LASU 2024 Overall Best Graduating Student Reveals How Failed Attempts At Studying Medicine Inspired Her Academic Feat

Nwosu Isioma Sybil, a Delta State indigene from the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science who emerged as overall best graduating student of the Lagos State University for the 2023/2024 Academic Session, has revealed how failed attempts at studying Medicine and Surgery, inspired her to achieve the academic feat of CGPA of 4.93points 

Sybil in her valedictory speech on Wednesday, during the 28th Convocation of the university, held inside the filled to capacity Buba Marwa Auditorium on its Ojo main-campus, said she was determined to become the best graduating student for the class 2024 set , after failing twice to secure admission to study "Medicine and Surgery "

She recalled writing Unified Tertiary Institutions Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board(JAMB) twice, chosing "Medicine and Surgery "as preferred course of study , first attempt at University of Ibadan and second attempt at the Lagos State University 

Sybil who was also a valedictorian in her Secondary School days in 2019, recalled the bitter experience of rewriting UTME to study "Medicine and Surgery" and become a Medical Doctor 

"My dream was to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ibadan, but I fell just two points short of the cut-off mark. News of my gap year spread like wildfire my secondary school and the whispers were loud "Why me?, How did this happen? I questioned myself over and over again. I thought I had failed in life"

"I eventually registered for JAMB . This time, I chose Lagos State University (LASU) as my first choice, again aiming for "Medicine and Surgery". However, when the admission list came out, I was offered Biochemistry - a course I had never heard of"

"My heart broke a second time. But as Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us," For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". LASU was where God wanted me to be "

She also shared the memory of her imagination of being among Medical Students during early days as undergraduate in the Department of Biochemistry 

"Even in my 100- level, I struggled to accept it . Every time I saw Medical Students, I pictured myself among them.I was convinced I would transfer to Medicine in the 200-level . But one day, during a Physics 102 class, our lecturer, Dr.Oseni , said something that changed my life 

She quoted the lecturer as saying " Some of you were not given your preferred course. But instead of lamenting, why not prove to the university that you deserve something even greater?"

"That statement stuck with me. Right there and then, I made a decision - I would become the Overall Best Graduating Student of LASU" , she declared 

Sybil was full of appreciation for her mother whom she described as her pillar of strength and final year project supervisors, Prof. Segun Adeola and Dr. K.O Amisu from the Microbiology Department, the past Heads of Biochemistry Department and current HOD, Dr. H.A Bankole and other lecturers and classmates for the academic feat achieved 

The Valedictorian who congratulated fellow members of class 2024 graduands to be proud of their respective academic successes and look forward to the future with great prospects, unveiled her future academic plan to pursue an MSC and a Ph.D abroad in Bioinformatics, Data Science 

Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello had earlier during the convocation, urged the graduands not see their various degrees as end in itself but rather be seen as means of using the already acquired knowledge and skills to make meaningful changes in the country 

"The ultimate goal is to use your knowledge and skill to drive meaningful change wherever you find yourselves"

"Our university has provided you with a solid foundation of knowledge, excellence, and discipline to actualize your God-given unique potentials. As you embark on this new chapter, I challenge you to write your own story the way you want it to be told; don't submit your future to the uncertainties of life, instead chat your own paths with precision", she charged them 

For the 28th Convocation of LASU, a total of  eleven thousand, nine hundred and seventeen (11,917 )students who had been found worthy in learning and character by the Senate of the university were awarded with Diplomas , First Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Master's Degrees while those for Ph.D will be done on Thursday 

Among the eight thousand, seven hundred and eleven (8,711) students who graduated with First Degrees programmes from the University on Wednesday, 192 came out with First Class honours, 3,076 with Second Class Upper Division, 4,397 with Second Class Lower Division, 990 with Third Class, and 39 with Pass while  the remaining 17 from the College of Medicine, graduated with  unclassified MBBS/BDS Degrees

For the Higher Degree Programmes, out of the 2,235 Postgraduate students,  graduating, 302 of them were awarded Postgraduate Diplomas as well as 1,132 Academic Masters degrees and 639 Professional Masters degrees

High point of the ceremony, included presentation of prizes to the outstanding graduands in various faculties 

The remaining 125 for Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degrees and 37 for Professional doctoral Degrees will be done during the grand-finale of the 2024 Convocation of the university on Thursday, April 10, 2025 inside the same auditorium by 10:00 am prompt, including two prominent Nigerians Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retired), Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA and Otunba Olufemi Pedro, former Deputy Governor of Lagos to be conferred Honorary Doctorate Degrees for their numerous contributions to the society and growth of LASU