Determination, discipline helped me make first class— Oyindamola Arikawe
In what ways did your background mould you into the kind of student you were?
My parents were a great influence. My mum owns a school and my dad is a preacher of excellence, so I always knew that I had to be excellent at whatever I did. My parents used to give us (children) gifts if we came tops in our class to encourage us to keep aiming high.
Were you intentional about graduating with a first class?
Yes, it was very intentional. My goal was to excel, and I achieved that. I did not just graduate with a first class but as the second best graduating student in the department.
What were the challenges you faced in the course of your educational pursuit?
They were majorly personal— procrastination and having to balance my academics with other commitments. But, I later learnt to prioritise and do the right things at the right time.
What are your secrets of success?
My relationship with God aided me through different phases in school. Determination, diligence and discipline also helped me.
What advice do you have for students as regards excelling in their studies?
They should give their best and trust God. They should not limit themselves, and be willing to volunteer and participate in other activities.
First class had always been my goal— Temiloluwa Igbinlade
Did you consciously set out to graduate with a first class?
Yes, first-class had always been the goal. Excelling exceptionally was just the grace of God. When I first got a perfect 5.0 GP in 100 level first semester, I desired to finish with it as my CGPA.
Why did you decide to study Mass Communication in the first place?
At first, it was my love for talking, writing and wanting a platform to impact lives. As I studied the various beautiful aspects of the course, I fell in love with film and production, and a script I wrote was even chosen for production coursework.
What are your secrets of success?
God is all there is to me.
What advice do you have for students as regards excelling in their studies?
Take it one at a time, set targets and trust God with your life. He can never mismanage it.
Did you have a social life while in school?
Yes, I did. Being committed to fellowship helped me a lot. I hosted and facilitated a few programmes, and acted in a few stage plays.
I combined hard work with prayers— Ifedayo Ayilaran
Did you intentionally set out to graduate with a first class?
Yes, I did. For me, it was a clear goal from the start. I entered university with a lot of motivation and enthusiasm from high school. While it wasn’t as easy as I initially thought, I stayed focused on that goal. I made an effort to go above and beyond in everything—doing just the usual wasn’t enough to earn an A, and I knew those A’s were key to a first-class degree. Most importantly, I combined my hard work with consistent prayers, and by God’s grace, it all paid off in the end.
What are your secrets of success?
At the risk of sounding cliché, God. God has helped me, and grace has brought me this far. Hard work is great, but He who blesses the hard work is greater.
What are your career plans?
During my final year of university, I developed a strong interest in finance. I was fortunate to secure a summer internship with a bank abroad, which eventually led to a full-time job offer. The skills I gained from my mass communication degree are incredibly transferable and have been invaluable in this new path. I’m excited for the future and eager to see where this journey takes me.
I’ve always wanted to excel — Ifeoma Iwelunmor
In what ways did your childhood inspire you to take your academics seriously?
While growing up, I was not particularly good at academics. I have a twin sister who was very smart, and it was hard keeping up with her. Everyone in my family were school prefects except me. However, in primary six, I won the “Most Improved Student” award after moving from 18th to fifth position. That moment marked a turning point for me. From then on, I made it a mission to excel academically.
Did you intentionally set out to graduate with a first class?
Yes, I always wanted to excel, even when I was not entirely sure what I was doing. In my first semester as a diploma student, I had the highest grade point. That achievement reassured me that I was on the right track.
What were the major challenges you faced in the course of your educational sojourn?
My biggest challenges were anxiety, insomnia and having a short attention span.
What are your secrets of success?
I made sure to read, pray and also take time to relax.
What are your career plans?
I want to become a successful public relations professional and content marketer.
I made first class to prove people wrong— Chelsea Jegede
In what ways did your background shape your educational sojourn?
My parents invested so much in my siblings and I, and I felt the best way to repay them was to excel in everything I did. I wanted to make them proud by being at the top of my class. Even though there was never any pressure from them, seeing the joy on their faces when I succeeded made me feel like I was giving something back.
Did you intentionally set out to graduate with a first class?
Yes, because I have always been ambitious. I also didn’t appreciate it when people said I couldn’t do something. So, when I was told that getting a first-class in the department was almost impossible, I decided that was exactly what I wanted and I was going to make it happen.
What are your secrets of success?
It is Jesus Christ. I work extremely hard, and I am very disciplined and ambitious, but it was grace that got me here.
I’ll be getting more degrees— Opeyemi Kareem
Briefly describe your routine as a student.
My routine varied depending on the academic calendar. On typical lecture days, I’d attend classes, then return to the hostel. However, during exam periods, I’d wake up really early because I had to get a seat at the library. I would read for eight hours, go back to the hostel to rest for two hours. Then, I’d go back out in the evening to read for four to five hours before finally retiring for the night.
Did you intentionally set out to graduate with a first class?
I did, actually. Being the valedictorian of my class in secondary school, I knew that I had to continue in that path of greatness.
What were the major challenges you faced in the course of your educational sojourn?
The learning environment which included learning with such a large class population was a great challenge. The strikes, which happened too frequently and spanned for too long, were another challenge.
What are your secrets of success?
My not-so-secret secret of success is God. I have never regretted trusting Him.
What are your career plans?
I will be getting more degrees to solidify my career projection. I like school so, I intend to get a PhD. I also want to establish myself as a professional and specialist in the field of communication.
I almost gave up — Feranmi Abiola
How would you describe your routine as a student?
A typical day in my life involved waking up late after a night of editing, rushing to class, grabbing a late meal, and heading back to my apartment to work again. On some days, I had shoots that forced me to miss classes. As for the studying part, that usually happened when exams were near. I was well known for last-minute cramming.
What were the major challenges you faced in the course of your educational sojourn?
It was incredibly difficult to keep going. Over the years, my willpower kept fading, and I often felt like giving up. While I grew and thrived in my career as a cinematographer and editor, juggling two full-time jobs and freelance gigs, school became a burden. I even considered dropping out because I hated it so much. I should have graduated in 2022 but finally finished in 2025.
What are your secrets of success?
I have no secrets; just God and determination. It was tough but I kept going, always reminding myself of how far I’d come and refusing to drop the ball. Also, having supportive people around one makes all the difference. They fuelled my fire on days I felt burnt out and kept me informed when I couldn’t be present.
Many people are of the opinion that first class students are usually boring. Did you have a social life while in school?
I was actually one of the most social people in school, so that’s far from true. I was always out working, attending parties, clubs and staying active in various activities like sports and politics.
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