Two
hundred and thirty one students have graduated with First Class at the
University of Lagos (UNILAG). For many of them, things did not go as
planned- they settled for courses other than those they intended to
study, endured financial challenges, and took up various jobs to make
ends meet. But all these did not stop them from aspiring for excellence,
report BABATUNDE KAWTHAR (500-L Petroleum and Gas Engineering) and RUTH
AKERELE (400-L, Mass Communication).
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has graduated 6,900 students, with 231 making the First Class grade. They have been honoured by the university, their parents, teachers, departments, and peers for their achievement.The duo of Oyindamola Omotuyi (Systems Engineering) and Taiwo Bankole (Cell Biology and Genetics) who made the perfect score of 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), stand out among them.
Oyindamola, Taiwo and some other First Class graduates share their success stories with CAMPUSLIFE.
Oyindamola got into UNILAG after her first try at the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). She also got her choice course. But what made her go for gold was an award instituted by the campus fellowship she attended, the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF).
“It started at my fellowship, the Redeemed Christian Fellowship; there was always a prize for first class students. Among those first class students, there was also another prize for the best three. To be among the best three, a person must be on a 5.00 consistently. So, the encouragement came from there,” she said.
For Taiwo, being the best has become second nature. She cultivated
the habit from primary school. She did not get to study Medicine as
planned but she fell in love with Cell Biology and Genetics along the
way and made the best of it.
She said: “It all came through hard work and attending my classes early so I can be able to sit in front and listen attentively. I went online to search for materials, used the library and also prayed to God and trusted Him for retentive memory, wisdom and knowledge. I also studied my lecturers well to know what they actually needed from students. For my project and seminars, I used journals and online textbooks.”
Damilola Adeyemi David was just 0.01point shy of graduating with a perfect score from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. His driving force was his uncle, who became his sponsor after his father died.
“I wanted to impress my uncle, who was sponsoring my education; I also wanted to impress myself and I couldn’t handle failure,” he said.
These goals pushed Damilola to focus on achieving the 5.00 despite holding a position in his department, teaching others and having many friends.
“It was very challenging. Balancing lectures with the busy life of UNILAG. Along the way I had to always take tutorials for my course mates every morning. I also became the financial secretary of my department for two years and I had to balance everything.
“Most times I always wanted to fall off track but once I remembered what I was aiming for I got back on track,” he said.
Like Oyindamola, Christian Obu, was inspired by honour given to other
first class students to excel in his course, Petroleum and Gas
Engineering.
He said: “A particular incident that also inspired me was this award that is presented to first class students in my fellowship. They call it Overcomer’s award. The first time I saw students being honoured as such I told myself, ‘Christian this is the goal, this is the aim’. Also I would hear people talk about the opportunities first class students enjoy in the school and I knew I wanted to be one. And of course my parents, I always want to make them proud, I never want to disappoint them because I know they expect so much from me.”
Emmanuel Uyiosa Osayande is the first graduate of History and Strategic Studies to make a first class grade in the 25-year history of the department.
He said he earned his 4.50 CGPA by focusing on achieving small goals.
“To be honest, my focus was on the short term goals: to ensure I did my best in every test, assignment and examination. Some people tend to be preoccupied with what grade they will graduate with and with that lose sight of the reality before them,” he said.
It is rare to find parents who would counsel their children to study Education. But Mudathir Dhikrullah Ayinde’s parents did.
‘’The 22 year-old said taking their advice was worthwhile.
“I initially wanted to apply for Political Science but my guardian and parents convinced me to study Guidance and Counselling. They shared with me their personal experiences and for some reason I lost interest in Political Science. I am glad I heeded their advice. My course forces me to reason deeply and philosophise a lot,” he said.
Ayinde’s dad also inspired him to excel with these words: “I remember telling my dad once that only a genius can graduate with a first class and he told me ‘all you have to do is put in effort’, those words gave me faith.”
Oluwadimilola Deborah Salau also has her dad to thank for choosing Geography and Planning and for ending up with a first class grade.
When she was not accepted for Medicine after Diploma programme, he advised her to choose Geography because he had noted her interest in it.
She said: “My parents burned midnight candles with me. My dad would ensure I read two hours per day. This habit made reading easy for me.
“I actually did not set my mind on a first class. But the orientation programme in school made me change my mind. At first, I wanted the grade for my dad but it was my interest that eventually kept me going.”
It is amazing that a student as busy as Olagunju Abdul-Hammid finished with a First Class. Olagunju not only held political (he was deputy speaker, University of Lagos Students Union) and religious positions, he also ran a business on campus.
“I was actively involved in the campus politic; l was an active member of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria and started a cab company called BISTEL with some of my friends,” he said.
To cope with his academics, Olagunju said he worked, watched and prayed.
“These principles work for me – work, watch and pray. The work aspect is to study hard and always be prepared. The watch is to tread carefully during your exams/test to avoid mistakes as much as possible. And finally, always pray to God for guidance and mercy because with Him all things are possible. This doesn’t only apply to academics; it is applicable to all spheres of life,” he said.
Remembering his family heritage of excellence, Olagunju also found another reason to excel.
“My primary source of motivation is my parents (I have many parents). Also, the history of the Olagunju family from the time of Timi Abibu ‘Lagunju made me realise that we the children just have to keep the fire burning. And finally, I want my kids to be able to see me as someone to emulate and inspire them,” he said.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has graduated 6,900 students, with 231 making the First Class grade. They have been honoured by the university, their parents, teachers, departments, and peers for their achievement.The duo of Oyindamola Omotuyi (Systems Engineering) and Taiwo Bankole (Cell Biology and Genetics) who made the perfect score of 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), stand out among them.
Oyindamola, Taiwo and some other First Class graduates share their success stories with CAMPUSLIFE.
Oyindamola got into UNILAG after her first try at the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). She also got her choice course. But what made her go for gold was an award instituted by the campus fellowship she attended, the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF).
“It started at my fellowship, the Redeemed Christian Fellowship; there was always a prize for first class students. Among those first class students, there was also another prize for the best three. To be among the best three, a person must be on a 5.00 consistently. So, the encouragement came from there,” she said.
She said: “It all came through hard work and attending my classes early so I can be able to sit in front and listen attentively. I went online to search for materials, used the library and also prayed to God and trusted Him for retentive memory, wisdom and knowledge. I also studied my lecturers well to know what they actually needed from students. For my project and seminars, I used journals and online textbooks.”
Damilola Adeyemi David was just 0.01point shy of graduating with a perfect score from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. His driving force was his uncle, who became his sponsor after his father died.
“I wanted to impress my uncle, who was sponsoring my education; I also wanted to impress myself and I couldn’t handle failure,” he said.
These goals pushed Damilola to focus on achieving the 5.00 despite holding a position in his department, teaching others and having many friends.
“It was very challenging. Balancing lectures with the busy life of UNILAG. Along the way I had to always take tutorials for my course mates every morning. I also became the financial secretary of my department for two years and I had to balance everything.
“Most times I always wanted to fall off track but once I remembered what I was aiming for I got back on track,” he said.
He said: “A particular incident that also inspired me was this award that is presented to first class students in my fellowship. They call it Overcomer’s award. The first time I saw students being honoured as such I told myself, ‘Christian this is the goal, this is the aim’. Also I would hear people talk about the opportunities first class students enjoy in the school and I knew I wanted to be one. And of course my parents, I always want to make them proud, I never want to disappoint them because I know they expect so much from me.”
Emmanuel Uyiosa Osayande is the first graduate of History and Strategic Studies to make a first class grade in the 25-year history of the department.
He said he earned his 4.50 CGPA by focusing on achieving small goals.
“To be honest, my focus was on the short term goals: to ensure I did my best in every test, assignment and examination. Some people tend to be preoccupied with what grade they will graduate with and with that lose sight of the reality before them,” he said.
It is rare to find parents who would counsel their children to study Education. But Mudathir Dhikrullah Ayinde’s parents did.
‘’The 22 year-old said taking their advice was worthwhile.
“I initially wanted to apply for Political Science but my guardian and parents convinced me to study Guidance and Counselling. They shared with me their personal experiences and for some reason I lost interest in Political Science. I am glad I heeded their advice. My course forces me to reason deeply and philosophise a lot,” he said.
Ayinde’s dad also inspired him to excel with these words: “I remember telling my dad once that only a genius can graduate with a first class and he told me ‘all you have to do is put in effort’, those words gave me faith.”
Oluwadimilola Deborah Salau also has her dad to thank for choosing Geography and Planning and for ending up with a first class grade.
When she was not accepted for Medicine after Diploma programme, he advised her to choose Geography because he had noted her interest in it.
She said: “My parents burned midnight candles with me. My dad would ensure I read two hours per day. This habit made reading easy for me.
“I actually did not set my mind on a first class. But the orientation programme in school made me change my mind. At first, I wanted the grade for my dad but it was my interest that eventually kept me going.”
It is amazing that a student as busy as Olagunju Abdul-Hammid finished with a First Class. Olagunju not only held political (he was deputy speaker, University of Lagos Students Union) and religious positions, he also ran a business on campus.
“I was actively involved in the campus politic; l was an active member of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria and started a cab company called BISTEL with some of my friends,” he said.
To cope with his academics, Olagunju said he worked, watched and prayed.
“These principles work for me – work, watch and pray. The work aspect is to study hard and always be prepared. The watch is to tread carefully during your exams/test to avoid mistakes as much as possible. And finally, always pray to God for guidance and mercy because with Him all things are possible. This doesn’t only apply to academics; it is applicable to all spheres of life,” he said.
Remembering his family heritage of excellence, Olagunju also found another reason to excel.
“My primary source of motivation is my parents (I have many parents). Also, the history of the Olagunju family from the time of Timi Abibu ‘Lagunju made me realise that we the children just have to keep the fire burning. And finally, I want my kids to be able to see me as someone to emulate and inspire them,” he said.
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