Follow Us on Google
•Bag First Class with 4.95, 4.80 CGPA at Babcock varsity
By Gabriel Dike
It was a day of glory for twin sisters from Obingwa Local Government, Abia State. They set new academic records at the 21st convocation of Babcock University (BU), Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.
Their father is a computer engineer and mother a graphic designer and publisher. They told The Education Report their parents own a computer school where they train young ones in computer software and hardware.
Nancy Ngozi Philip and Nnennaya Sylvia Philip graduated with First Class and were the star attractions. The ceremony attracted Liberia’s Minister of Education, Prof. Dao Ansu Sonii, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), represented by former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Dr. Dapo Adeleke and senior management of BU.
Nancy emerged the overall best graduate with CGPA of 4.95. Sylvia from the School of Basic Medical Sciences obtained 4.80 CGPA. They also bagged different awards and prizes. Nancy received the President’s (VC) as well as the senior vice president prizes.
‘Our Babcock varsity sojourn’
Nancy, the valedictorian of the convocation said: “I wrote WAEC two times. My first WAEC result in 2014 was poor with just 3Cs
In other subjects I failed including English Language and other core subjects. My second WAEC result in 2015 was better but I failed Mathematics. In essence, I used a combined result to gain admission into BU.
“I wrote my first JAMB in 2019 and my UTME score was 263.
I gained admission into BU in 2019 and the course I studied was my first choice. For me, I feel excellence is a mindset and not really a family thing (smiles). Mediocrity is a mindset and so is excellence. So we both tapped into that mindset and proximity made that a culture for us.
“I am not one of those who open their books one week to exam, because it cannot work for me. As soon as a class is done, I study that particular lesson again before the next 24 hours. Or before the next same class.
“This enables me to gain an understanding of the course step by step. Repeating this process makes assimilation easier for me. Trying to read just before exams is a sure guarantee for me that I would go blank in the exam hall. During exam, what I do is simply revise.
“I mostly prefer doing a serious study on my own without any distraction from any familiar person close by. There wasn’t any competition on who would make best result. It was just all about putting in your best. We were even in different departments. It’s trying to be the best we can, not necessarily competing for the overall best. I hope to further my education after my NYSC.”
Nnennaya gained admission into Babcock with English B2, Mathematics B3, Biology C6, Chemistry B3 and Physics B3. In UTME, she scored English 69, Physics 58, Biology 55, Chemistry 63 with aggregate score of 245.
She developed interest in studying Nutrition and Dietetics, “right from the time I had the opportunity to work as a volunteer in the lifestyle department of a hospital where diet was a major part of the treatment procedures. This generated my interest in learning the role of nutrients in the management of chronic diseases.
“I initially had the intention of studying Accounting. But when my interest changed, I switched to studying Physics and Chemistry and attending lessons for the same in to sit for WAEC again. It was not an easy transitioning but again, as always, God came through. I passed the WAEC and JAMB at one sitting. I intend to go for my master’s programme, a master’s in Public Health Nutrition.”
She described her journey to First Class as full of ups and downs: “There were times when I felt like giving up as it was becoming tougher as we went higher in the journey. There was a time I had an accident that really affected my usual studying routine. It was even at a period very close to my exam time. It wasn’t easy since I had to be in and out of hospital for treatment, accompanied with pain.
“My story would be 100 per cent incomplete without God. Despite the challenges, God came through for me. Imagine being able to get four solid As, some Bs and no C. I didn’t give up despite my result. That semester was fairly good but didn’t meet my expectation but I continued to forge ahead. I was insistent on building my CGPA.
“I must state emphatically that God makes the difference. I have proved that over and over again, as I am a recipient of His amazing grace.
“I have never settled for a B. Although I have had Bs as reflected in some of my results, I have never had a C. My most interesting semester was when I actually got parallel As (5.0GPA). That was a total actualisation
of my academic goal. Getting As in all courses have always been my aim and target.
“One special thing about my academic target is the fact that I could never have reached it without the God factor. I tried in all that I did to put God first, which is the secret to achieving my set goals. God knew my plans and helped me actualise them.”
Nnennaya said reading is one of her hobbies. She likes reading inspirational, educational, academic, relationship and spiritually edifying books. She affirmed there was nothing like competition between her and Nancy:
“We were sources of motivation to each other. Her excellent results only propelled me to strive for excellence in my academic journey. There was no unhealthy competition between us. We sorrowed with each other each time our academic expectations were not met.
“I remember consoling my twin sister at a certain time she had a B in a course she never expected. She did the same to me in like periods. As we got to the end of this academic journey, I encouraged her to strive for the best to qualify for the overall best graduating student. I prayed earnestly for her and told her that her final results would be all right and good, that God willing, she emerged the overall best graduating student.’’
