For the first time in its 40-year history since its establishment in 1984, Lagos State University (LASU) has produced its first graduate with a First Class Honours degree in History and International Studies.
The remarkable achievement was attained by 21-year-old Temitope Ayeobasan, whose results were officially approved by the university’s Senate in the early hours of Friday.
The announcement was made by Professor Adeyeri Olusegun, Head of the Department of History and International Studies, during an interview with Vanguard. Prof. Adeyeri expressed great pride in Ayeobasan’s accomplishment, noting that this was a historic moment for the department.
He said, “Ayeobasan Temitope has demonstrated exceptional resilience from her first year through to her final year. She truly deserves this recognition. This is the first time our department has achieved such a milestone since the university’s inception in 1984.”
When asked about the possibility of retaining Ayeobasan as part of the department’s faculty, Prof. Adeyeri remarked, “She is now an adult, and the decision to stay with us will depend on her. However, I am confident that wherever she chooses to go, she will need a mentor to guide her as she continues to advance in her career.”
Reflecting on her journey to this achievement, Ayeobasan shared that her original plan was to study law, but her passion for history grew over time. “I completed secondary school in 2020, and I am now 21 years old,” she said. “Initially, I had no intention of studying history. Due to certain circumstances, I decided to study it temporarily while awaiting a transfer to law. However, as time passed, I fell in love with the subject and chose to stay in the program.”
Despite her initial uncertainty about excelling in the field, Ayeobasan adhered to a personal philosophy that helped guide her: “Whatever’s worth doing at all is worth doing well.” She added, “At first, I wasn’t sure I would be able to achieve a First Class because history wasn’t my original choice, but I committed fully to it and gave my best effort.”
Speaking on the challenges she faced during her studies, Ayeobasan noted that most of the coursework in the department came naturally to her. However, she highlighted some difficulties along the way. “My biggest challenge was dealing with multiple exams scheduled on the same day. Another hurdle for me was enduring 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. classes, which I didn’t particularly enjoy.”
Ayeobasan believes that her success was largely due to her passion for the subject and her commitment to giving her all. “The key is to have a passion for what you do and to fully invest in it,” she said. “For me, studying was easy because I enjoyed it. In addition to using the notes provided by my lecturers, I made sure to create my own personal notes, which helped deepen my understanding.”
She credited her early academic efforts for her eventual success. “In my first and second years, I made a habit of reading ahead of exams, often weeks in advance. This made it easier to manage the pressure later on. It doesn’t necessarily get easier as you progress; you just get smarter at managing the challenges. I also made sure to build a strong academic foundation in my first two years, which I relied on as the courses became more difficult.”
Ayeobasan also acknowledged the role her friends played in her achievement. “I was fortunate to surround myself with the right people. My friends are incredibly supportive of my goals, and we all worked towards similar academic objectives. We motivated each other to do better, engaging in friendly academic competition each semester to see who performed best. Their support and encouragement were major factors in my success.”
