There has been an increase in enrolment in higher education once it was recognised that higher education was vital for Africa’s development. In Sub-Saharan Africa, enrolment on average currently still stands at roughly 11%, which is low compared to the global average of about 38%. Female participation has particularly improved but enrolment in science and technology areas remains low — said Goolam Mohamedbhai, former vice-chancellor of the University of Mauritius.
According to data available on Statista, “In the academic year 2018/2019, there were 1.8 million undergraduate students in Nigerian universities. About 790 thousand were female students, which accounted for around 44 percent of all students enrolled in undergraduate programs at Nigerian universities.”
Despite the increment of female participation in higher education, male have been championing as best-graduating students from Nigerian universities. But, the latest development reveals that females are changing the stereotype drastically. Their enrollment is still increasing as they are performing excellently in their fields of study.
Evidently, Zainab Olaide, a recent graduate of Biochemistry from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai, located in Niger state of Nigeria’s northcentral emerged as the best-graduating student with 4.70 Cummulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 grading system.
While speaking with this reporter, Zainab said she was motivated to chase first-class honor by a popular aphorism: What is worth doing, is worth doing well. “The quote motivates me to strive for excellence in Biochemistry, as I am passionate about contributing significantly to the public health sector. I was driven by the potential career opportunities that could lead to prestigious job opportunities and higher salaries in this competitive market. Additionally, I am motivated by the desire to make my parents proud.”
Despite that Zainab crossed many borders from the southern part of the country to study in the northern region, she gave it all her best to attain 4.40 GP in first-year, 4.65 CGPA for second-year, and 4.73 CGPA in her third-year of the four years course. “Achieving good grades gives me a sense of accomplishment, pride, and validation for my hard work and dedication. It also instills in me a sense of responsibility to continue excelling and serving as a role model for others,” she expressed.
“Academic performance is not determined by gender. Universal principles such as doggedness, resilience, and hard work, coupled with prayers, are essential to academic success. Anyone, regardless of gender, who adheres to these principles could excel in their studies. There are numerous resources available to aid anyone pursuing academic excellence. Success comes to those who diligently seek it, irrespective of gender,” Zainab asserted.
The story of Haleemah Hamzah is similar to Zainab’s, she emerged as the best-graduating student of Biochemistry with 4.87 CGPA from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), a 1975 public university located in the northwest of Nigeria. Her ambition from 100-level or first-year was to be among the top five best students of her department. Fortunately, she became the best-graduating student of her department (Biochemistry) and the entire faculty of chemical and life sciences for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Haleemah was able to bag first-class across her academic years; 4.82, 4.85, 4.90, and 4.87 in 100-level, 200-level, 300-level, and 400-level respectively. Moreso, her department produced seven first-class graduates for the 2022/2023 academic session in which six of them are females with only one male. Haleemah also emerged as the second overall best-graduating student of the entire institution as her CGPA (4.87) follows the follows the best-graduating student with 4.96 in the 2022/2023 academic session.
“In academics, everyone has the chance to be the best. I am of the opinion that female students can do better than males if only females are able to manage the stress and navigate the challenges while on campus, for every success comes with dedication and high level of commitment,” Haleemah maintained.
More Success Stories
Ms Aminat Yusuf made history with a perfect score of 5.0 CGPA as the best-ever graduate in the history of the 40-year-old Lagos State University. She is the best-graduating student for 2021/2022 set. She is the first Law graduate to make a perfect score in the history of Nigeria.
She was able to achieve this extraordinary feat despite the financial hardship she endured during her undergraduate study. She said she even survived on garri on many occasions.
Likewise at the 43rd convocation of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria held in January 2024, many females emerged as best-graduating students of their various faculties. They include; Ali Agnes, Faculty of Administration (CGPA 4.46); Joseph Lamusi, Faculty of Agriculture, (CGPA 4.88); Atuen Dorcas Edet, Faculty of Arts (CGPA 4.61); Sule Iye-oko Joy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (CGPA 4.68); Muhammad Hajara Tom, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, MBBS; Adebola Adesinmi Precious, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Human Physiology (CGPA 4.67); Afolabi Hafeezah Olamide, Faculty of Law, (CGPA 4.56); and Yusuf Sekinat Unekwu-Ojo, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, (CGPA 4.83).
Breaking More Legs
For the 2020/2021 academic session at UDUS, out of three first-class graduates produced by the Department of Energy and Applied Chemistry, Saidu Fauziya was the only female among them who bagged first-class honor with 4.52 CGPA. While for the following 2022/2023 academic session, six females bagged first-class honor from the department, they are: Bello Khalilat, Gana Jessica Yetu, Shuaib Medinat Adejoke, Ibraheem Khalilah Abiodun, Muhammad Zainab Zukogi, and Adebisi Blessing.
Out of the six, Bello Khalilat emerged as the best-graduating student with 4.85 CGPA. She said, “I am just one of those who believes in hard work and Tawakkul (Reliance on God), that was why the achievement came true.”
Khalilat added that her department is full of high performing students, so emerging as the best among them is a privilege that she is grateful to Allah for. “Females should focus on their studies and avoid distractions. A woman can also do well in academics like a man if she gives it what it takes,” she advised.
In December 2023, a 24-year-old graduate of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Sumayyah Abdallah, emerged best-graduating medical student for the 2022/2023 academic session and bagged twenty-three awards despite being a married woman.
Speaking, the best graduating student recalled how about 140 students started the academic journey in 2015 but only 79 were inducted into the medical profession as graduates.
What a man can do, a woman can do it better academically — Expert
An advocate of female education from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), an old university situated in the southern part of the country, Mrs Adeyanju Adedolapo believes that what a man can do, a woman can do it better academically and said results have been proofing it.
She said, “It is supposed to be a normal thing to see females excelling academically like the counterpart gender so far they put their hearts to it.” “In order to sustain female academic excellence, there should be nice rewards for them. This will motivate the females coming after them to work hard and do better.”
“If the female keeps pushing and working hard, universities will continue to produce female best-graduating students and the percentage will surge steadily. It’s observable that most ladies don’t want to be left behind their peers and they are working hard to be the best,” she asserted.