In an extraordinary academic achievement that has captured national attention, Lotechukwu Isioma Ikpo has made history as Bowen University's first-ever graduate to attain a perfect 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average. The 23-year-old economics prodigy from Delta and Ogun states, who grew up in Lagos, recently shared her remarkable educational journey in an exclusive interview.
The JUPEB Pathway to Success
Lotechukwu revealed that she gained admission into the prestigious private institution through the Joint Universities Preliminary Examination Board program. This alternative route became her saving grace after her initial admission to another university fell through. She explained, "It was actually a friend of the family who recommended Bowen University to me because of the JUPEB program. My admission to another university had just fallen through, and I was not about to remain at home for yet another year."
The determined scholar successfully completed the JUPEB program, which allowed her to enter Bowen University directly at 200-level without taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. This strategic move proved to be the foundation for her unprecedented academic success.
Academic Excellence and Leadership Balance
Despite her rigorous academic schedule, Lotechukwu actively participated in campus leadership roles throughout her final year. She served as General Secretary and Electoral Chairperson for the Nigerian Economics Students' Association and achieved the distinguished position of One-Day Registrar in her university's expanded management team initiative.
When asked about balancing leadership responsibilities with academic pursuits, she demonstrated remarkable time management skills. "Balancing this with my studies didn't pose much of a challenge," she stated, highlighting how she strategically managed each position without compromising her academic performance.
Study Techniques That Made History
Lotechukwu's approach to studying was uniquely tailored to her personal strengths and preferences. She emphasized the importance of understanding one's own learning style rather than copying others' methods. "I made sure never to copy other people's study methods or practices, like having study/accountability partners, studying at night/early morning, et cetera, because such things rarely ever work for me," she shared.
Her success formula included recognizing her peak productivity hours in the morning and early afternoon, maintaining an optimal study environment free from distractions, and adapting her approach based on course requirements and lecturer expectations.
The exceptional graduate also credited her spiritual faith, stating, "I credit my achievement to the Holy Spirit who taught me everything I needed to know, and granted me favour over the four years I spent in Bowen."
Recognition and Future Aspirations
For her historic achievement, Lotechukwu received substantial recognition from Bowen University, including a cash prize of ₦1,000,000 for being the best graduating student. She also earned multiple awards for being the best in her college, department of Economics, and several sponsored awards recognizing her as the Best Female and Best in Economics.
Looking toward the future, the economics graduate expressed excitement about the diverse opportunities available in her field. "Economics is a field full of a range of possibilities including research, public policy, business, professorship, finance and technology," she noted, while keeping her options open for potential international opportunities.
Lotechukwu's journey from JUPEB admission to making academic history serves as an inspiring testament to alternative educational pathways and personalized learning strategies in Nigeria's higher education landscape.
