Graduating with first class in Nigerian Universities is a dream that virtually every academic conscious student had while joining the University environment. Unfortunately, this dream most of the time, meets hard rock when the real business starts. Against this background, this report looks at how students who have this dream can actualize it through first-hand information from 2 native first class graduates who incidentally are from the same kindred – Okpamgbogu in Umali village of Akanator Quarter in Omor. Samson Chukwunonso Okafor and Williams Afamuefuna Nnenna were first class graduates from different disciplines of different Universities. Below are their life experiences on how to graduate with first class. Excerpts – by IKEGBUNAM, Peter C, Education Correspondent of Omor Renaissance.

Good day dear, may we know you?

I am Samson Chukwunonso Okafor. Born in 1989 to Mr Fidelis and Agnes Okafor of Umuokpamgbogu kindred of Okpala Odikpo dynasty of Umuali Akanator Omor. I studied Economics at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam where I graduated with First Class honour in 2014.

My name is Williams Afamuefuna Nnenna. Born in 1993 to Chief Daniel and Hellen Nnenna of the same kindred and dynasty. I studied Human Anatomy at the Federal University of Calabar where I graduated with First Class honour in 2016.

Good, can you brief us on the journey into making First Class? Starting from you Samson

Samson: (Chuckles) My brother, the journey to first class is a serious one that can best be achieved with determination and strong-willed zeal. It is tasking and not an all comers affairs. Hard working and commitment to the real business.

Williams: hmmmmm. My senior had said it all. First class is a big deal. It combines determination and God’s presence. Yes, we need to add prayers to hard work so we don’t fail.

Many students nurse the ambition of being First Class graduates but slack along the line. Why do this happen?

Williams: You see, time management is very important in everything that man does in life. Good time management. People slack for different reasons. It could be peer pressure, the euphoria of joining the University, the advantage of being under one’s own care out of the parents’ guide, freedom and clubbing, etc. All these take away the students’ precious time.

Samson: Don’t forget that education is very time sensitive. You know it. But there is the need to revisit the content over and over. The reason is that you never can tell from where the question is coming. Once poor time management came in, you lose concentration and low grades will result. That is when you hear: well at least my GP is still at second class upper, let me hold it there. First class is God’s grace. And all that. If this candidate continues with this attitude, he or she may end up graduating with third class.

Is there any secret in reading an academic material?

Williams: To me, I have none. I read what I think is helpful to me at any time I think it is needed. In fact, I am always conscious of time because I knew exam is the yardstick.

Samson: The secret of reading is reading for a purpose. Identifying the purpose for reading a particular document is the key to understanding it. Are you reading for pleasure? Exams, knowledge and experience? Of course, there are some skills in reading documents which are determined by time. Once you are running short of time, the best thing is to scan through. Actually, you can write after scanning but not well.

What are the challenges of making First Class?

Samson: Every effort has its own challenging angle. Fund is a big challenge. University live and public image(s) are also challenges. It will get to a stage where you will like to hibernate but the students have known you. Some will like to make friends with you. You know, like stay with you just for help in class.  This is killing. It is distracting and indicting. They can cause you to land in trouble during exam if you did not handle them with absolute care.

Williams: No time is enough for exam questions. Get this one clear. The moment you turn into a star in exam Hall, helping people, you must attract attention which will draw your effort back and you must end up not finishing your answers. This will take you to a grade that is likely to be low. Sometimes you would claim you finished but failed to put some of the required condiments that makes the answers superb. You must get low mark. So, it is necessary to concentrate in class. Help your friends to learn it outside the hall and face the business inside the Hall. No time is enough to get it right. Don’t waste the one you have.

Why do you think that some very intelligent students land in second class upper in Universities?

Williams: Remember I have told you that no time is enough for you to finish your exam. Actually, many intelligent students end up in second class upper division because there are some pieces of the exam questions that they failed to pick. If you watch them closely, you will agree with me that they engage in less research to get more information. So once the exam shifts from original knowledge, they will write because they are intelligent but not exactly what is expected. When this happens repeatedly, they get low grade that draws the previous Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) down to second class division.

Samson: Williams had said it all. You see, there are a lot of intelligent guys on campus. Very few remain focused after their early years in the University. Some turn into celebrities after year one and this celebrity attitude will crash their CGPA. To get first class one must be battle ready. You don’t need to rely on previous CGPA. Look for a better one always and struggle for it so if it slacks accidentally, you won’t get out of the track. I had an experience that I may not like to discuss but the best way I survived was my previous CGPA which is then very high. If I had not made it big, I would have ended up with 2nd class.

Some students allege that sorting is helpful. How true is it?

Williams: Hmm. I can assure you that no lecturer would award any mark capable of shifting a student to first class with sorting. When it gets there, you see that all of them have respect for education. So forget that allegation. First class is strictly on merit.

Samson: Exactly. If sorting can get first class, the sons and daughters of big men would have been harvesting first class like OMOR people harvest their rice.

When we were young, we heard that if you had one carryover in the University that you won’t make first class. Is this true?

Samson: Remember there was an experience I said I wouldn’t want to discuss here before. Carryover doesn’t stop people from getting first class. If you have for example a CGPA of 4.98 and get like 2 carryovers, the point will be added and your CGPA calculated. If after adding the carryover points and you get 4.50 what is the grade? Is it not first class?

Williams: I knew of a student in my school who had first class after getting carryover in year one. So carryover does not stop first class.

People allege that First Class students find it hard to get job. Is it true?

Williams: I wouldn’t know because I was absorbed by my school immediately after my National Youth Service programme.

Samson: Is not true. First class doesn’t harden an applicant’s chances of getting job. I know the number of interviews that I have attended.

Are you also absorbed by your school.

Samson: Not completely sir. Still at the departmental capacity.

Finally, what advice do you have for undergraduates?

Samson: Well, not much. I advise them to be hardworking and determined. If I can make it, they can do better. I advise them be more at home with their studies for it is time bound. Four or five years and you make your mark in the academic sector.

Williams: I have to hide myself while in school. I don’t want my friends and teachers to get to know me faster. I advise the younger ones to hide themselves. It helps a lot. School politics is not academic friendly. It is very distracting. Campus marriage is unhealthy for academic growth and development. Being a cultist is also distracting. Students should eschew all these things but concentrate, be determined and resolute in pursuing their life objectives.