First Class Diary: Despite my High JAMB, Post-UTME Scores, Admission into the University Became a Challenge- EA

First Class Diary: Despite my High JAMB, Post-UTME Scores, Admission into the University Became a Challenge- EA

Hi everyone! It’s the fourth edition in the June series. The feedbacks from last series have been really encouraging.

This week, I have another interesting interview for you. I am certain you will enjoy it.

I present to you, my scholar for the week. Please meet, Ebube Akpamgbo, a first-class graduate of Law from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Let me save the rest of the story.

In his words,

My teachers back then in Secondary School insisted I settled in Science class and ultimately become a Medical Doctor. They thought I was too smart for Art. But then, I followed my heart and it worked out just fine.

Enjoy!

Abigael Ibikunle of Edugist: Please share with Edugist, a little about your background.

Ebube Akpamgbo: My name is Ebube Akpamgbo. I hail from Anambra state of Nigeria, and was mostly raised In Enugu state. I’m the third offspring of my parents.

In 2019, I graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with a first class cgpa of 4.76 in law. Also, doubling as the best graduating student of my faculty.

It all started from the quest to secure admission down to when I eventually got the admission.

I had high scores in JAMB and post-UTME, but I had a delayed admission.

When I joined, lectures had already kicked off. By my second day in school while still juggling with my registration processes, I wrote two quizzes.

Then, my colleagues would often answer questions I had no idea about in class. It was then I realized that I had to put in intense effort.

I did not exactly start off with the intention of making a first class. This was probably because we were quite much in class – about 300 students or more.

So, I thought to myself that it would be impossible to graduate top of such class. I imagined the number of brilliant students who were in my class.

The students that had Post-Utme scores of 380 and thereabout. As such, I reiterated to myself that it was nothing like my secondary school where I always came first.

In fact, my default position then was just to pass. Moreover, at the time in my faculty, such feat was said to be almost impossible to attain.

So, when my first year results came out and I recorded distinction in almost all the modules, I shoved it all away.

I said to myself that it was just first year, and that the real deal had not started. I still doubted myself.

In second year, I repeated a similar feat and lecturers started calling me out in class. It was then that I realized I could make it.

My happiest moments as a student were those moments I checked my third year results and my CGPA were 5.0 back to back.

I kept the pace, until I made a C in a fourth year course. I can not just imagine why that happened. But I moved on quickly. I knew I had already built my CGPA to a point of no return.

 

AI: Was there any motivating factor(s) that influenced your choice of discipline and institution?

EA: There were quite a number of motivating factors. But for institution, I was not particular about any. First, I really wanted to read law.

I had always wanted to be a Judge (I do not know if that dream is still in order right now). Then, I was doing quite great in school. My parents also encouraged me to go for law.

My teachers back then in Secondary School insisted I settled in Science class and ultimately become a Medical Doctor. They thought I was too smart for Art. But then, I followed my heart and it worked out just fine.

There was also the legal family-line factor. At the time, I had an uncle who was a successful lawyer and a one-time Minister of Justice in Nigeria (Clement Obiora Akpamgbo, SAN of blessed memory). I grew up learning legal gymnastics from him unconsciously.

 

AI: There are two major skills that every student must possess: COMPETENCE and PERFORMANCE. While competence revolves around skill acquisition, performance is much more concerned about skills application. It is believed that most graduates are competent because their academic performance testifies to this, but they are performance-challenged. This poor performance ipso facto hinders them from getting lucrative jobs in the labour market. What can you say about this assertion

EA: The assertion is fairly true.

Personally, I believe that any person who is competent academically has a great shot at also performing great in the labour market.

It is true that there are graduates who are competent academically but same can not be said of them in performance. But this is largely because they have not tapped into that inner energy in them for excellence.

I must however mention with reservation that our University curriculum does not make it any easier. This is because, it is largely centered on theories.

But then, the legal profession in particular is a course that builds on the theories. You cannot excel in practice if you do not understand those theories and their exceptions.

So, being competent academically is a right step to also performing well in practice. The latter only demands more proactivity and a smart application of what was learnt in the former.

 

AI: What do you think is responsible for competence without performance? Please suggest ways of improving the performance level of university students and graduates.

EA: Competence without performance results from lack of personal development. And, poor cultivation of interpersonal skills while still an undergraduate.

Many students focus only on academics to the exclusion of a ‘reasonable degree of extracurriculars’.

Certain faculties (UNN Faculty of Law for instance) have started to embrace courses which make for a smooth transition from school to the workplace.

For instance, the course on Moot Court and Legal Clinic practice, Client Interview and Counselling course etc. Moreso, there is the Bar Association in schools for law students interested in mooting and mock trials.

There is also room for internships, volunteering jobs and taking on extracurricular courses for personal development. Being invested in these opportunities enhance a student’s performance level at the labour market.

 

AI: Achievement in life transcends one’s personal efforts. There were people who, during your programme, rendered some assistance that made your dreams a reality. Who are specific persons whose contribution you can’t forget in your first-class feat?

EA: First, I would say my FAMILY. They were practically my everything. Their encouragement was profound – emotionally, spiritually and financially.

Some of my lecturers also encouraged me greatly – those ones that always called me out in class whenever results were published to announce that I was the best.

That singular act made me more conscious of the quest to graduate with a first class. It intensified the pressure and reassured me that I could eventually emerge as the best.

 

AI: As a first-class graduate, are you currently gainfully employed?

EA: Not for now. I am presently undergoing my Bar Part II programme at the Nigerian Law School. But as it concerns employment, I have received one offer.

 

AI: Do you think your grades have or is giving you any major advantage over other graduates with lesser grades?

EA: In the near past, I had interned with a couple of leading firms in Nigeria, and these opportunities were made possible largely because of my grades.

I cannot remember being physically interviewed for any of those internships.

There was this assumption that I deserved it. I have also published a good number of articles with my senior lecturers and have worked as a Graduate Assistant to a Professor of Law in my faculty.

I am presently in the Nigerian Law School on three (3) sets of Scholarships, one of which covers my living expenses as well. And I still await convocation.

 

AI: For students who aspire to graduate with outstanding grade like yours, what would you advise them?

EA: First is,

deal with all negative energy. Cut off people who would always say you cannot do it. It has never been done before, etc. You can graduate with a 4.8 CGPA or more once you have the brain for it and you push.

By virtue of getting the high scores required for admission into your institution and for your course, you have such brain.

Some students settle for average grades right from the onset. While some settle for relatively poorer grades in the course of their student journey.

Their reason is because of their ugly experiences with some courses. Possible distractions occasioned by unregulated extracurricular engagements.

Always endeavour to pick up yourself when you make poor grades in courses you worked hard for. Learn from your mistakes and do better.

But when you are not able to identify what mistake you made to have gotten such grade(s), stay encouraged. Also try to maintain a proper balance with extracurriculars.

They tell you that you cannot make an ‘A’ in a particular course. Give it your best, and if you do not make the ‘A’, make something very close to it, and move on.

Also, work at your own pace. Do not engage in night classes, ‘till-day-breaks’ just because your roommate does.

Read your texts timeously, make notes out of them and revise them over and over. If you are truly aiming for a first class, then you should read your whole curriculum thoroughly at least 5 times before exams.

Be proud of your hustle. Do not feel ashamed when they call you a bookworm.

 

AI: What would you advise the government to do to improve the standard of our education system?

EA: The government should work on strikes. It has a way of distracting students and lecturers alike. Secondly, facilities in public universities are in a state of utter disrepair.

The learning facilities are not encouraging. The library books are outdated. As a student, I sparingly read library books. The hostels are not conducive either. There is indeed so much to be done in this regard.

 

AI: Any other thing you would like to share?

EA: The God-factor! Excellence at anything takes His special grace. Always ask Him for guidance at all times and study hard enough to show yourself approved in His sight. I will welcome questions, you can reach me. Thank you.

 

That’s it for this week’s episode. I hope you enjoyed the interview. Got a scholar you would love to be featured?

Would you like to sponsor any of our scholars you find their stories inspiring?
Or want to contact any of them for engagements?

Please reach out to me directly: abigail@edugist.org

I am Abigael Ibikunle and celebrating excellence is a top priority for me. iTeach, iSpeak, iTrain, iFacilitate, iWrite, iInterview and iLoveYou all. Smile! See you next week!

Thanks for your time!