By Dayo Adesulu

“WHAT’S the noise all about this First Class Honours of a thing? What is so special about these graduates with first class that everybody wants to know them? Many people don’t know that it’s just a lower margin in scores that brings a student down to second class Upper division.” These were the statements of some graduands at the Covenant University, Ota when a Vanguard reporter approached them to help spot out the first class among them for interview. Unfortunately that is one of the many regrets some graduates will live to remember in life.

Mr. Oti Ebubechukwu Emmanuel

Covenant University last Friday churned out 1,315 graduates, out of which 104 made first class honours in their respective disciplines. Similarly, in 2013, out of 1466 graduates, 114 bagged First Class Honours and in 2014, 82 bag First Class degree out of 1,429 that graduated. These numbers of first class graduates have been given concern to many stakeholders in the sector.

Many people are criticizing this academic feat of the institution asking if first class is that easy to obtain? Some critics say, Covenant University has turned first class to pure   water, dragging education value on the floor. “Let them go to federal university, such students with first class will manage to obtain 3rd class.” “Why can’t they pass JAMB very well to earn them access into Federal University if they really have a first class student brain.

Some describe such degrees as a questionable, adding that those with   3rd class in   private university will not graduate at all in federal university. While some people believe it is the reward of going to a private university, others said it is their money speaking for them arguing that it cannot happen in federal university where little amount of school fees are paid. “ If Covenant University standard is high, their grading system also should be high,” a student argued.

On the contrary, a respondent said: “the system that produced the first class should be checked by standard practice, once found clean, good, the first class and school should not be criticized. Anonymous said: “Many people forgot that the school in question is a religious one with high moral standard and academic discipline, high quality facilities and amenities couple with conducive environment with the best teaching and non teaching staff.

“What makes you think first class is that difficult to get? Any university with right environment with the right environment can produce as many first class as possible. “Go to our federal and state universities and see what is happening there. It is a complete pile of shit. No good infrastructure, nor quality lecturer, some are busy selling handout and intimidating female students. “What shall I more say about strike actions that will keep students at home for a session. How can such students make first class?

Worrisome to note that in some public universities, lecturers boast in class with statements like “the last time we produced a first class student in this faculty was in 1977”. A lecturer once told me in class that “only God could score an A in his course.” How do you expect to see good number of first class graduates in such institutions. However, in the cause of our interview with nine first class graduates at Covenant University, we discovered a key words ‘hard work, diligence, conducive environment for learning and infrastructure as causative agent to their academic success.

Among the 104 First Class Honours graduates, Mr Oti Ebubechukwu Emmanuel who emerged overall best student with cumulative GPA of 4.96 in Electrical and Electronics Engineering was a cynosure of all the well wishers. Oti 22, who haled from Aruchukwu, Abia state, was born into a family of seven where father, mother and other two siblings are scientists. Oji who noted that he took after his parents in science subjects said, “I am good at Physics and will work towards being an inventor in the future.

According to him, during his secondary education at Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary Warri, he made 8As in science subjects including English and Mathematics. “I made the first class with a lot of sacrifices and hard work, as I always strive to put in my best in everything,” he said. On his reading pattern, he noted that because test and exams could come at any times you do not plan for, he endeavours to read as much as possible every day.

He advised students to focus on whatever thing they want to do and be their best. Though, Oti identified God as key to his academic success, he said, “I tried to balance up my social life with academics. I am a basketballer which I do for leisure, I chat and crack jokes with people and make them happy.” On his future plans, he said hope to do his masters in electrical engineering either in the US or UK basing his research works between power electronics or robotics. “I am working to be an inventor and do something worth recognition in academia and win a nobel prize. I like physics a lot.”

Debunking claims that Covenant University students are local champions, Oti during his speech said: “There have been good testimonies from employers on the intergrity and competence of our students during their internship and interview. Academically, we have students of petroleum engineering who won the best students paper in Africa and will be representing, covenant University and Nigeria in the United States this years.” According to him, the core values of Covenant University made students stable academically.

On his part, Okorie Emmanuel with CGPA 4.57 in computer and information science said he got this grade through hard work and Gods hands upon his life. “From my hundred level, I had a determination to emerge first class. “Therefore, I worked towards this academic goals through direct planning, mentorship, advice from those ahead of me and my course adviser who put me through at difficulties times. I succeeded basically   through hard work and diligence.

Talking about his reading habits, Okorie structured his reading habit based on his time tables for classes and based on activities engaged in school. His words: “I always have time table for my classes and study hours which helped me complete my note before and after classes, so I dont get a bulk of note at the end of the day.

“I read approximately five to six hours a day. I studied my lectures to know what they want and exactly what they need. I also endeavour to read ahead the class. I go to the library to get materials that made me understand the course so that no matter what I am ask to deliver, I always have the answers.

“People should see education as not only just getting a degree but as something that will improve and impact their lives and become change agents in their world. In the future, I hope to take my course further to the professorate level to be a professor of psychology at the end of the day. Meanwhile, Miss Okeke Amarachukwu Stephnie 19, who also graduated CGPA 4.69 from the department of information and computer sciences said she between six hours everyday.

She said: “My reading habit was pretty serious because I mostly read at night from 12 midnight to 4am and two hours during the day.   The technics she adopted was to first study, write, read again and reverse.   She urged students to always put their heart and mind on what they want to do and believe that they can always do it no matter the course.