I PRAYED FOR A FIRST CLASS, SAYS
UNN’S BEST GRADUATING STUDENT
.
Eke Ifeanyichukwu Emmanuel was the best graduating student at
the 2016 convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN),
with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.83.
Though born into a humble family in Bende Local
Government Area of Abia State, Ifeanyichukwu, a
microbiology graduate, was determined to succeed despite the
odds.
In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, the first of five children, relished
achieving the most coveted feat on campus.
“I feel excited. I still remember I came into this school in 2012,
then in January 2013, the convocation of the previous set took
place and I attended the award night.
I was really motivated by what I saw. I thought to myself:
‘look at these guys; they are being celebrated’ and you know what
I did? I love writing, so as I got home, I wrote down a prayer to God
in my diary. I told God to please help me to come out of this school
with nothing less than a first class and this is an answered
prayer,” he said.
.
The best graduating student identified good mind set and diligence
as keys to his success.
He said: “One thing that helped me was diligence. Diligence is
different from hard work. Diligence is skilful hard work.
Diligence requires that you know the time and way you understand
and do things, that is, you know when to take a break and you
know the environment to study as well.
Aside the mindset and diligence, confession also matters too.
Many times I come out of an examination venue and I hear people
say that ‘Na wa this course done tidy me for this school’, and all
sorts of things but I would just smile because I do not like failing
myself before I see the result.
So I confess good things to myself.”
.
Ifeanyichukwu also chose his friends with care, saying they can
push one towards success or failure.
He said: “Network is another factor that matters. People you
surround yourself with count. For instance, my friend actually
helped me. Friends help you in accessing materials, they give you
information. The saying ‘show me your friend and I will tell you
who you are’ really applies
here. Your friends will determine the grade you come out with in
the next four to five years.”
Ifeanyichukwu has had his share of challenges, including
insufficient funds, during his academic pursuit.
.
He said: “When I got admission, I had financial challenges.
I was unable to pay my fees. I remember sometimes I had to soak
garri because I had no money. This was how I did it – I soaked
garri in water in the morning, put it in my locker and when I come
back from lectures, it would have
increased in size; then I used fibre active biscuit to help myself
while eating the garri. I also remember that I didn’t have shoes and
money to photocopy materials when others were doing theirs. So,
to get materials, I went to the library.
‘’I learnt a principle from Ben Carson’s book, Think Big, called in-
depth research principle, which involves looking
at the perspectives of various authors on one topic. This has
helped me as a microbiologist to know what each author has to
say, for instance, about bacteria.”
.
When asked about his social life, Ifeanyichukwu joked:
“Someone once rated me as having a carryover in social activities.
I don’t think I am a social person, but it does not mean I do not go
out. I can give myself a credit in social life because sometimes I
go to play departmental football.”
Advising students to embrace hard work, Ifeanyichukwu said:
“There is no alternative to be the best. Just try to give your best
because the law of nature states that whatsoever you give is what
you receive. You decide the future by the things you do now.”
Comments
Post a Comment