Nigerian medical student Dr Dorcas Eniola Akanbi has graduated with an exceptional 4.90 out of 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) from Rostov State Medical University, earning the prestigious Russian “red diploma” reserved for top-tier graduates.
Dr Akanbi, who studied for seven years at the Russian institution, was chosen to deliver the valedictory address — entirely in fluent Russian.
Her speech highlighted cultural integration, the calling of medicine, and gratitude to her professors. She noted that international students “came to love” Russia during their studies.
“Medicine is prestige, it is more than a profession. It is service to humanity,” she said.
Her academic journey began in Nigeria at the University of Lagos before she transitioned to Russia, where she secured her place among the elite international students of the Class of 2026.
Dr Akanbi joins a growing list of Nigerian medical students excelling in Russian institutions. Other notable achievements include Dr Chidubem Obi Gerald, the first African to graduate with a perfect 5.0 CGPA from Sechenov University, and Dr Justin Chukwudi Olewuezi, who broke a 133-year-old record at Siberian State Medical University.
Dr Akanbi’s achievement has been widely celebrated, inspiring young Nigerians pursuing medical education abroad.
