In a groundbreaking achievement, Lagos State University (LASU) has produced its first graduate with a First Class Honours degree in History and International Studies since its establishment in 1984.
Temitope Ayeobasa, a 21-year-old student, was awarded the top honour by the university’s Senate on Friday, October 18, 2024.
Professor Adeyeri Olusegun, Head of the Department of History and International Studies, expressed his pride in Ayeobasa’s accomplishment, highlighting her dedication and resilience throughout her academic journey.
“Ayeobasan Temitope has shown resilience from her 100 level until now. She deserves it,” he said. “This is the first of its kind since this school was established in 1984.
“She’s an adult; whether she would want to be retained will depend on her. But I know for sure that wherever she goes, she will need a good mentor to help her advance.”
Ayeobasa, who initially planned to study law, discovered her passion for history while pursuing her undergraduate degree. Despite facing challenges, including a demanding course load and multiple exams on the same day, she remained determined to excel.
Ayeobasa said: “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.
“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 is worth doing at all is worth doing well,’ so I put my all into it.
“Most things in the department came easily to me, but I would say my greatest challenge was having to write multiple exams on the same day. Also, I ‘m not the biggest fan of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. classes, so that was another hurdle.
“I believe the greatest strategy is having a passion for what you do and deciding to invest your all into it. Reading was easy for me because I enjoyed it. Besides that, I ensured I had personal notes separate from those provided by my lecturers.
“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. I also built a solid foundation during my 100 and 200-level days in terms of my CGPA. As w advanced and things got tougher, I relied on that foundation.
Ayeobasa credited her friends for their support and encouragement, which played a vital role in her success.
“Lastly, I made the right friends. My friends are super supportive of my goals, and we all work towards the same objectives. They push me to do better, and we engage in healthy academic competition each semester to see who performs better. I would say they played a major role in my achievement of this feat.”
