Nigerian Student Breaks Rivers Varsity's 41-Year-Old Record, Bags First Class in Maths with Perfect 5.0 CGPA
- Otoko Steven Edwards bagged a First Class degree from the Department of Mathematics, Rivers State University, breaking a 41-year-old record
- The young man was first admitted into the university to study Mechanical Engineering but switched to Mathematics
- He took this decision when he discovered that he has an enormous flair for figures than he had for engines
- To be able to graduate with the highly impressive result, Edwards said he had many sleepless nights during which he studied hard to remain on top till the end
A Nigerian student named Otoko Steven Edwards has bagged a first class degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics from the Department of Mathematics, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
But what is most exciting about the news is that Edwards is the very first student to achieve that feat since the establishment of the department in 1980.
Source: Original
In an interview with Legit.ng, Edwards said he was initially admitted into the school to study Mechanical Engineering but switched to Mathematics after discovering that he was more of a Math person.
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He said:
"I was initially admitted to study Mechanical Engineering and along the line, I just realised the whole engineering thing wasn't for me. I tried to apply for transfer into the Math Department. I already had a very good math foundation and I found it very easy to deal with. The transfer didn't really work out, so I opted in for JAMB, and I when I got admitted, I left the Mechanical Engineering"
How I made first class
The rare feat has permanently etched his name in the school's hall of fame.
Legit.ng sought to know how he was able to brave the odds to clinch the coveted academic cap. He said he sacrificed countless nights of sleep to be able to meet up. According to him:
"Getting into the department of mathematics, I started off with a CGPA of 4.83. Prior to that, I have had people saying 'don't dream of having a first-class, even if you start well because you can't have it. People don't get that in the Math Department.' I believed in myself and was hopeful and prayerful. I said to myself that I can't let the 4.83 go to waste, so I put in so much effort. Though there are semesters I had less than 4.50. But I made 4.41 as well as 4.36. In the last semester of my final year I made the last two 5.0 GPA."
Prayers not enough, I studied 14 hours at a stretch
When asked how he was able to reach the topmost mark, Edwards said he prayed but that prayers were never enough since he put in so much work and studies. He told Legit.ng:
"In as much as having always wanted to finish with a first-class, everything boils down to prayer, being hopeful and believing. I remember when I studied 14hrs on a stretch during and before exams. So the hard work really paid off."
The Department of Mathematics, Rivers State University was established in 1980, and since then no one has ever made a first class. Edwards has now broken the long-running record.
IMSU student breaks 39-year record, bags first class
In a similar story, this publication reported how Mbagwu Johnpaul Chiagoziem broke a 39-year old record at the Imo State University. He grabbed a first-class in Industrial Physics.
Chigozirim said the achievement was his biggest feat so far in life. He said he wouldn't have been able to achieve the feat without God.
He lamented that many of the persons who promised to give him one material gift or the other failed to fulfil their promises. He said he dreams of becoming an expert in Physics pedagogy after his post-graduate studies.
Source: Legit.ng
