UNILAG First Class Graduate Mentions Who Made Her Success in University Possible
- Oyindamola Arikawe, a first-class graduate of Mass Communication, credited her success to determination, discipline, and the influence of her parents
- Despite facing personal challenges like procrastination and balancing commitments, she remained focused and achieved her goal of excelling academically
- Arikawe advises students to give their best, trust in God, and actively participate in various activities
Oyindamola Arikawe, a first-class graduate of Mass Communication, shared insights into her journey to academic excellence, attributing her success to determination and discipline.
Arikawe discussed the influential role of her background, her intentional efforts to graduate with a first-class degree, her challenges, and the secrets to her success.
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UNILAG graduate shares influence of background
Arikawe, in an interview with Punch, credited her parents for moulding her into a dedicated student.
"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," she explained.
UNILAG graduate speaks on intentional pursuit of first-class
When asked if she was intentional about graduating with a first class, Arikawe affirmed, "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."
Oyindamola Arikawe recounts overcoming challenges
Arikawe faced personal challenges during her educational journey, including procrastination and balancing academics with other commitments.
"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," she recounted.
UNILAG: First-class graduate shares success secrets
Arikawe revealed that her relationship with God, along with determination, diligence, and discipline, was crucial to her success.
"My relationship with God aided me through different phases in school. Determination, diligence, and discipline also helped me," she said.
UNILAG graduate's advice to students
Offering advice to students, Arikawe emphasised the importance of giving their best and trusting in God.
"They should give their best and trust God. They should not limit themselves, and be willing to volunteer and participate in other activities," she advised.
Not an easy ride
Barakat Afolashade Adesanya, another first class graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, shared how she was able to achieve academic excellence.
She told Legit.ng:
"Well, I wouldn’t lie, it was not easy at all, I remember the days I would go to campus to read but have silent cries outside 1k seaters for one to two hours wondering if I have ill-luck or I am not intelligent enough to have the grades I desire. What kept me pushing was the fact that I was determined to have academic excellence, first-class degree is a big deal for me, personally, it’s just a way of reassuring myself that I can do anything I put my mind to, I was not the best, but, I did not regret anything throughout my journey because, I know what I went through, and I know the hurdle I had to crush to get here. Hence, I achieved high standards of academic excellence through resilience, determination, persistence and consistency. Also, my background was a motivation for me. Moreover, I have always been open to learning and improving my skills for effective team management. It is all about setting clear expectations with a diverse team (friends)."
UNILAG in Nigeria
Established in 1962, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a leading institution dedicated to quality teaching, learning, research, and community service.
Located in Lagos, Nigeria, UNILAG is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and has produced notable leaders across various disciplines.
The university prioritises the development and welfare of its staff and students, fostering an environment conducive to intellectual growth and innovation.
UNILAG produces 18 all-female first-class graduates
Legit.ng earlier reported that UNILAG's Department of Mass Communication made history by producing 18 all-female first-class graduates for the 2023/2024 academic session.
The remarkable achievement was announced during the award of first-degree honours at the 55th Convocation ceremony on Tuesday.
In total, 16,590 students bagged first degrees and diplomas over the three-day event.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng
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