Master Fasanya Hamzat, is another indigene of Ikorodu in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, who graduated with First Class. He studied Sociology and graduated with 4.63 CGPA, at the recently held 24th Convocation ceremony of the Lagos State University (LASU).
He is not just a studious person, but a footballer who played in the institution’s team. He was also students’ sports administrator, while in LASU.
His online interview with Kunle Adelabu, Publisher/Reporter – in – Chief, THE IMPACT newspaper, is part of our coverage of the laudable feats achieved by students from Ikorodu Division, who just graduated from LASU, especially those that bagged First Class honours.
As a foremost news medium in the Division, we are not just celebrating them, but also using them as point of reference to other students from the division, that are still studying, to inspire them in emulating and learning from the young achievers. Hence, the need for this interviews to enable them share their experiences.
In this interview, Hamzat spoke about how he felt graduating with a First Class, factors that aided his feat, his extra-curricular activities and view on scholarship. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: What is it like to graduate with a distinction in your undergraduate programme, especially from LASU known for its high academic standard and discipline?
HAMZAT: It’s such a great and amazing feeling and I feel so proud of myself for being able to achieve this feat. It wasn’t an easy one, but all glory to God, and thanks to my family as well for being a source of motivation and inspiration to achieve this. LASU, as everyone knows, is known for its high standard in academics, so coming out with an amazing result like this, is all the assurances I need to know that I am ready to take on the real world and also know that I can excel anywhere I find myself around the globe.
THE IMPACT: How and what factors contributed to this feat?
HAMZAT: When it comes to talking about students graduating with first class, most people tend to see it as the achievement of that individual alone, but in the real sense of it, it will be very impossible for one person to achieve all that by self without support from other people. So, many factors contributed to this. The factors are kind of like uncountable because in achieving this, even the smallest of all details matters so much.
My Family is the number one factor, being the first child of the family, I knew from the very start that I have to lay a very good example for my younger ones, which they can follow and hope to emulate. The support and unconditional love that I did get from my family during the duration of my Bsc, was so massive that the only right way I think I can pay them back is to achieve the highest grade possible.
My group of friends as well contributed immensely to this success. We created a reading group and this group really helped in shaping my reading culture, and helped me understood things better as the group was made up of people with like-minds.
The feat would have been unachievable if I had lecturers that are hostile or not ready to teach. My lecturers are always ready to listen to the challenges I have in grasping what has been taught. They do it in the most relatable way and make things look so easy. My class had a level adviser (Dr Raji S.O), and he is a fatherly figure that pushed and spurred me on to always be better. His input to achieving this is something that I will never forget.
Engaging in extra-curricular activities as well played its own part too. I was a first team player for the university’s football team (LASU BLAZERS). Engaging in the training sessions and attaining physical fitness helped my mental sharpness and alertness, and also in some ways, traveling with the team for soccer competitions widened my exposure as well.
I also served as the Sports Director for my department in my 200 level, and to hold such position, your CGPA has to be on a certain level in order to pass the screening. From there, I went on to serve in the sports committee of the faculty and the university’s students’ union. To stay relevant in these settings, I had to ensure that my academic profile was at the top.
THE IMPACT: Looking back to when you first gained admission into LASU, till the day you wrote your final examination, did you ever feel that attaining First Class was impossible, at what point was that and why (if any)?
HAMZAT: Honestly, coming into the university, my aim and target was not even graduating with a first class. I came into the school with a mindset that l just want to graduate with my set. When I resumed at the university fully, I started hearing from my colleagues and the lecturers that students who fall within a certain range of CGPA, will at the end of the session, get withdrawn from the school. That laid the foundation of what I’ll call fear, in me, and I knew from that point onwards that I had to give it all I have so that I won’t be withdrawn from the school.
The thought that I don’t want to be withdrawn from the school had me attending all classes, staying up late at night to read and using the internet to get clearer understanding of what I’m learning. This was what the foundation that my first class achievement was built on. The first semester examination came and my GP was at 4.63 which meant I had a first class result. That was when it dawned on me that if I keep that energy going, then I could graduate with a first class.
From the second examination till my final examination, going to the exam hall, there was only one mindset that I had and that mindset was to be the very best that I can be. The only time I felt graduating with a first class was a myth and impossible was before I wrote my first semester examination, but after that, I always believed that it’s something that I can achieve and all glory be to God, for where we are today.
THE IMPACT: Did you benefit from any bursary or scholarship award (s) when you were an undergraduate, and how did that encourage you. Also, what is your view about such intervention(s)?
HAMZAT: I benefited from the Lagos State bursary, being an indigene of Ikorodu, but I didn’t get any scholarship. To me, the scholarship intervention is very key in helping outstanding students be able to focus more on their primary objective of academic excellence. Looking at it deeply, we can get to see that some students who are intellectually sound and intelligent are not reaching their full potentials in their academics because they have to worry about how to fend for themselves, some even engage in some menial jobs so as to be able to pay their tuition and other fees. It’s almost impossible to be able to attain their full potentials academically while having their attention divided.
I had support from my parents and other family members, so, it was easier for me to be able to focus on my academics. If I didn’t have them, I may not have been able to graduate with a first class, not because of lack of the mental capacity but simply because of the lack of financial backing as I have to start fending for myself, worrying about how to get my tuition paid, worrying about clothes, feeding and other basic needs.
So, to me, scholarship interventions for outstanding students, are very important to keep them on the right track, and also to encourage them to be the best they can be, not only in the academic field, but in other areas of their lives.
