FRIDAY INSPIRATION - Making first class has changed my life forever, Says UNILORIN best graduate

After four years of seeking admission and living on N30 per day, 24-year-old Saka Ismail gained admission into the University of Ilorin to study Statistics and he graduated with 4.90 CGPA to emerge as the best graduating student of his set; 2014/2015 academic session. In this interview with TUNDE AJAJA, he talks about the issues he contended with to succeed.

It’s over a year since you graduated, what have you been doing?

Five days after my convocation, I proceeded to the orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps programme in Paiko, Niger State and I had the opportunity of serving at the Federal University of Technology, Minna as a graduate research and teaching assistant. That was when I won the prestigious $25,000 Next Einstein Initiative scholarship to study at the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences for Master’s degree in mathematical sciences.

How did you win the scholarship?

The Next Einstein Initiative is a scholarship proposed by South African physicist, Prof. Neil Turok and the President/CEO of African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Mr. Thierry Zomahoun. The scholarship is in partnership with Mastercard, Canada, Germany and some African countries to help discover the next Albert Einstein in Africa. They named the school African Institute of Mathematical Sciences, with centres in South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania and Cameroon. They select up to 250 African students from fields related to mathematical science, such as Physics, Actuarial Science, Maths, Computer and Engineering, and I was shortlisted. So, the $25,000 is the total worth of the scholarship and it covers transportation, feeding, laundry, tuition and others and everything is free here, including pen.

There is usually a huge difference between what people were taught in school and the experience outside. How much difference have you seen?

I agree totally, even in some advanced countries, whereby not much of application is taught at undergraduate level. But aside what has been taught in school, it is the responsibility of the student to not only search but know how to apply what has been taught in the real world.

To have 4.90 CGPA would seem like a product of a concrete plan, did you plan for it from the outset?

I didn’t plan towards it; all I planned for was to be among the top 10 out of 216 in my class, not knowing that would be sufficient to be the overall best. It is never easy to have first class and in today’s world, being a first-class graduate doesn’t translate to being able to get a job easily. Most times, it requires luck and prayers. However, having good grades is good; it opens doors of opportunities, just as I’m presently studying on scholarship outside Nigeria. Apart from the respect and opportunities that it has brought my way, having a first class has evidently been a blessing for me as it has changed my life and that of my family. I went to the university with nothing but left with a lot; academically, financially, socially and in all other spheres of life.

By saying you entered the university with nothing; does it mean you had financial challenges in school?

I lost my dad when I was 15; I was in JSS3 then and my mum was not able to cater for my needs. I lived with my guardian, Alhaji and Mrs. Animashaun who tried their best to make me complete my secondary education. I used to trek many kilometres to school every day. Life then was triangular for me; from school to the house and then to farm or to cassava flour factory. Without making cassava flour (Garri) daily, things might not go smoothly that week. At a point, my uncle, Mr. Saka Rafiu, took it up. He paid my tuition and gave me the little he had for my stipend. So, in my first year, I had huge financial problem. There was never a day I had three square meals in school and sometimes my friends helped while my cousin’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Akinsanya also helped. I was going to classes in bad clothes and shoes, even my bag was bad, but those were not enough reasons not to hit my target. However, all those changed in my second year; thanks to UNILORIN’s Scholar Initiative, when the school offered N93,000 in scholarship to the best student in each department every session, provided the person’s CGPA did not fall below 4.00. The scholarship covered stationery, tuition and accommodation and such a person was entitled to be called ‘university scholar’. I enjoyed that till the end of my studies. I also enjoyed the Federal Government merit scholarship till the end of my studies. That was how self development and determination moved mountains. I think I got more than I planned to achieve or bargained for in my four years in school. God has been good to me.

What would you attribute your success to?

My success is a function of so many things, with the first being the willingness and the desire to learn. Another key factor is consistency and not losing focus. I knew what I wanted and I went all out for it.

People, especially students, would like to know what your reading schedule was like to have 4.90 CGPA. Could you share with us?

I realised that you don’t need to drain yourself to get a first class. You just need to be smart, ask questions when you are not clear, don’t just read to pass but to know all about the subject and read very well. I made sure I read at least one hour daily and I could read for six hours, if necessary, so I wouldn’t need to rush when exam was close. I also tried to relate every concept and theory to real life situations. On weekends, I read and reviewed all I learnt during the week. It’s important for individuals to know what works for them. I found that I understood things very fast when I read after sleeping, so I maximised that. I wasn’t a lover of library and I didn’t go there until my final year, and the times I went there were due to friends’ invitation or if I needed to use the internet there. The library was like a sleeping tablet for me. Also, I paid attention to little details, which helped a lot during quiz competitions and impromptu tests. I had free time, during which I used to surf the internet, learn about the world and its dynamics, play football and watch football matches.

Were you involved in social activities?

I wasn’t a triangular scholar, I was involved in many things, like doing inter-Faculty and inter-University quiz challenge; I was the treasurer of the UNILORIN quiz/debate club and some volunteering/political activities with Sustainable Development Goals (formerly MDG’s) through the United Nations Information Centre and Building Bridges. I also held several other positions at Muslim students bodies, like MSSN, and in my department and faculty. Many knew me as someone who was ready to reel out history about political, sports, life and style issues that had happened decades before I was born rather than the statistical Trojan. I wasn’t going to parties or clubs but I attended a couple of birthday ceremonies and some other functions. But students should not get carried away. For example, ‘October rush or October boom’ has shattered so many girls’ dream, such that some even return home pregnant after the session and their dreams impaired within the first eight -nine months in school. Focus is essential.

AT EAGERMINDS COLLEGE, WE SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS TO 

ENSURE THE ATTAINMENT OF THEIR ACADEMIC/FUTURE GOALS. 

ENROLL YOUR WARD(S) WITH US TODAY!

When did you start having first class?

I started leading my class from the first session and it was easy getting a first class because I was a classroom learner; I understand things very fast. That is why it is easier when you have passion for your course. Two of us had 5.00 at the end of first semester and I never knew, but my desire not to go down propelled me into repeating the same point for the second semester while my colleague tilted down. I maintained that top position till the end. It even became a mystery among students that a student could make such grade point in UNILORIN and that made me stronger and undeterred. I remember my lowest GPA was 4.80, and that was in first semester of my third year. I must say that the 5.00 GPA in that first semester was the game changer and that was my happiest moment.

Some people say Statistics is all about that aspect of mathematics, what made you like it?

As a young guy, I wanted to be a doctor, like many others then, but when I heard how expensive it was, I had to put an end to such dream, even without consultation. I knew I was strong in mathematics, hence I tilted towards the mathematical sciences like statistics, computer science, physics and mathematics. In the first UTME that I took, I chose computer and physics, but I later fell in love with Statistics, more so for its wide application and relevance. Between when I chose the course and now, that was the best decision I ever made. The course is a full dose. Right from my second year, I have been involved in thesis data analysis for postgraduate students and even undergraduate students, which was a source of income for me as a student. In this present age, the demand for a data scientist is rising like never before.

What was your performance like in your previous schools?

Passing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination was easy for me and I made my papers all in one sitting. After my secondary school education in 2007, I moved to Lagos to seek admission which never came until 2011. I was not so lucky with the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, which I took four times. One was cancelled; I did badly in another while two were good. I also did the remedial (pre-degree) programme in 2011 and I passed the two. I was almost giving up when I finally secured admission; that experience made me stronger.

What were you doing for the four years you were seeking admission?

During that period, I learnt to keep birds (poultry) and I still keep them till date. I was even consulting for poultry farmers in my neighbourhood. I also financed the business from the proceeds of my scholarship in my second year, and that helped my family in terms of finance. I also acquired some computer skills during that period.

HOW A PANEL BEATER EMERGED AS THE BEST - https://goo.gl/50qXQX

Would you say Nigeria has been fair to its first-class graduates?

It has not been the best from the country. A first-class graduate is ‘on his own’ as they say, and I think the country should devise a means of extracting and benefiting from the huge knowledge of these scholars. There should be a sort of opening where they can bring to bear what they have learnt in terms of carrying out research meaningful for the development of the country and Africa at large.

As a statistician, what are your thoughts about the current recession in Nigeria?

I believe if we have a good data bank, we would have had good data on economic indices. Retrospective study of these indices and determinant would have armed us with sufficient knowledge on how the present would look like and even go a long way in providing us with prospective information about the subject matter. So, we need quality data bank to make decisions about economic policies, planning, wealth and resources distribution, allocation and the like.

What are your aspirations?

I am a data scientist and business analyst. Over the past eight months, I have delivered over 150 projects for clients covering 10 per cent of the world as a freelancer. I wish to pursue and continue in that line in a leading organization and grow in this field after my Master’s programme next year. I thank God for where he has brought me. As of 2007, my breakfast and lunch allowance was N30, but in the university, things changed. I believe everybody was born great, we only need to develop good attitude, have a plan and work towards the plan. That was what did it for me.

SOURCE: PUNCHONLINE.COM

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FORTHCOMING EXAMINATION

Do you have an exam coming up? Waste no more time, start preparing right now.

There’s an old but true saying that those who do not prepare for success are preparing for failure. Passing your exams with high marks is not a particularly difficult task. The successful student plans his/her exam long before the actual due date.

In this post, we will briefly discuss how to prepare for an exam in a rational and efficient manner. To do this, we first need to know where you stand in terms of the exam date. The best way to handle an upcoming exam differs depending on how much time you have to study.

For this reason, I have therefore divided the issue into 3 separate scenarios:

A – You have 2 months or more to prepare
B – You have 1 month or less to prepare
C – You have 2 weeks or less to prepare

A – You have 2 months or more to prepare

This is the optimal situation. You start preparing the moment you know the exam has been announced. Don’t be fooled with the fact that you have a lot of time left before the actual writing of the test.

This will make you procrastinate and fool yourself that you are going to study tomorrow when in fact you are only postponing the inevitable.

1

The first day: Strategy!

Spend the first day formulating your strategy. Make sure you are aware of all of the required reading for the course. Skim through the entire textbook and try to produce a reading schedule and a preliminary deadline for when you need to be finished with the reading of the book. The deadline is important, make sure you keep it!
An example of preliminary planning is shown below. In this example, only the first few days are show, hopefully it’s enough to get the picture.

Show

entries

Search:

Day	What To Do	How Much
1	Prepare	Create a schedule and decide on a deadline.
2	Textbook "Name"	5 pages + 2 practice problems
3	Textbook "Name"	5 pages + 2 practice problems
4	Textbook "Name"	5 pages + 3 practice problems
5	Textbook "Name"	5 pages + 1 practice problem + 1 handout
6	Review	Review all of the pages you've read this week.
7	Textbook "Name"	10 pages + 2 practice problems

Showing 1 to 7 of 7 entries

2

The rest of the days: Implementation!

In the case above, the required textbook had 208 pages + a few handouts and practice problems. With an average of 5 pages per day + day at the end of the week reserved for repetition only, one will conclude the entire book in about one and a half month. This leaves you about 2 weeks to review everything.
Remember to specify a deadline for when all of the reading needs to have been completed. Make sure this deadline is – if possible – at least 1 week before the exam date. This way, you’ll have time to revise what you’ve learned. This is how knowledge sticks. It is through the medium of repetition in which information becomes knowledge and knowledge becomes wisdom.

B – You have 1 month or less to prepare

If you have about 1 month to prepare you can still produce great results, depending on how much you know about the topic, the difficulty of the exam etc. The modus operandi is not much different from the case above. What you need to do is simply create a schedule where you would need to work twice as much on a daily basis to finish all of your reading + eventual practice problems/old exams before the exam date.

If you have less than 1 month to prepare, it is still possible to get good results but you have to start studying immediately!

C – You have 2 weeks or less to prepare

So it happened. You are in the tight situation of having only 2 weeks to prepare for an exam. If this was intended by your professor it might not be a big of deal since the scope of the exam will not be as big as if you had had 2 months or more to prepare. However, if the course was indeed intended to go on for 2 months or more and you have only started studying right now, you are in some deep trouble! Don’t worry though; it is still possible to produce decent results even though you have such limited time. It’s time to go into emergency mode.

EMERGENCY MODE

Emergency mode means that you will have to put anything that is not as important as passing this exam to the side! That means that you will most likely have to forget about meetings friends, going out for shopping, leisure activities, sport and so forth. For the next few days, you will need to eat, sweat and breath the topic that you are studying.

As before, begin the first day by planning. This time however, we are planning to cover the most important parts first, knowing well enough that we might have to skip some parts. It’s survival mode and in survival mode you think about the essentials first and foremost.

1

Triage!

Triage is what they in the medical community call the priority system that is used in emergency situations in ER rooms in hospitals and similar places (such as during rescue operations, disasters such as floods etc). The people who are in the direst need of medical service are those who get served first so for example the person who was in a severe car accident gets to be treated before someone who had a minor wrist injury. This is how you need to treat your exam.

2

Important vs Less important

You need to know the following:
– What are the most important chapters?
– Which parts are less important (keeping in mind that less important does not mean unimportant)?
– Which types of problems are in the most likelihood going to be included?

3

Study, Study!

Start studying, cover all the essential parts first and make sure you have mastered them. Once you have learned these, you are ready to move on to the more advanced examples/chapters. Don’t waste any time what so ever doing anything that is deemed less important than your studies. Until the exam date, you must be focused on passing that exam.

http://www.study-habits.com/

I dedicated three hours to learning new things every day –Anthonia, first class graduate

At 21, Aina Anthonia, was one of the two persons that graduated with a first class from the Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and both of them had 4.68 CGPA. In this interview with TUNDE AJAJA, she talks about her achievement

What was your typical day like?

I woke up at 6am every day. I could either do some exercise for about 30 minutes or go for morning mass. After that, I would prepare for school and resume at 8am. My movement was usually between the clinic and my class till around 4pm. After leaving school, I loved to rest or play tennis before going back to study usually in class till late in the night. I usually went to bed at 12am. Like the saying goes, ‘nothing good comes easy’. It was through God’s grace, hard work, determination and lots of sacrifices that I was able to have it. Even though I planned for it right from the start, I had to learn how to make my plan a reality because excellence goes beyond planning, and if you don’t have a plan, it is easy to settle for less and accept average performance as an outstanding one.

That schedule looks like a normal routine for any student. Were there other things you would attribute your success to?

Let me start with one of my dad’s favourite quotes, which says, ‘It is the extra effort put in something that makes one a champion.’ One of the things I did differently was taking note of fine details while studying and I often went further to practicalise whatever I had read repeatedly. Also, I always did a little more research on whatever I had been taught. As simple as it sounds, those things helped. And contrary to beliefs by some students that only geniuses can study physiotherapy or any other medical related course, any course of study requires consistency and dedication. To create more time for my academics, I avoided attending some events, social gatherings and family gatherings so I could have more time to study. It wasn’t very easy seeing other students going to have fun, it could be tempting, but it was a decision that had to be made. Beyond that, I made a decision not to be in any relationship as a student because it would be time-consuming and could be emotionally stressful. I’m glad I have something tangible to show for it.

SIMILAR TO THIS STORY - http://goo.gl/Ez7cBZ Meet the student who made history at the convocation of the University of Ibadan

People are usually of the view that students studying medical-related courses don’t have social life because of the demands of their academics. What was your own experience?

That assertion is true but I never saw myself as a non-sociable person. Yes, the demands were much and it was as if there were things to read all the time, but I found time to play tennis; I danced and played volleyball. For students in College of Medicine and those who studied courses that were very demanding, it could seem difficult creating time for other things apart from facing only their academics, but it was my choice to be involved in other things, whilst making sure that my academics didn’t suffer. I was involved in some extracurricular activities both in school and in church. Thank God for His wisdom.

When did you start having first class?

I started having first class in my second year on arriving at College of Medicine. From the start, I dedicated at least three hours every day to learn new things. I tried to be consistent with my schedule and cover up for hours missed in previous days, sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances. I love reading in the evening, and I took advantage of that, even though I read anytime I had the opportunity. In my second and third years, the library was like my second home. During our orientation in second year, I remember that those leading various classes were males. It was in the final year that a lady led and I was so motivated that I promised myself I was going to be like her.

Have you always been this excellent?

Even though I passed the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the Unified Tertiary Examination at one sitting, I think I was an average student in secondary school. But with hard work, dedication and God’s grace, coupled with the support and encouragements from my parents, friends and colleagues, I became a lot better in the university.

ALSO READ HOW A PANEL BEATER EMERGED AS BEST GRADUATE http://goo.gl/3Q3IfX

Some people have their results once and still have some delay in securing admission. What was it like for you?

I didn’t have any delay. I took the post-UTME in all the institutions I applied to in my form. I hoped and prayed for the admission and I got two admission offers which I chose from.

What informed your choice to study Physiotherapy?

My parents wanted me to study medicine and surgery but somehow during the admission process, I was in a dilemma of choosing between medicine and physiotherapy since I was offered the two courses by two different institutions. I decided to carry out a research on what both courses entailed before taking a decision and I found out that most times, medical doctors don’t have time for themselves as compared to physiotherapists. Moreover, I enjoyed the role of physiotherapists in the health care sector. This influenced my decision. And ultimately, all I care about is the happiness I would bring to my patients whenever they get cured from illnesses, especially those threatening movement and function. I believe if one is good at whatever he or she does, one would get financial reward as and when due, because some people see medical-related courses as not very lucrative.

What is physiotherapy about?

Physiotherapy, also known as Physical Therapy, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialty that remediates impairments and promotes mobility. It functions and aids the quality of life through examination, diagnosis, prognosis and physical interventions such as heat, ice, massage, exercise, mobilisation and manipulations, electrotherapy and so on. Physiotherapists provide services that develop, maintain and restore people’s maximum movement and functional ability. We help people at any stage of life when movement and function ability are threatened by ageing, injury, disease, disorders, conditions and environmental factors. Physiotherapists use their knowledge and skills to improve a range of conditions associated with different systems of the body such as Neurological (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, Pakinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, etc.), Neuromusculoskeletal (e.g. back pain, whiplash injury, sport injuries, arthritis, etc.), Cardiovascular (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack, etc.) and Respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, etc.). Everything about the human body is quite amazing, most especially the brain, and I enjoyed every part of the course especially the clinical aspect.

Were there days significant things you may not forget in a hurry happened?

I had so many memorable moments but the one that readily comes to mind was when my name was called as the most outstanding student in physiotherapy students association award. I also remember when I got my first 5.00 GPA in my third year, and that was my happiest moment. My saddest moment was when I got a call that my father was involved in a road accident.

During holidays, were you also reading at home?

Yes, but I usually read more random books other than school books and I read them at my leisure time.

Were there times you isolated yourself to be able to read?

Yes, most times, I went to the library or class which was farther away from the hostels so as to minimise my distractions.

What was your experience like as a first year student?

It was a time of self discovery. This was when I got to know my strong and weak points; learnt how to relate with other people and how to become more independent.

What was it like when you started practicals?

It was fun especially gross anatomy laboratory practicals in our second year. Also, I enjoyed clinical years which began in our third year where I had the opportunity to practicalise all I had learnt in class and from textbooks. It was a refreshing experience.

What are your aspirations?

I hope to become a world renowned neurophysiotherapist. Also, it has been my childhood dream to own a hospice for the physically challenged and a home for the under-privileged in our society.

Where would you like to work?

Actually, I would love to work with the World Health Organisation and many other respectable organisations. Also, I hope to open or own a rehabilitation centre in future.

Are there things students should do that could help them?

Students should put God first, remain dedicated and hardworking. Also, they should know what works for them and never underestimate the greatness in them. They should dream big and then wake up to achieve those dreams. Finally, always be grateful for who you are and the efforts people have put in to make you who you are!

What fond memories of growing up do you still have?

Growing up was fun. I grew up in a family of nine, and I’m the fourth child. My siblings have always been a strong source of motivation right from my childhood, likewise my parents who have been very supportive. They are both teachers and expectedly, they are both disciplinarians and that helped.

SOURCE: PUNCH ONLINE

DEAR STUDENTS,
YOU TOO CAN DO IT!  WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING YOU ACHIEVE YOUR FUTURE GOALS.

Meet the student who made history at the convocation of the University of Ibadan

 



 

The Nation reports that a 23-year-old student got 8 out of 11 possible distinctions in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The indigene of Iragbiji in Osun state beat the record of seven distinctions set some years ago and became the overall best graduating student of the university. Organizers and participants of the convocation ceremony held at the International Conference Centre of the university were shocked and amazed when his name was called 31 times during the prize presentation.

 

Speaking with The Nation, Sadiq explained how he achieved such success and why he chose veterinary medicine and not medicine or surgery.

 



 

“Years ago, University of Ibadan practised a mode of admission where your credentials are graded; basically your JAMB and O-level results. Unfortunately, my O-Level was not included, so my weighted average was so low. It was 27.5; too low for the course I wanted. Veterinary medicine was neither my first nor second choice. It was an alternative as ‘change of course’ due to what I call irregularities, which prevented me from being admitted for Basic Medical Science,” he said. When asked how he managed to break the record and become the best graduating student, Sadiq explained: “I knew I was going to do very well in the university, but being the best overall student of the year…sincerely I did not think of it. I had some B grades despite the fact that I still scored highest in those courses. The number of distinctions attainable in the veterinary school, University of Ibadan is 11 and I made 8. The other three courses were B grades.”

 

The talented young man revealed that after his youth service he is planning to enroll for a postgraduate course in diagnostic medicine in the USA. “Being a first class student takes hardwork, focus and prayer to sustain. Some are gifted, but work is still required. Prayer is a necessity if we want to survive the hurdles of life; I am a Muslim and I pray five times daily. Distractions would always surface, but when you are focused, you will be able to achieve many things, even with the numerous distractions in the university.” “In veterinary school, 24 hours is never enough. Going to class Mondays to Fridays, from 8am to 5pm; extra-classes on weekends, numerous tests from various departments…It is impossible to thrive without burning the midnight oil,” he said. Although Sadiq dedicated all his life to studying and had no time for romance, he has no regrets as God always helps him to go through hard times.

 

 

 

 

SOURCE: NAIJ.COM

TOP 50 UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA

 

Dear Parents/Students,

We are glad to bring to your attention the current rankings of Nigerian universities just released. We trust this will assist in ensuring we are appropriately guided in making decisions on our next academic pursuit. We wish us all the best in the regard as we remain committed to nurturing your future.

 ... AND THE NUMBER 1 IS

 

 

 

 

 

Rank	University	Location
1	University of Ibadan	Ibadan
2	University of Lagos	Lagos
3	Covenant University	Ota
4	Obafemi Awolowo University	Ile-Ife
5	University of Ilorin	Ilorin
6	University of Nigeria	Nsukka ...
7	Federal University of Technology, Owerri	Owerri
8	University of Benin	Ugbowo ...
9	Lagos State University	Ojo
10	Michael Okpara University of Agriculture	Umuahia
11	Federal University, Oye-Ekiti	Oye ...
12	Babcock University	Ilishan-Remo ...
13	Ahmadu Bello University	Zaria
14	University of Agriculture, Abeokuta	Abeokuta ...
15	Kwara State University	Ilorin
16	Landmark University	Omu-Aran
17	University of Port Harcourt	Port Harcourt
18	Afe Babalola University	Ado-Ekiti
19	Bayero University Kano	Kano
20	Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti	Ado-Ekiti
21	Olabisi Onabanjo University	Ago Iwoye ...
22	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Akure
23	University of Jos	Jos
24	Federal University of Technology, Minna	Minna
25	Tai Solarin University of Education	Ijebu-Ode ...
26	Enugu State University of Science and Technology	Enugu
27	Veritas University	Abuja
28	Federal University, Dutsin-Ma	Dutsin-Ma
29	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Ogbomoso ...
30	University of Uyo	Uyo
31	University of Abuja	Abuja
32	Pan African University	Lagos
33	Nnamdi Azikiwe University	Awka ...
34	American University of Nigeria	Yola
35	Adekunle Ajasin University	Akungba Akoko ...
36	Rivers State University of Science and Technology	Port Harcourt
37	Bowen University	Iwo
38	Delta State University, Abraka	Abraka
39	African University of Science and Technology	Abuja
40	Redeemer's University	Mowe
41	Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University	Uli
42	Osun State University	Oshogbo ...
43	Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University	Lapai
44	Usmanu Danfodio University	Sokoto
45	University of Calabar	Calabar
46	Ebonyi State University	Abakaliki
47	Baze University	Abuja
48	Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University	Bauchi
49	Kaduna State University	Kaduna
50	University of Agriculture, Makurdi	Makurdi
51	Federal University of Petroleum Resources	Effurun
52	Bells University of Technology

 

 



DEAR STUDENTS,
 

WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT TO FURTHER YOUR STUDIES? LET'S HEAR FROM YOU.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING YOU ACHIEVE YOUR FUTURE GOALS.

 

CLICK ON SOURCE BELOW TO FIND OUT THE TOP 100.

SOURCE: http://www.4icu.org/ng/

How A Panel Beater Emerged as the Best Graduate

I sold things, became a panel beater to be in school – Abdulwahab, best graduate, FUT MINNA

The best graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, in the 2014/2015 academic session, Abduallahi Abdulwahab, 31, graduated with a 4.78 CGPA from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Technology. In this interview with Enyioha Opara, he talks about his experience as an undergraduate

 

How was your growing up?

My growing up was really interesting. I grew up hoping to have fun without commitment in mind. My father ensured that I was always reading my books and not playing around. He advised me to grow up with the knowledge that average wasn’t good enough. This made me more studious to impress him and that indirectly made me an excellent student who paid more attention to details. I also engaged myself in sporting activities; I played football as a form of exercise, because, according to that popular adage, work without play makes jack a dull boy.

 

What did you dream to become?

My growing up was like that of any other kid. Many of us wanted to become either what our parents were or what we watched in the television. However, the one I found very interesting was law. I wanted to become a lawyer like my uncle, but as I kept on passing through academic processes, I realised that law is not for me. I found out that I had more interest in nature, and that is agriculture. In 1996, I dreamt of becoming an agricultural economist, so I would be able to bring in the principles of economics in managing farms.

 

Some people run away from science because they find it hard. Is it harder than others?

I also used to see science subjects as the most difficult and that was because I was not in the science class in my secondary school. I never studied Chemistry, Physics or any science subject, yet, I wanted to be an Agricultural Economist, a science discipline. So, I had to enrol for extramural classes to learn about those science subjects. Interestingly, since then, I fell in love with science. I later realised that studying science in secondary school to pass the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and what obtains in the university are two different things. I had a wonderful time studying science in the university but reading to pass WASSCE was really tough and I believe that is what makes some people to be afraid of that discipline.

 

Agricultural Economics and Extension Technology is like a two in one course. Having a first class in a course like this may not have come easy. How did you do it?

Having a first class is not easy, especially if you are a student with a big dream. Most times, people believe that hard work leads to first class, but I believe the first step towards having a first class is having a concrete plan, being committed to it and then hard work and prayers. Those are the three things I will attribute my success to. I wrote a book, titled ‘Education without Tears’ which is a translation of how I passed through my studies. So, in my own case, I already had a dream that I would graduate with a first class and that if not the best, one of the best in my school.

 

Did you have a long-term or short-term plan?

That is what I refer to as academic objectives or goals. I used to have a plan for every session, semester, test and exam. Now I know that for me to be in first class, I needed to have seven ‘A’s out of 10 courses and the rest B’s and I kept striving towards it. I have a distinct way of studying. I don’t study because others are reading, I need to condition my system to assimilate before I even pick up books and I need to free my system from stress before studying. Those are my top secrets. I often tell students that they should not waste their time pursuing success, because success is multi-faceted. Some people cheat to be successful, some bribe their way to success. If you want to be successful genuinely, pursue excellence. If you excel, success will come looking for you and that is me. I took my studies seriously, I strived hard to make my ‘A’s, knowing that if I’m good in what I choose to become, hopefully people will come looking for me.

 

What level were you when you wrote the book?

I was in 300 level. I discovered that youths in our society need encouragement and I did something to motivate them by writing that book (Contemporary youth and employment). It did help a lot of youths in my community and beyond.



 

Did you have such performance in your previous school?

No, I never had such result. In the past, I really didn’t value education, I went to school and I only had the determination that I would not fail. So, I wasn’t that kind of person that was out to have the overall best result in the school, and so my performance wasn’t as good as this.

 

Why didn’t you get into either ABU Zaria or Bayero University?

I couldn’t due to the economic situation of my family and even the country at large. I could not go to those schools. I trained myself, so I was responsible for my studies. I respect other universities, but FUTMinna is one of the universities easily accessible by people like me.

 

Who sponsored your education?

I am financially independent with regards to my academic studies because my parents were not buoyant. I organised lectures for students sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and WASSCE, and through that, I raised money for my studies. Apart from that, I engaged myself in panel beating job, I sold leather bags in school to make ends meet and also, I borrowed land to farm and sold the proceeds to be able to pay my school fees.

 

For how many hours were you reading daily?

I didn’t read a lot. I prefer writing to reading but for you to be a good writer, you need to be a good reader too. One of the attributes that define my academic success was I didn’t miss classes. Most of my studying and reading were during my lectures. As a matter of fact, 60 per cent of my assimilation was directly from the lecture room. I ensured that I studied as soon as I got home, I usually spent between 15 and 30 minutes to read. Agriculture is such a hectic course that has both theory and practical aspects. Also my reading style during the weekend was different from that of week days. During the weekend I had enough time to go through my work.

 

How many hours did you sleep daily?

Well I enjoyed my afternoon sleep, which helped me not to sleep early in the night and that does not mean I was reading all through. I enjoyed going through the activities of other universities on the internet especially their academic work. I usually slept for eight hours daily.

 

How often did you use the library?

I wasn’t the type that was used to the library often. Most of my readings were online but I did go to the library once in a while. Most of my resources are often online, I browse to make up my studies.

 

Being a brilliant student, how did you handle gestures from girls?

Because I was focused on my studies, I told myself that I would not have anything to do with any girl until my final year. I was friendly with them but there was nothing beyond friendship.

 

What was your most embarrassing moment in the school?

The period I considered as my embarrassing moment was the day a lecturer turned me back and asked me to leave the class because I was late for the lecture.

 

What was your happiest moment?

My happiest moment was the day I scored 5.00. It was something I dreamt of all my life. It came to fulfillment and it really helped me to become the overall best student in the university.

 

Were you involved in other school activities?

I was an active member of my departmental association and I was a football lover.

 

Where would you like to work?

I like to work anywhere in Nigeria. Preferably, I wish to be a lecturer because I love teaching. I have the zeal to further my education but I need a job to finance it. My parents are not buoyant to do that, so I would have to help myself.

 

When you were doing the panel beating job, were you ashamed of doing such as a student?

I wasn’t, because I was looking for money for my education. How could I have been ashamed of helping myself? I did the panel beating job with pride as long as it provided me with the money to finance my education.

 

Source: Punch Online

 

NSE Opens 2016 Essay Competition to Promote Financial Literacy

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (The NSE or The Exchange) is pleased to announce the commencement of its 2016 edition of the NSE Essay Competition for students in Senior Secondary Schools in all states of the federation. The topic for this year’s edition is “What is the biggest obstacle to saving and investing money and how can The Nigerian Stock Exchange help”.  

To enter the competition which opened on Thursday, September 1, 2016 and closes on Friday, October 14, 2016, participants are required to email their typewritten entries, which should not be more than 1,000 words to essay@nse.com.ng. An online submission form is also available on www.nse.com.ng and the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s Facebook page. 

This year’s competition which is sponsored by Access Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, and Dangote Foundation, will see the top three winners presented with equity investments, University scholarship funds and personal Laptops/tablets at the Awards ceremony in Novemb​er 2016. They will also be honoured with a Closing Gong ceremony. The schools of the top three winners will also be presented with trophies, Desktop Computers and Printers. 

According to Mr. Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE, improving financial literacy is important to the future of Nigeria. “Through the NSE Essay Competition, we are promoting financial literacy among young Nigerians, by encouraging them to learn how good financial decisions can better their lives now and in the future, and ultimately grow the economy. The competition serves as an essential platform to get the perspectives of our young ones on key challenges relating to financial literacy and inclusion in Nigeria”.

Since it began in year 2000, The NSE Essay Competition has inspired over 20,000 young people in over 2,500 secondary schools across Nigeria to showcase what they have learnt about the financial and capital markets. It provides an important opportunity for youths to engage in issues of importance to The Nigerian economy.

Mr. Olumide Orojimi, Head of Corporate Communications, NSE said, “at NSE, we are committed to helping people understand how to manage their financial resources. We take pride in investing in the lives of the next generation by empowering them with financial skills and knowledge”. 

Orojimi noted that the impact of the competition is commendable as the Exchange continues to record increased number of participation and overall, high level of interest which has altogether created greater awareness of the dynamics of the stock exchange. “Our achievements are not lost on our stakeholders, as the NSE recently received the “Corporate Achievement Award to a Financial Institution” at the inaugural annual Financial Literacy Excellence (FILEX) Awards, for promoting financial literacy in Nigeria”.​

 

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange Facebook Page

 

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL ADDRESS FROM DIRECTOR OF STUDIES...



The entire staff and management of EagerMinds College welcome the new and existing students to another academic session.  We pray earnestly that the Lord God Almighty shall continue to strengthen everyone and grant us the enablement to accomplish all our plans for this academic session. 



This academic session is pregnant with great success.  The school has strengthen the workforce with more competent and devoted teachers, better transport facilities, renovation of the school to make it more beautiful and conducive for learning as well as the library, laboratory, etc., are all being given a face-lift. In addition, so many great things are being planned to give every students a key to great success in the new academic session.  We count on the co-operation and support of all parents and guardians in supporting our great school to not only achieve our objectives but to surpass it.



To the students, we say the biggest room in the world that is never full is the room for improvement. Extra hard work is needed this session to surpass your achievements of last year. It is possible!

We say a BIG welcome to you all.

Thank you and God bless us all.

 

Oaihimie Ernest

Director of Studies