A young graduate from Babcock University has celebrated earning a first-class honours degree despite being told by a critic that her programme is not relevant in Nigeria. The lady, Christabel Ikegwuonu, took to her LinkedIn account to share a photo of her graduation alongside a detailed text to address the narrative surrounding her field of study.
Babcock Graduate Bags First-Class in Course Dismissed as Useless
Christabel revealed that she graduated with a first-class degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the institution. According to her, she had a conversation with an unnamed person who dismissed the career opportunities available for graduates of her specific discipline. The critic told her that her course is one of the most useless choices in Nigeria due to a lack of job opportunities in that field.
In her LinkedIn post, Christabel said: "I graduated with a First Class degree in the said-to-be 'most useless' course to study in Nigeria. My name is Christabel Ikegwuonu, and nine months ago, I graduated with a First Class degree in International Law and Diplomacy from Babcock University. Recently, I had a conversation with someone, and when I mentioned my degree, he said, 'Do you know that is one of the most useless courses to study in Nigeria right now because there are no job opportunities in that field?'"
Graduate Responds to Criticism
The first-class graduate disagreed with the assertion and explained that the relevance of any university programme depends entirely on the mindset of the student. She told him: "A course is only as useless as the mindset of the person who studied it. International Law and Diplomacy is not limited to embassies or government roles. It cuts across policy, international organizations, consulting, development work, media, and even corporate strategy."
She added: "Many people think International Relations is useless in Nigeria because the career paths are not always obvious and the system is not structured to absorb graduates directly. But in a world that is increasingly global and interconnected, the relevance of this field is only growing."
Reactions to the Graduate's Achievement
Legit.ng has compiled some reactions to the graduate's post below:
- Simisola Ajayi: "I love your response to that statement! It is only useless to who wants it to be."
- Victoria Orji: "ILD is not useless and this is what many fail to understand. You just have to be strategic, choose an area that sparks your interest and grow in it. Well done, Christabel."
- CHINAZA SYLVIA ENEM: "Very true, dear; no course is useless. We just have to create the right opportunities."
This story highlights the importance of perseverance and a positive mindset in overcoming societal stereotypes about certain academic disciplines. Christabel's achievement serves as an inspiration to students pursuing fields that are often undervalued in Nigeria.
