TheCitizen - It's all about you
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
TheCitizen - It's all about you
No Result
View All Result

I bagged first class despite failing UTME repeatedly – UNIUYO graduate

The Citizen by The Citizen
August 27 2022
in The Citizen Interview
A A
0
15% budget allocation to education? – Daily Trust
22
SHARES
734
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Twenty-six-year-old Tommy Nteowo, who bagged first class honours in English Language from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, tells how he achieved the feat despite his poor academic foundation
Graduating with first class honours from a public university is seen as an uncommon achievement. How easy was it for you?
Without sugar-coating, it was very challenging for me. However, what was even more challenging was maintaining it for four years. I usually illustrate this with someone having to climb a pole. The efforts needed to stay at the apex of the pole for four hours or days will be more than that which is needed to climb it. Similarly, maintaining a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 5.0, for instance, requires double if not more effort than making it. That, of course, isn’t to scare anyone from undertaking the worthwhile and rewarding journey of excellence.
You studied English. What was the attraction for you?
Growing up, my father, after coming home from work, used to persuade me to sit and either listen to or watch news broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation. Even though this was tedious at first, I gradually developed an interest in it eventually. Though the content of the news was lost on me most of the time, the beautiful way words were used very differently from what I was used to hearing around me stirred my interest and gave me the nudging to consider studying English when the time came. Overall, I just wanted to speak and write differently and express myself in a simple but beautiful way. I decided that the easiest way to do this was by applying to study it (English) at the university.
What other things did your parents do to shape your academic journey?
My parents played an invaluable role in my academic journey. My father promised that for each ‘A’ I made, he would buy me a gift. In my first semester when I had five A’s, he fulfilled his promise by buying me a suitcase, a beautiful shirt, and sundry other items to reward me for my result. He is not the richest father in the world, but his relentless acts of appreciation and encouragement became valuable in my academic journey. My mother, on her part, when I told her about my intention to study English, said she could not have thought of a better course that was a great fit for me. Her strong conviction that I would do well in such a course made me resolve not to disappoint her. When I called to tell her about my results, her excitement and dance of joy brought tears to my eyes and invigorated me to do more.
Have you always been an outstanding student from primary school?
No, I was never a high-flyer. Honestly, I cannot remember ever taking the first position in any examination throughout my primary and secondary school years. The best I ever came was second — precisely in JSS1 and JSS2. The rest fell between third and 35th position, and between 20th and 30th at the primary level. In JSS1, the first time I took the second position, I went home with so much happiness to tell my parents about it. They were surprised and happy; I was served my favourite meal. But unfortunately, when I started JSS3 at a different school I got poorer results and didn’t come near the top of the class at all. It was horrible. Looking back, it is hilarious but it reminds me that I can achieve anything if I identify what I truly want and go for it.
Can you describe your experience while seeking admission into the university? Did you have any difficulty?
You are bringing back depressing memories with this question. Nigerian universities showed me shege (hell). In 2012, when I graduated from secondary school, I had a faint idea about studying at the university, but I did not know what exactly I wanted to study. Unlike many pupils who were certain about their future goals, I could only wish that I had a bit of an idea about what I wanted to study. I had thought that even though I did not know what I wanted to study, I was not going to be left behind. So, I bought a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination form for university education. After two failed attempts at securing admission, I got frustrated and decided not to take the examination in 2014. It was in my third attempt in 2016, after careful preparation, that I finally got a congratulatory message. As you may imagine, I leapt for joy!
What specific challenges did you face as an undergraduate?
I did not have any major challenges at school other than the ones that came with my course of study. It was quite challenging to have to cover at least 20 literary works for one course alongside other materials and personal research within a short time frame. Again, my desire to pass excellently in all the courses I took, most times, did not allow me to take care of my health and physical appearance the way I would have loved to, especially during my sophomore and penultimate years. Although they were not a priority for me, I found it challenging to balance hard work and self-care.
What was your study schedule like?
I made it a goal to religiously follow my timetable, no matter what. My timetable stipulated that I gave two hours 10 times for every course I took. At the end of the semester, that meant that I gave 20 hours to each course and up to 140 hours in a semester that had seven courses to be taken. I made use of the school’s library, especially when we were either waiting for a lecturer or just not occupied with anything. But during the examination period, I usually did not continue with my normal reading timetable. I tweaked it to afford me more time to read and research. During that time, I used the library extensively, went for night classes (studied in lecture halls at night), and usually travelled back to seek some quiet ambience in my hometown. Meals and sleep were the prices I had to pay to earn academic excellence.
What do you mean?
I had a personal habit of staying away from hard meals after 4pm. This was because whenever I ate after 4pm, I usually struggled to stay up to read. So, I decided to avoid eating after that time and it worked for me.
A famous Hollywood star, Denzel Washington, in one of his speeches, said, “If you hang around a barbershop long enough, sooner or later, you are going to get a haircut”. This is one of my favourite quotes from him because it immediately suggests that there is no shortcut to success. One has to work for it; one has to persevere and be determined to succeed. First class honours can’t be achieved by cutting corners. One has to put in the work and be consistent. One has to sweat it out, sometimes cry but keep pushing. It requires that one disciplines oneself enough to study even when one does not feel like it. It also involves ignoring side talks or gossip and even gathering the courage to douse the fire of doubts and anxiety that will inevitably come from within yourself. Just like any kind of success, the path to achieving first class honours is riddled with obstacles that will test how much one wants to achieve it.
Were you deliberate about choosing your friends?
I kept very few good friends, but I was not too close to them to run the risk of ‘losing’ them. The only close friend I had was my roommate. Besides, my little circle of friends had the same zeal for academic excellence clearly written on their foreheads, so it made it fun and easy to create a synergy and get along with one another.
What is your response to those who claim that English is not a ‘serious’ course of study?
Well, everyone has a choice to make. In Nigeria, many people are persuaded and sometimes forced by their parents to pursue a career in medicine, engineering, accounting, and others. Still, some go for these courses because they believe that it is where money and prestige lie. While they are free to make these choices, it is faulty reasoning to think that a particular field of study is superior to another. Wole Soyinka, for instance, had a degree in English, an ‘unserious’ course,  but went on to become the first and only Nigerian to win a Nobel Prize more than 30 years ago. So, again, it is about the individual and choice. I chose to study English because I love it and I am passionate about it. That, for me, towers above opinions regarding the professionalism or seriousness of any field of study.
What were your most memorable moments as an undergraduate?
There were some moments I will not forget in a hurry; moments when I won some amount of money from a lecturer for providing the correct answer to some question. I remember when I was acknowledged in front of my classmates by lecturers for performing well on an academic test and the moment when I was given the ‘Best Graduating Student’ award by my department. These were very special moments for me.
Many graduates had one or two courses they dreaded as undergraduates. Which course did you dread the most and why was it complex for you?
That must be HIS 321 (Foreign Policy Analysis), a course I took at the Department of History and International Relations. The course lecturer usually held his classes at the time when we had another departmental lecture and there was little we could do about it. Even when we tried to attend his class, the noisy environment where the class was held, coupled with the peculiar concepts in the course that came across as alien to me, meant that I was in for a rough ride. Because I did not fully understand the course, it was difficult to prepare well for the examination and that made me fearful.
What did you do to excel in that course?
I had to constantly remind myself of the mantra I lived by, which is that ‘every course was meant to be aced’. That gave me the right mentality to prepare for the examination. I can remember I had to read at a friend’s place the night before the examination. The conversations we had over the course helped to put me at ease and successfully answer the examination questions.
What can undergraduates in the Nigerian university system learn about self-motivation?
Self-motivation is everything. It is the least a student must possess in school, more so in the Nigerian university system. The unstable nature of the system can rob you of hope and passion, but self-motivation must be sustained. During the 2020 long break occasioned by the (COVID-19) pandemic and strike that spanned over nine months, I held an online discussion class with a few of my course mates every day for at least eight of those months. During that time, we studied together and shared nuggets that kept our academic spirit alive. It was very encouraging to see that we had not lost it to the dysfunctional educational system and our efforts showed in our final results. So, in the face of setbacks, such as the one we had and are still having, it is important to be resilient and protect our will from cooling off.
What other things contributed to your success that you want to talk about?
Apart from the peace of mind that comes from having the full support of my family members who were willing to sacrifice everything to ensure I lacked nothing, I was taught by the best teachers. My lecturers, such as Dr Happiness Uduk, Dr Garvey Ufot, Dr Bernard Dickson, and many others prompted me to study hard and aspire for excellent results. And ultimately, I had the backing of the Almighty God, Jehovah.
You mentioned that your passion for English motivated you to study it at the university. What are the limitations you see in the profession at the moment?
In Nigeria, studying English does not always guarantee that you graduate knowing how to speak and write well. This is because the course is structured to emphasise competence in grammar more than the actual practical activities that teach rhetoric. I think this can be fixed if some components of phonological and compositional courses are made to be more practical and learner-centred.
Do you consider yourself lucky that you graduated before the commencement of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities?
Absolutely! After the 2020 protracted break, I did not wish to suffer any more breaks in my academic journey. It would have been very devastating if it had happened again, but I thank God it did not.
What do your friends who were caught in the web of the ongoing strike tell you?
Very unfortunately, I have friends who do not know for how much longer they will have to wait before the strike is called off. Many of them share their frustrations and tiredness over the sad situation. You know, when you listen to their concerns and consider the fact that the majority of them are stripped of the motivation to engage themselves rather than just sitting at home, you are moved to empathetically identify with their situation.
What do you currently do for a living?
Well, I am currently observing the compulsory national youth service.
Do you intend to teach at a university after national service?
Yes, I am passionate about teaching and mentoring. I would love a lecturing career, but that will be after my master’s and possibly, PhD by Jehovah’s grace. – Punch.
Share9Tweet6
Previous Post

ASUU rejects EKSU resumption order, UNIOSUN tackles union

Next Post

APC NWC members in marathon meeting with Tinubu

Related Posts

I contemplated suicide after DNA test revealed I’m not my father’s son – Ememobong Nyong
The Citizen Interview

I contemplated suicide after DNA test revealed I’m not my father’s son – Ememobong Nyong

September 16 2025
Why I left Nigeria to lead public health in US – Idaho varsity prof, Nnamdi Moeteke
The Citizen Interview

Why I left Nigeria to lead public health in US – Idaho varsity prof, Nnamdi Moeteke

July 27 2025
M.K.O: 66 Abiola’s ‘children’ failed DNA test, says Olalekan Abiola
The Citizen Interview

M.K.O: 66 Abiola’s ‘children’ failed DNA test, says Olalekan Abiola

June 29 2025
How border policemen raped us en route to Libya – Returnee
The Citizen Interview

How border policemen raped us en route to Libya – Returnee

June 28 2025
You can’t give students loans in a broken economy — ASUU President, Piwuna
The Citizen Interview

You can’t give students loans in a broken economy — ASUU President, Piwuna

June 1 2025
Nigeria one step away from authoritarian state – Politics don, Prof. Jinadu
The Citizen Interview

Nigeria one step away from authoritarian state – Politics don, Prof. Jinadu

May 11 2025
Next Post
2023: APC may lose presidential election to PDP if… – Adamu

APC NWC members in marathon meeting with Tinubu

State assemblies yet to consider LG autonomy bill – NULGE

States owe LG workers over N40bn – NULGE

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Rivers court adjourns hearing on LG poll legitimacy

Rivers court adjourns hearing on LG poll legitimacy

by The Editor
September 16 2025
0

...

Osun households get free food items

Osun League of Imams & Alfas urges Tinubu to intervene in LG withheld funds

by The Editor
August 27 2025
0

...

Withheld allocations: Osun State drags FG to Supreme Court

Withheld allocations: Osun State drags FG to Supreme Court

by The Editor
August 27 2025
0

...

APC begins campaigns for Rivers LG election

APC begins campaigns for Rivers LG election

by The Editor
August 14 2025
0

...

APPOINTMENTS

Benue govt threatens sanctions over unauthorised governor’s portrait

Benue Assembly okays Alia’s request for 10 more special advisers

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

...

Cross River gets new head of service

Cross River gets new head of service

by The Editor
September 17 2025
0

...

Police IG appoints Lagos PPRO, CSP Hundeyin, as new Force PRO

Police IG appoints Lagos PPRO, CSP Hundeyin, as new Force PRO

by The Editor
September 5 2025
0

...

NNPC Limited appoints new Corporate Communications, Relations Chiefs

NNPC Limited appoints new Corporate Communications, Relations Chiefs

by The Editor
September 3 2025
0

...

ODDITIES

Police clear Pastor Adefarasin of viral firearm allegation

Police clear Pastor Adefarasin of viral firearm allegation

by The Editor
September 17 2025
0

Japanese political party to install AI leader

Japanese political party to install AI leader

by The Editor
September 16 2025
0

Three patients die at AKTH as KEDCO cuts power over debt

Three patients die at AKTH as KEDCO cuts power over debt

by The Editor
September 16 2025
0

GLOBAL NEWS

Madagascar President fires government after Gen-Z protests

Madagascar President fires government after Gen-Z protests

by The Editor
September 30 2025
0

...

US gunman kills one, sets fire to Mormon Church

US gunman kills one, sets fire to Mormon Church

by The Editor
September 28 2025
0

...

Ebola death toll in Congo hits 502

Ebola outbreak in DR Congo claims 15 lives

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

...

Ukraine: Putin has let me down, says Trump as UK visit ends

Ukraine: Putin has let me down, says Trump as UK visit ends

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

...

EU proposes sanctions against Israel

EU proposes sanctions against Israel

by The Editor
September 17 2025
0

...

State of the States

Senator denies bill to rename Kaduna to Zazzau State

Kaduna State pays ₦72,000 minimum wage

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

...

Gov. Mbah designates Udi, Nkanu West, Nkanu East, Nsukka LGAs as urban areas

Miyetti Allah commends Enugu Govt over peaceful intervention in herders’ attack

by The Editor
September 16 2025
0

...

Land dispute claims 100 lives in Ebonyi communities

Ebonyi govt bans graduation ceremonies for nursery, primary schools

by The Editor
September 5 2025
0

...

Gov. Mbah revamps, upgrades Nigergas after 30-year dormancy

Gov. Mbah revamps, upgrades Nigergas after 30-year dormancy

by The Editor
August 29 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Widget Tab Post needs JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Judgments on election matters turning Nigeria’s democracy upside down – Jonathan

Nigeria @ 65: Jonathan urges Nigerians not to lose hope

October 1 2025
Kwara will not be haven for bandits – AbdulRazaq

Kwara will not be haven for bandits – AbdulRazaq

October 1 2025
Armed robbers kill ARISE TV anchor in Abuja

Doctors tried to resuscitate her, FCT CP speaks on Arise TV anchor’s death

October 1 2025
Supreme Court affirms Mbah as Enugu State Governor

Nigeria @ 65: Enugu gov urges optimism, unity

October 1 2025

EDITORIAL REVIEW

To make the Fourth Mainland Bridge dream come true – Guardian

To make the Fourth Mainland Bridge dream come true – Guardian

by The Editor
September 30 2025
0

Resolve pensioners’ agitation – Punch

Resolve pensioners’ agitation – Punch

by The Editor
September 30 2025
0

Africa is ripe for UN Security Council seats – Punch

Africa is ripe for UN Security Council seats – Punch

by The Editor
September 29 2025
0

Amnesty Int’l damning report on South-East killings – The Sun

Amnesty Int’l damning report on South-East killings – The Sun

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

Sen. Natasha debunks forged apology, vows to expose political oppression

End the Natasha impasse – Punch

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

Opinion

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

by The Editor
September 30 2025
0

...

Tinubu finds his own demons

Nigeria’s state of weakness

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

...

#ENDSARS: A wakeup call for Nigerian media

Passport hikes and burden of multiple means of identification crisis in Nigeria

by The Editor
September 16 2025
0

...

China is redefining global order

China is redefining global order

by The Editor
September 16 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Popular Post Widget need JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.