Odili Precious, a remarkable young woman, has made headlines with her outstanding academic achievements. Graduating with a first-class degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Nigeria, Precious was also honored with the title of Best Graduating Student in her department. Her journey is a story of hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering dedication to academic excellence.
Precious took to LinkedIn to celebrate her achievement, sharing her excitement about earning a Bachelor of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering with first-class honors. “The icing on the cake is that I graduated with FIRST CLASS HONORS and as the Best Graduating Female Student in the Petroleum Engineering class of 2021/2022,” she proudly stated.
Her success did not come easily, but it was built on years of consistent academic excellence. Precious revealed that she had always maintained an outstanding academic record since childhood. In primary school, she graduated with distinction, emerging as the overall best pupil with eleven awards, including Best in Mathematics, Best in Science Subjects, and Best Behaved Pupil. She continued her stellar performance through secondary school, where she cleared all her Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects with A grades.
Her drive for success and determination to leave a lasting legacy were evident even before entering university. Her impressive JAMB and Post-JAMB scores earned her a merit-based admission into the Petroleum Engineering department at FUTO. Once in the university, Precious didn’t just aim for high grades; she actively sought to understand complex concepts, develop problem-solving skills, and find innovative solutions to challenges.
Precious attributes much of her inspiration to her mother, Dr. J.N. Odii, the current Head of the Computer Science Department at FUTO. Dr. Odii’s own journey in academia—from Graduate Assistant to Associate Professor—was a model of perseverance and dedication that deeply influenced Precious’ path. “I drew my inspiration and motivation from my unique, ever-loving, and erudite mother,” Precious said, paying tribute to her mother’s role in her success.
The challenges were many, but as Precious noted, “Like all mountains that are hard to climb, the view from the peak is magnificent.” Her journey involved days of sleepless nights, countless hours of study, and moments of doubt. But with faith, family support, and sheer determination, she achieved her dreams.
As Precious celebrates her remarkable academic success, she has already set her sights on the next milestone. She is eager to continue her research in petroleum engineering and make significant contributions to the field. Her passion for learning and solving complex problems ensures that her future is bright.
Odili Precious’ story is not just one of academic excellence, but of determination, perseverance, and the importance of a solid support system. She stands as a role model for aspiring students and young women, demonstrating that with hard work and a clear vision, anything is possible.
In a truly remarkable achievement, Viemens Bamfo, a 12-year-old boy from Akyem-Oda in Ghana’s Eastern Region, has gained admission to the prestigious University of Ghana, Legon. Bamfo, who was home-schooled by his father, Robert Bamfo, after completing his lower primary education, has been admitted to pursue a diploma in Public Administration through the university’s Distance Education program. His achievement has made him the youngest student among over 2,900 freshmen who were matriculated for the 2019/2020 academic year.
Viemens’ educational journey has been anything but typical. Unlike most children his age, who are still in junior high or early stages of secondary school, Viemens was home-schooled. His father took it upon himself to personally educate Viemens and his older brother, combining the Cambridge and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) syllabi. The results were nothing short of extraordinary, with Viemens passing the WASSCE as a private candidate and now enrolling in one of Ghana’s top universities at the age of 12.
Robert Bamfo, the boy’s father, explained his approach to home-schooling as one that focused on skill-building and independent learning. His teaching method emphasized dictionary skills, phonetics, and vocabulary development, as well as a textbook-centered approach to science education. “What I teach first is dictionary skills, so the child is able to pronounce every word correctly. We do the phonetic skills, and once that is done, I teach Latin for vocabulary development,” Robert explained in an interview.
This hands-on approach prepared Viemens not only for academic challenges but also for the broader complexities of education. His ability to absorb and apply complex information at such a young age is a testament to his father’s dedication and Viemens’ own intellectual curiosity. Read more about Viemens Bamfo here.