21-year-old Temitope Ayeobasan has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the first student to earn a first-class degree in the History and International Studies Department at Lagos State University (LASU).
The Nigerian lady’s historic accomplishment breaks a 40-year record, as no student in the department had ever earned first-class honors since the university’s founding in 1984.
Temitope earned her bachelor’s degree in History and International Studies with distinction, a feat celebrated by the department head, Professor Adeyeri Olusegun, who confirmed that her academic journey was one of resilience and excellence.
“Ayeobasan Temitope has shown resilience from her 100 level until now. She deserves it. This is the first of its kind since this school was established in 1984,” said Professor Adeyeri.
Overcoming Initial Doubts
Temitope’s academic success is even more impressive considering her original plan was to study law. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, she chose History as a temporary option while awaiting a transfer to law. Over time, she developed a passion for the subject and decided to continue in the field.
“I finished secondary school in 2020, and I’m 21 years old. I actually never wanted to study history. Due to certain circumstances, I had to settle for it temporarily while waiting for a transfer to law. But along the line, I fell in love with it and decided to stay,” she explained.
Guided by Her Mantra
Despite the uncertainty at the beginning of her academic journey, Temitope adhered to her personal mantra: “Whatever’s worth doing at all is worth doing well.” This mindset helped her to fully dedicate herself to her studies, leading to her remarkable achievement.
“At first, I wasn’t sure I would achieve a First Class because I didn’t initially want to study history, but I adhered to my mantra: ‘Whatever’s worth doing at all is worth doing well.’ So I put my all into it,” she said.
Challenges Along the Way
Temitope’s path to success was not without challenges. She faced difficult moments, such as having to write multiple exams on the same day and managing long hours of study. However, she credits her success to building a strong academic foundation in her early years, which she maintained as the courses became more demanding.
“In my early years (100 and 200 level), I also read weeks ahead of exams, which made it much easier when the pressure mounted. The truth is, it doesn’t get easier; we only get smarter,” she noted.
The Power of Friendship and Support
Temitope emphasized the importance of surrounding herself with supportive friends who shared similar academic goals. Their healthy competition motivated her to push herself further.
“Lastly, I made the right friends. They pushed me to do better, and we engaged in healthy academic competition each semester to see who performed better,” she added.
Temitope Ayeobasan’s story is an inspiring example of perseverance, passion, and the power of a strong support system. Her record-breaking achievement at Lagos State University is sure to motivate future students to aim for excellence in their academic pursuits.
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