"I had my heart in Physics"- UNIABUJA best graduating student. (Read Interview)

The best graduating student of the University of Abuja, Felix Jimoh who graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.67, from the University's department of Physics. In this interview in which he spoke about his life on campus

What was your reaction when you heard of this feat?

Sincerely I didn’t expect it. I knew I had a first class in the department which is another testimony because the last first class in the department was in 2006, but to be the overall best student is amazing because I had expected the less difficult department to have the overall best student. I feel overwhelmed really; my shortest description of what is happening to me now is that God did it.

What did you do differently to emerge the best?

First my heart is in it. When I started, 100 level, and I told some people that I was studying Physics they asked if I was sure I knew what I was doing because the department is believed to be difficult. So I just tuned my ears off things because I have always wanted to be in the physics field. So my heart was really in it; what other people call difficult work I see as fun and I was willing to do more than most other people.

How were you able to manage your social life and studies?

My department is not that sociable in the sense that we don’t do lots of partying like others but within the department I found a girlfriend and we have been together for two years and one agreement we had was that for the relationship to continue our CGPA must increase every year.  I thank God that has been a reality - every year it always got better. 

Social life was there, we had our parties but that was at the graduation. So there was always a balance between socialising and study; but lots of study actually.

What is your plan after the NYSC year?

I want to do my Masters after the NYSC in Astrophysics in Harvard University and continue to PhD level. I hope to return to Nigeria and become very useful in helping to develop the field.

Would you consider an offer to lecture in the university?

You know sometimes plans do not go according to your way. That is an option I won’t rule out, but it is not my first choice.

What was your biggest challenge in your study days?

The challenge of logistics to get to lecture venues. For over four years, we were in the mini-campus with many lectures in the main campus. Getting to reach the main campus was tough; people jumped through the windows and when you come to class you are exhausted already because you fought to enter a bus. The vice chancellor now has provided buses that really help ease the situation. 

We did not have enough facilities but recently a new physics laboratory was built but it is not really equipped; but every student’s success hugely depends on ability more than the facilities or lecturers alone.

In 100 level, we had a six-month strike but I was always in school, using the library and I found some amazing books that helped.

What is your advice to students on toeing the success path?

First, your heart has to be there; if it is there anything that is required of you, you will put in. Secondly, find unique ways to study that appeal to you. For me I like to look for global relevance of what we have been taught in class, so after class I go online especially YouTube to watch videos of things that we have been taught and even illustrations, animations and foreign lectures. That made me appreciate it the more that what I was doing in class had a global significance. That also made me want to do more.

If you are intelligent and you are still having issues that means there is something you are not getting right so look for what is unique to you and put your heart there and success is inevitable.