Several students in Nigerian universities believe that graduating with a degree is almost impossible, especially in an environment filled with distractions, financial pressure, emotional struggles, academic battles, and survival challenges.
How does it feel to be a graduate?
The feeling is good because everyone wants to achieve everything good in life. The feeling is good when it comes from a difficult lane. I am a believer; I believe in everything I want to do.
Did you always believe you would graduate with first class, or was there a turning point?
My initial plan was to study, be serious a bit, get a good grade, and get out of school, but something motivated me, and I was able to achieve it with mentorship. I wasn’t planning to graduate with first class, but something triggered the interest, with the help of God and a mentor who opened my eyes to see.
What was your academic Background Before University?Were you always brilliant?
Regarding my academic background, my success is a result of personal development. I wasn’t able to read when I was in Primary Four. I began to develop in Primary Five.
What was your toughest academic struggle in school?
My toughest academic struggle was in three stages: meeting up with the standard I set for myself, the association I joined that had to with fighting for students’ rights, lecturers, and financial struggle.
Did you ever fail a test, course, or semester? How did that affect you?
I never failed a test or course, but I resumed late after admission because I needed to gather some money. I lost my dad when I gained admission to UNIOSUN. It is painful because I really wanted him to witness that achievement, he has always believe I can pull something great right from my kid.
How did you balance academics with friends, relationships, and rest?
I made everything moderate. Before coming to school, I made a plan. I would be serious from 100 to 300 level and enjoy myself in 400 level, but God said, ‘I want it the other way.’ It was the same 400 level that really pushed me beyond my former levels. My social life was there too.
As the president of my department, there are parties you must attend. I attended a club party as a journalist to investigate hookup relationships and interactions. My way of socializing with people was moderate.
Balancing academics, relationships, and rest wasn’t easy, but God helped. While I was in my 100-level days, people looked down on me.
People called me a sadist; and some other names just because I kept to myself and do almost everything alone.
While I was in 200 level, being noticed as results of my outstanding results and lecturers praises, whether you like it or not, you must have a friend because people will want to be friends with scholars(a nickname given to me then). A lot of distractions came, but God helped me to manage them.I faced a lot of challenges from some authorities when I started fighting for students’ rights. I wanted to give up because my CGPA dropped then. I felt I could not meet up again, and God used someone uplifted my spirit, guide and support me. He made me believe that I could achieve it, and God made it happen.”
What advice would you give struggling 100- to 300-level students?
Keep pushing. My failure in university was grade C, and that was because I communicated it with my God. I told God that my failure must not be below grade C, even the year I had a serious fire accident.
fire burned me from head to toe. A lot of people advised me to write a leave of absence, but I said no, and God helped me. My least results that semester was just one C.God has been there for me in all ways. I can’t even explain it to myself. What I will tell them is to keep pushing. They should not just accept failure. You’ve seen it, and you’re not happy with it. Don’t fight with people. Don’t say a lecturer hates you. Don’t discuss it with others; discuss it with yourself and challenge yourself.
Discover if it is the way you answer questions. Investigate from your friends. To have good grades, humble yourself. It will cost you nothing. Let them laugh at you. You know what you are struggling with within yourself, and keep it to yourself. Strategize within yourself and exhibit it. Let people see the results.One thing you should know is that you can’t do it alone. You need someone who can support you.
Personally, with all these achievements, I did none of them alone. I did it with my partners, and I did it with my mentor, Afolabi Ismail Marble. You need someone who can guide you. Humble yourself. Let people control you. Seek advice from others, and I believe God will help you from there.
What single change can an average student make today to improve grades and graduate with first class? Is it about being intelligent?
Graduating with first class is not about being intelligent. If that were the case, more than three students should have graduated with first class during my set. It’s about wisdom.If you’re intelligent and don’t have wisdom, you can’t achieve it.
First class is also about being intelligent and about a lot of things attached to it. You must be intelligent, full of wisdom and understanding, be with good people, and have some level of humility. From experience, first class is not about being brilliant alone; it’s a result of academic excellence, character excellence, and service excellence. The little God gifted me really helped my life.
Most of the lecturers didn’t like me before because I resumed school very late, thinking I was not serious, but I shocked them. Despite having low CA’s, I had A’s and B’s in most courses, and they were surprised. Lecturers started looking for me. However, my intelligence opened doors for me. But what kept their was my character and behaviour There was a situation where I was seriously sick. I couldn’t go to school for almost a month. Because of me, some lecturers changed their approach regarding tests to projects, group work, and assignments so that I would be able to participate. Some of the lecturers also took time to visit me at home. What built the grace was my character and behaviour. A lot of other students had been sick in my class, and same was not the case with them.First class is about intelligence, but if you lack certain things, I can assure you that your intelligence can only give you an average of second class upper, no matter how smart you think you are.
Single change an average student can make?
Check yourself. When I was in school, my CGPA dropped drastically, but with the help of God and men who loved me and felt what I was doing was right, I was able to continue.
Mr. Marble stood by me and supported me like a brother. He would give me some materials to read, and he taught me how to read and assimilate better. It helped me when I applied it.
Average students, most of them, are average as a result of not finding their reading capacity. Some of them imitate their friends. My friend can read two books in a day, so I can also do it. No, your own might just be two chapters. Don’t be ashamed; do it and let them mock you. God, who has given you the strength to read two chapters, might surprise you to the extent that those two chapters might be set as exam questions. They will think you are a scholar because you will answer well, compared to someone who can read two whole textbooks in a day.
Understand your reading strength develop it where possible and understand yourself while studying. I used to read a whole textbook in a day.
When I was in 100 level, I read the whole Languages of the World textbook in a day. When I met Mr. Marble Ismail, he told me, ‘You don’t read like this. You cannot read like that and assimilate, you need to understand the key points of each chapters and also pay attention to lecturers areas of concentrations while teaching in class, read on them, and practice them. There is no way you won’t stand out compared to someone reading the whole textbooks.’ I adopted this from Marble as a result of mentorship.
According to him, every student should have a mentor, somebody who really wants to help them, and they should discover their reading ability. They should investigate any particular course giving them problems. Some of them don’t understand the requirements from the lecturer in charge, and you cannot shine beyond the marking guide. Even the lecturer has to follow his marking guide.
If you don’t follow the marking guide, it will present you as if you are a dullard. They should pray and get a good mentor who will guide their lives.
He added, “When I joined politics in school, it affected me because of some comradeship duties and sacrifices I had to do. This period affected me a lot because I had to go against some authorities on campus while defending my students as their leader. During this period, alot of allegations that is capable of destroying my reputation was raised against me, God raised some authorities on campus to fight for me. They said, ‘It is not possible for Albert not to come to school.’ or engaged in those bad activities they claimed I did, What bailed me out was my good character. My pursuit would have been destroyed, and I would just be explaining.”
In conclusion, Albert stated that graduating with a first-class degree is not about being intelligent alone.
“Character first, and God will perfect everything for you.”
Omoh this is impressive