Student bags first class after 17 carry-overs in previous course

The Internet was abuzz on Saturday after the story of a student, Hillary Agbo-Odeh, who graduated with flying colours against all the odds, went viral.

According to an online medium, Idoma Voice, 30-year-old Agbo-Odeh completed his Psychology programme in Benue State University with a first-class degree after no less than 17 failed courses as an undergraduate.

The Idoma native reportedly completed his secondary education in 2003 before applying for a pre-degree programme at BSU in 2005 with the hope of studying Medicine and Surgery.

Though Agbo-Odeh was said to have emerged as one of the best in the remedial programme that year, he was offered admission to study Physics instead.

It said, “In frustration, he took the plunge and settled with the Physics (programme) he was offered with little interest in the course. He struggled with the course due to lack of interest. It wasn’t surprising at all that he could not cope with studies as frustration and depression set in his academic pursuit.

“Agbo-Odeh was at his lowest ebb in his final year when his 300-level result was published. He was at the bottom of his class crawling with 17 carry-overs; he was placed on probation by the school authority. He became the subject of mockery in the school among his colleagues.

“Hilary came to a decision point: ‘Why stay here and be withdrawn?’ He told himself the hard truth, it was time to move forward regardless of the storms.”

The online medium added that Agbo-Odeh then picked a new form for the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board Exams and applied for Psychology, which he considered to be closely related to Medicine.

“By the second semester of his final year (as a Physics student), the JAMB admission (list) was out and he was admitted to study Psychology. Hence, he withdrew from the Physics Department and started a fresh academic journey in the department of Psychology.

“The young resilient Idoma boy from Ohimini, the worst student in Physics, with 17 carry-overs to his name, would graduate from the Psychology Department of the same university with a cumulative grade point average of 4.57.

“His outstanding performance broke many records in the university, including the pioneer first class in the Psychology Department since the university’s inception in 1992. He also became the overall best graduating student of the 14th and 15th combined convocation of BSU held on January 17, 2015. His exploits came with several rewards, he bagged seven academic awards including the Tony and Awele Elumelu Prize for Excellence.”