Staff, students who didn’t know me talked about my academic excellence in my presence —Aisha Ketso, best-graduating Sociology student, IBB varsity

<p>With a 4.81 CGPA, Aisha Ketso became the first female First Class graduate, the second First Class graduate, and also the best-graduating student of the Department of Sociology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University, Lapai, Niger State, for the 2020/2021 academic session. In this interview by YUSUF ABDULKADIR, she shares her success story.</p>, <p>How does being the first female First Class graduate of your department make you feel?</p>, <p>I am happy. It meant a lot to me and my family. I was able to utilise the knowledge impacted in me. This achievement meant that well-defined commitment, focus and persistence are tripods for self-actualisation.</p>, <p>How was growing up for you? Were you always topping your class from childhood?</p>, <p>Growing up was not flawless. However, I’ve always been my best and kept getting better.</p>, <p>Would you say you are in your dream profession?</p>, <p>No. Right from childhood, I had always wanted to study Law and still have a passion for it. However, I came in contact with Sociology and got so deep into it. So, I decided to give it a try. I got acquainted with Sociology during my IJMB programme in New Bussa, Niger State. I believe there is nothing one sets one’s mind on that is not achievable. As long as God is involved and you are determined, you will triumph. Alhamdulilah, as God will have it, here I am today.</p>, <p>When you realised you were topping your class, what did you do differently to maintain that position?</p>, <p>I did nothing differently. I knew I wouldn’t go below what I started with. I just kept doing my best and trusted my efforts.</p>, <p>When you were a child, were there times your parents coerced you into reading?</p>, <p>It has never happened. Reading has always been part of me right from my childhood. Growing up, reading and writing were my favourite hobbies. My parents knew this. So, I never need to be coerced into reading.</p>, <p>Could you capture your reaction the day you checked your result and realised you would eventually graduate with