VICTORIA EDEME speaks to 24-year-old Ifeanyi Agbaeze, who broke a 38-year file within the Division of Regulation, College of Uyo by rising as the primary male scholar to bag a first-class
How simple or tough would you say bagging first-class honours in Regulation was?
Making first-class will not be a simple feat. I gained’t be trustworthy if I say that it was simple. It’s not one thing that occurs by probability. It takes a large amount of consideration to element, dedication, consistency, and dedication to realize it. For me, it was a tough course of marked by years of lengthy research hours, sleepless nights, making notes, and most significantly, attending lectures. I considered each new semester as one other lap within the journey to complete the race and I used to be decided to complete effectively. The nice factor is that it paid off ultimately. It was a tough journey, nevertheless it was price it.
Do you assume graduating as the general finest scholar was one thing many anticipated?
Contemplating that I had been topping my class for fairly a while earlier than commencement, I consider that it was one thing that many individuals anticipated. It was sure to occur as a result of semester after semester, I strived to take care of the highest spot within the class and to make it possible for I maintained the Greatest Graduating Pupil standing. Having carried out effectively in my previous couple of semesters, it was to be anticipated. However graduating with a first-class diploma was one thing many didn’t see coming, me inclusive, till in direction of the top of my educational journey.
Have been there belongings you did in a different way that stood you out academically?
I don’t know if I did something specifically that different college students weren’t doing. Nevertheless, I’ll point out the issues that I did to face out academically. Firstly, I studied arduous, attended lectures, paid consideration throughout lectures, requested questions, learn the beneficial textbooks, supplies, and journals, caught to the course define, and took each evaluation and task critically. Secondly, I studied my lecturers to grasp what their marking patterns appeared like. Equally, I attempted to know their likes and dislikes whereas answering examination and steady evaluation questions. Each lecturer has a sample of doing issues and any scholar who hopes to impress such a lecturer should know this sample and observe it religiously. That’s what I did.
You have been the best-graduating scholar in your division. How did that make you are feeling?
There’s a way of fulfilment that comes with lastly attaining a objective or executing a plan. That was what I felt when this grand achievement grew to become a actuality. Being the most effective graduating scholar in my division/college was such an enormous achievement for me and when it grew to become a actuality, I used to be overjoyed. It was a second of realisation for me that each one my years of relentless efforts paid off. The end result of each sleepless evening, research hour, steady evaluation, and examination led to the realisation of this grand objective. I stay eternally grateful to God for seeing me by.
What’s your cumulative grade level common?
My CGPA was 4.54.
How have been you rewarded by the division, college, or faculty?
A lot of the rewards for the best-graduating college students by the college/faculty normally come throughout the convocation, which is normally held two years after commencement. So I’m wanting ahead to that.
What was the final time somebody graduated with a first-class in Regulation at UNIUYO?
The final time an individual graduated with a first-class from the College of Regulation, College of Uyo, was in 2021. Notably, it was additionally the primary time that anybody ever made a first-class diploma in Regulation within the college’s 38 years of existence.
In your viral Fb publish, you acknowledged that you just broke a 38-year file within the Division of Regulation, UNIUYO, by being the primary male scholar to make first-class. How have been you in a position to do that?
Some qualities I imbibed that led to this record-breaking achievement included persistence, consistency, dedication, willpower, self-discipline, and correct and efficient time administration. Step one to attaining this feat was believing that it was potential and that I might do that very tough job. I confronted quite a lot of stress and distraction throughout the journey however I overcame them and remained keenly centered on the objective. Figuring out that there was a time for all the pieces made it simpler for me. I apportioned my time to particular issues and caught strictly to my schedule. That is the place self-discipline is available in. I knew that indiscipline could be a significant pitfall and I fought in opposition to it. I stay devoted to my research at each interval.
I consider that these qualities are answerable for this grand achievement. I really feel fulfilled breaking the college’s long-held file. Having my identify written within the college and college’s guide of honours is one thing to be happy with. It’s a lifetime achievement and I really feel nice and honoured.
What was the impact of the viral Fb publish the place you introduced your consequence?
I received a number of calls and messages from varied individuals, legislation companies, media homes, and folks in excessive locations. I obtained congratulatory messages and presents; it was fairly a busy week for me making an attempt to answer to the myriad of messages and calls. I didn’t know that one publish might go that viral. It blew up on Fb, Twitter (X), and so forth. I by no means realised what feat I had achieved till the calls and messages began coming in.
Did you undertake a particular studying technique to realize your objective?
I wouldn’t name it a particular studying technique. As a scholar, one has to determine what works finest for them. Sticking to this helps one to develop into extremely environment friendly and really productive. I recognized that studying at residence, throughout the day and evening, leaving social media throughout steady assessments and examinations in addition to shutting out all distractions have been the issues that labored for me. I’m a solo reader, so I principally lock myself in my room and skim at any time when I wish to. Doing all of this helped me to learn successfully, perceive correctly, and keep in mind precisely. So far as the studying technique goes, I actively practiced and employed all of them throughout my time in class. Skimming, scanning, detailed studying, and energetic studying have been all part of the method.
What have been a few of the challenges you confronted whereas striving to realize your dream of ending with firstclass?
As earlier talked about, I confronted quite a lot of stress and distractions in class. Below stress, lots of people, together with my associates and lecturers, had very excessive expectations of me and anticipated me to at all times stay on the prime. This positioned quite a lot of burden on me to carry out at a prime stage always. Distractions are too quite a few to say so far as the college is anxious. Notable amongst them are extracurricular actions within the college and on the Pupil Union Authorities stage. I used to be a scholar chief as I held some political positions and in addition contested my college’s presidency. Whereas a few of these extracurricular actions are very helpful to human capability improvement, they will also be time-consuming. On a constructive notice, I needed to discover a steadiness.
What do you assume you probably did in a different way from different college students?
College students are usually not a monolith. They’re numerous individuals from numerous backgrounds, having totally different concepts and strategies of doing sure issues. I don’t assume there may be any explicit factor that I did in a different way from different college students. I simply did what labored finest for me and happily for me, it turned out effectively ultimately.
How did you come concerning the thought of finding out Regulation?
Finding out Regulation was a childhood dream proper from my secondary faculty days, and the assist of my dad, Prince Agbaeze Ejiama (of blessed reminiscence), formed my dream. I like skilled and sensible programs, programs that can allow one to unravel human issues and make an influence in society. I noticed legislation as an ideal choice for me as I’m going to assist a number of individuals in society with my information and expertise, with a selected give attention to underprivileged youngsters, ladies, and probably the most susceptible in society. If I used to be a science scholar, drugs and surgical procedure would have been my various.
How did your dad and mom really feel about your alternative?
My dad and mom have been absolutely in assist from day one, particularly my late dad. His loss of life motivated me extra to pursue a Regulation diploma as a result of he shared in that dream when he was alive, and I wished to do it for him as a lot as I wish to do it for myself, my household, associates, well-wishers, and society at giant who will in someway profit from my authorized information, expertise, and experience.
To what extent did your dad and mom affect your schooling?
My father significantly was a robust affect on my schooling. He wished Regulation as a lot as I wished it. He wished to have a lawyer within the household and my desires aligned along with his needs. Even once I misplaced him, he continued to be an enormous motivation for me to do effectively in class, be a greater individual, and make the household proud. Most significantly, a few of the companies my dad launched me to earlier than his loss of life, helped significantly in placing me by faculty. So he’s a robust affect on me, even from the grave.
Was there one thing that your dad and mom did consciously to form you academically?
Sure, my dad and mom performed a vital function in influencing my schooling by assist, understanding, and love. I began my journey on the Division of Historical past and Worldwide Research, after failing to safe admission to the Regulation college in 2016. Then I had this association with my dad and mom that as a substitute of staying at residence for one 12 months to attend to attempt once more the next 12 months, I ought to somewhat apply for supplementary admission to a different associated division and keep in class and write the following UTME. I utilized for supplementary admission to the Division of Historical past and Worldwide Research, College of Uyo, and was admitted. I used to be in that division once I sat for one more UTME that received me admitted into the College of Regulation in 2017. So with out the assist of my dad and mom, I wouldn’t have been capable of do all these by myself. They’re a formidable power behind me by way of monetary, ethical, and religious assist. I’m grateful to them.
Have been you at any level frightened that you just may not make a first-class after all of your arduous work?
There have been a couple of moments when it felt out of attain. One such second was after the primary semester outcomes of my second 12 months have been launched. As a result of outcomes not being as much as my requirements and what was required to make a first-class, I began to really feel that making a first-class would now not be potential. Fortunately, the following outcomes have been ok to get me again on monitor. All hope was not misplaced in spite of everything.
What would you describe as your most difficult second on campus?
My most difficult expertise on campus was not a tutorial problem. From my early days within the College of Regulation, College of Uyo, I had at all times wished to serve our prestigious scholar affiliation within the extremely coveted place of college president. Within the second semester of my fourth 12 months, I contested the place of the Regulation College students Affiliation of Nigeria president, UNIUYO chapter, and gained in a landslide. I’ll say that probably the most difficult second for me on campus was the electioneering course of. The peak of it was when the outcomes of the election have been withheld indefinitely and by no means received introduced.
How did you are feeling whenever you noticed your closing consequence?
Once I noticed my closing consequence, I used to be so relieved. I felt a particular sort of aid, after which pleasure, happiness, and peace. I felt all the nice issues. I used to be overwhelmed by quite a lot of constructive feelings. It was a very superb second. A really lovely and unforgettable second, made potential by God Almighty!
Having bagged a first-class diploma in Regulation, what’s subsequent for you?
Ideally, Regulation College is subsequent. You will need to end what I began and on this context, ending the journey to changing into a lawyer is the best choice for me. Whereas ready to go to Regulation College, I’m exploring different areas of curiosity and studying new expertise in tech.
