidate, this interview contains inspiration, practical advice, and real-life insights to guide you on your journey to academic excellence.

Kindly introduce yourself (Full Name, State of Origin, and brief academic background).
I am Rodiyah Adewumi Taiwo. I am a native of Oyo State. I attended Command Day Secondary School where I obtained my SSCE.

What was your UTME score?
I scored 311.

Have you gained admission?
Yes, Alhamdulillah.

State your institution and course of study.
I have been admitted to the University of Ilesa to study Physiotherapy.

At what academic level were you before joining the MSSN Akinyele Extramural Class?
I joined Extramural during my secondary school days for SSCE classes. At that time, I was just an average student, still struggling academically.

How did the Extramural classes influence your academic performance and exam readiness?
The Extramural classes really influenced me. We had excellent tutors, many of whom were university students. Seeing them motivated me to believe I could also be a university student.

Can you describe the difference between your academic level before and after the Extramural program?
My performance improved significantly. We had weekly tests, and I always aimed to stay in the top five. Daily problem-solving was required, and failure to complete tasks had consequences. My study habits and confidence improved a lot.

Beyond academics, how did the Extramural impact your spiritual life and personal discipline?
The daily hour of talks on spiritual diet, gender-based topics, and real-life guidance was very impactful. These lessons shaped my mindset, personal discipline, and spiritual life.

How long did you prepare for the UTME, and what was your study routine like?
My UTME was in May, and I started preparing around December, so I had about five months of focused preparation. Every day, I tried to complete the past questions given by Extramural before the deadline, and I also reviewed the topics taught in class daily. Extramural’s weekly tests and daily practice questions helped me stay consistent and disciplined, even when I felt exhausted or had other responsibilities. Alhamdulillah, the routine paid off.

What study techniques or strategies contributed most to your high score?
I used everything — timed mocks on my school app, Extramural’s daily practice questions, and reviewing class topics every day. Consistency was key.

What major challenges did you face during preparation, and how did you overcome them?
Remix past questions were very challenging. Balancing school, household responsibilities, and daily practice was exhausting. Sometimes I felt my efforts weren’t enough, but I persevered.

In your opinion, what would you say was the key factor behind your high performance?
Allah’s grace. Even though I put in effort, I scored higher than some who tried harder. Success is ultimately by His blessing.

What advice would you give to students preparing for the upcoming UTME?
Be consistent, read every day, and solve lots of questions. Focus extra on subjects you are weaker in while still maintaining your strengths in other subjects. And most importantly, pray sincerely to Allah, because effort combined with His guidance brings success.

What message would you share with future participants of the MSSN Akinyele Extramural program?
Extramural is a place to be. You will learn a lot of lessons, both academic and spiritual. Even when it feels strict or the DOSes seem tough, they only want the best for you.

Is there any final message you would like to share with aspiring UTME candidates?
Put in enough effort and pray sincerely to Allah. With His guidance, success is achievable.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity while preserving the interviewee’s original meaning.