Jennifer Agbo is a shining example of academic excellence and intellectual achievement. She graduated from the University of Nigeria (UNN) with a first-class degree in economics, scoring a remarkable 4.90 out of 5 grade point average (GPA). She was the best graduating student in her department and one of the top students in the university’s history.
Jennifer’s story is inspiring and motivating for many young Nigerians who aspire to pursue higher education and contribute to the development of their country. She told Weekenders Magazine that she had always loved economics since her secondary school days, and that she was determined to study hard and excel in her chosen field.
“I love economics because it helps me to understand how the world works, how people make decisions, and how policies affect outcomes. I also love mathematics and statistics, which are essential tools for economic analysis,” she said.
Jennifer attributed her success to her passion for learning, her discipline, her supportive family, and her faith in God. She said she faced some challenges during her studies, such as inadequate facilities, power outages, and strikes, but she did not let them deter her from achieving her goals.
“I always tried to make the best use of the available resources, such as the library, the internet, and my lecturers. I also had a study group with some of my classmates, where we discussed assignments and revised for exams. I also prayed a lot and trusted God to help me overcome any obstacle,” she said.
Jennifer’s academic performance earned her several awards and scholarships, including the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence, the Dean’s Prize for the Best Graduating Student in Economics, and the MTN Foundation Scholarship for Science and Technology Students.
She also participated in extracurricular activities, such as volunteering for the Human Rights Empowerment Project (HREP), a non-governmental organization that promotes human rights education and advocacy in Nigeria. She said she learned a lot from HREP’s founder, Francis Moneke, who introduced her to Okey Ndibe, a renowned Nigerian writer and professor who visited Awka for a talk.
“Mr. Moneke told me that I was the most consistent user of HREP’s library in Awka, where I used to go to read books and journals on economics and other subjects. He also introduced me to Prof. Ndibe, who was very impressed by my questions and comments at his talk. He congratulated me on my academic achievement and encouraged me to pursue my dreams,” she said.
Jennifer said her dream is to become a professor of economics and a policy adviser for the Nigerian government. She said she wants to use her knowledge and skills to help solve some of the economic problems facing Nigeria, such as poverty, unemployment, inflation, and corruption.
“I believe that economics can provide solutions to many of the challenges that Nigeria is facing today. I want to be part of the solution by teaching, researching, and advising on economic issues. I also want to mentor other young Nigerians who are interested in economics and inspire them to achieve their potential,” she said.
Jennifer is currently pursuing her master’s degree in economics at UNN, where she hopes to continue her academic excellence and prepare for her doctoral studies. She said she is grateful for all the opportunities and support that she has received so far, and that she hopes to make a positive impact on society with her education.
“I am very thankful to God for giving me this gift of intelligence and wisdom. I am also thankful to my parents, siblings, friends, lecturers, mentors, sponsors, and everyone who has helped me along the way. I am proud of myself for what I have achieved so far, but I know that this is just the beginning. I have a lot more to learn and do in life,” she said.
Aarinola Olaiya is a Nigerian medical student who has achieved remarkable academic excellence. She is the first student in 28 years to graduate with 12 distinctions from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Nigeria, where she studied medicine and surgery. She also broke the record by being the first student to have a distinction in surgery at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences.
Aarinola’s journey to success began from her early years, when she won her first scholarship in primary four as the best student among her peers. She continued to shine throughout her secondary education at the Federal Government Girls’ College, Efon-Alaaye Ekiti, where she was appointed Assistant Head Girl in her final year and won 22 prizes on graduation day.
She gained admission into OAU in 2011, where she displayed her academic prowess by scoring a Cumulative Grade Point (CGPA) of 4.74 in her first year. She maintained her high performance throughout her studies, scoring distinctions in numerous courses in her second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth years. Her achievements culminated in a total of 11 distinctions, a feat that had not been achieved in 28 years in her university.
In an interview with Sunday Vanguard, Aarinola attributed her success to her drive to be great, her yearning to be impactful wherever she found herself, and her spirit of excellence. She also spoke about her meticulous approach to her studies and her constant drive to beat her previous achievements. Click here to read more about Aarinola.
