By Chiekezie Emmanuel

Miss Nwokolo Chinaza has emerged as the Best Graduating Student (BGS) of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), with a 4.51 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

The immediate past head of the department, Associate Prof. Uche Ogbuke, confirmed in a phone call with ESUT Monitor that Miss Nwokolo emerged as the overall best graduating student for the 2024/2025 academic session with a 4.51 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

Also, during an online interview with our reporter, Miss Chinaza stated that emerging as the overall best graduating student in her department, and possibly in the faculty as well, is a dream come true. She emphasized that when she first gained admission into ESUT, she aimed at graduating with a first class.

“I think in my Year 1, there was a Pharmacy student I was looking up to, King David. He was the overall best graduating student in Pharmacy. I didn’t know about the overall best graduating student of the school and then the set before mine, a friend of mine, Ezenwa Ikenna who also graduated with first class and over all best graduating student in the University from English and Literary studies Department,” she said.

“That was when I said, ‘No, I must get this,’” she added, coupled with the fact that she sees a career in lecturing. So, she started working towards achieving her goal and dream from 100 level.

“My 100 level result was good, but in 200 level I had several distractions which reduced my CGPA. And what worsened this factor was over happiness with my 100 level results.” She further stated that the 200 level results drew her back, so she embarked on burning more midnight candles and buckled hard.

Miss Chinaza appreciates some of her lecturers who supported her during her university days. A few to mention are Dr. Nwonovo and Dr. Stella. They would always look forward to knowing when she was in the class. This built her confidence and charged her to do more. She stressed that what encouraged her more were her mentors.

“I had people that always encouraged me, especially in my 300 level, where I was having double mind on whether I could still graduate with my dream grade, considering how bad my 200 level results were.”

“My Year 3 results came out and they were perfect again. I was like, ‘Oh, okay. Achievable.’ Then I’d say my highlight of the entire journey in school was my four hunderd level.”

She reveals how difficult it was for her to manage academics, work, and social life and still come out as a first class product.

“I had to put my entire life together. I had to manage doing business, surviving as a student, living as a human, interacting with my society, and all that.”

“So, it was really overwhelming but I don’t know how I did it. I believe that God is the pioneer of my journey so far.”

“My 400 level results were the highlight of my entire school, and it was what boosted my grade. I hit 5.0, like the normal proper first class I have been chasing. That should be what even boosted the whole thing. If there were mistakes, I would have been a normal 2:1 student,” she said.

“It’s just God, let me put it that way, and I’m grateful to God and my team. Of course, it’s a dream come true, and it’s also a medium to encourage people to just keep pushing, no matter what. No matter what, there’s no way you can’t pick up. No matter what the result is, you can always pick up, you can always do better.”

“And then, the gift of men too. Don’t try to isolate or look down on anyone because collaboration and teamwork help achieve a common goal. People will help you, and whenever you are called to do something, try to do that thing and do it well,” she said.