When Ayodele Daniel Dada, in 2016
broke UNILAG academic records as the best graduating student ever with the
Cumulative Grade Point Average CGPA 5.0, little did he know that he was
indirectly setting an academic standard for those coming behind, as Taiwo Bankole
and Oyindamola Omotuyi have matched his academic feat of CGPA 5.0 in 2017.
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| Taiwo Bankole and Oyindamola Omotuyi |
Apparently, with the feat of Miss Taiwo Bankole, 21 and Miss
Oyindamola Omotuyi 22, the saying that
what a man can do, a woman can do better is confirmed. What 5.0 CGPA portends
is that these graduates made the A grade in all their courses throughout their
stay in the university. While Omotuyi studied System Engineering at the
University of Lagos, Bankole on her part, studied Cell Biology and Genetics in
the same institution. Incidentally, the duo are both fellowship members at the
Redeemed Christian Church of God on campus. Bankole who is second in the family
of six, hailed from Ipaja, Lagos State, just as Omotuyi, from Ondo, in Ondo
State is the first daughter among three girls. Speaking to Vanguard yesterday,
Omotuyi who said she drew inspiration for reading from her father said: ‘’My
father, an engineer reads all night and I tried to emulate him.” Relating how
she came about her first class, Omotuyi disclosed that she was not born a
genius, but worked hard for it. Not born a genius According to her: ‘’While
in primary one, I took 11th position in
my class and in UNILAG, I had two bad results. A day before the exam of a
particular course, I saw my test
result where I scored 9/30. Before the
test, I had read very well, yet, I got 9/30. When I saw it, I was downcast. I
asked God what was going on and I cried. That was in 200 level. However, I
didn’t let it stop me because I don’t believe in falling and not rising again. After
crying, I met people to brush me up on the course to know what the lecturer
really wants and the exam turned out
beautifully later. “In another course, I
had 5/40 in the test and the highest in the class was 10/40, however, at the
end, I scored 70 per cent.” She
encouraged students to do the needful, adding that getting admission was not
particularly hard, if every student did his or her own part. She also pointed
out that after school lessons helped her
when she was in the secondary school. ‘’That was how I had 315 in JAMB and 76 in post-UME, ‘’ she
said.
Speaking on the secret of her
academic performan
ce, Omotuyi pointed out
hardwork among others as the key. She said: ‘’I read a lot with my
classmates, I enjoy learning from everybody irrespective of the level. I am
more interested in the knowledge I will get and not CGPA. This is because of
the family I come from; my daddy was a scholar who got a scholarship to study
in Russia. He is a very strict person in terms of reading. Even at old age, he
still reads till day break. I learnt the discipline from him and applied it in
school.” Asked if she has any reading technique, the scholar said she did not have specific hours
spent on reading, neither did she has any reading technique. ‘’At every point,
I depended on the wisdom from the Lord to do things better. I realised that
when I obeyed, it worked. “Thus, the exceptional thing is that I followed the
directions that God gave me. I really did not just go to the library to read, I
went to my seniors and asked what the lecturer of a course really wants
students to focus on. I wasn’t so concerned about writing what I feel, but what
the lecturer wants to see. I remember once in the exam hall, the Lord told me
to write what the lecturer wants to see not just want you want to write. ‘’ I
see lecturers as humans, and they are the ones marking the script, they have
feelings and they know what they want to see because of what they have
deposited in you, so they don’t want to see just anything; they know what they
are looking for. That is the mindset with which I face my courses and exams.
Write what lecturers want to see, not what you feel you know.’’ On her social
life, Omotuyi said that her social life was spent with her friends and church members. She, however disclosed that
she sometimes attended birthday meetings and went to watch movies. ‘’I never
had a boyfriend. I understand what school relationships really are and I don’t
do things because everyone does it, I have where I am going to. It is not that
I wasn’t approached by boys, but there is a right time for everything,’’ she
said. On her future, she said: ‘’I am waiting for my NYSC’, but if the lord
will have me do a master’s degree, sure. My course of study is really broad
just that on BSc, it looks small. I am looking at furthering in computer
vision, artificial intelligence and programming because I have interest in
programming, mathematics and hardware. Her words for students: ‘’For those
still in the system; it is very beautiful to have a good result, everybody can
do it, irrespective of what has happened before. Some persons did not have a
good secondary school or probably a bad result; they should never let that stop
them. ‘’I really didn’t have a good primary school result. When I got to
secondary school, I was discouraged because I met a lot of people that came
from very big schools and they were very good. I felt I couldn’t do anything to
beat them, that I was a dull student in the class; that was in Jss1. I didn’t
like relating, just stayed on my own. A teacher noticed me and brought me to
the front of the class, then I started responding, started picking up.
Meanwhile,, Taiwo Bankole on her part
noted that all was not rosy before she gained admission into UNILAG, She
disclosed that though she had her WAEC and NECO at one sitting, she took UTME and failed. ‘’I ended up
entering school with direct entry by doing diploma in UNILAG.’’ According to
her, graduating with first class was not her target. Relating her experience,
she said: ‘’When I did diploma, my CGPA started from zero in my 200 level. In
my degree, when my CGPA rose to 5.0, I decided to maintain it by reading for
six hours everyday. I keep my studies
interesting and simple. I use the library, I read in my room, I listen
attentively in class, and I trust God for success.’’ Reading for six hours
everyday Bankole disclosed that through her focus and constant reading, from
200 level her CGPA started rising and she determined to have an A in each
course of the total course units of 102. On her
future plans, Bankole said: ‘’After my NYSC, I will do my Masters in genetics because I
love the course. For social life, she said: ‘’I go out with my friends, watch
movies and go to church. I don’t have a boyfriend. Asked the reasons, she
simply said: ‘’This is because I came to face my books and not relationships.
When the time is right, God will provide
the right person for me.’’ She urged students to be hardworking and never to
loose focus. “Be hardworking, determined and diligent in all your endeavours.
Trust in God in everything you do to overcome challenges. I have no regrets.
Culled from: http://www.vanguardngr.com
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