UNICAL Law Graduate Shatters 10-Year First-Class Drought, Celebrates Historic Achievement
A law graduate from the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has made history by breaking a ten-year record in the institution's Faculty of Law. Victory Ogenekparobor expressed overwhelming joy as she finally received her first-class honours certificate in 2026, officially cementing her status as a top-performing graduate.
Decade-Long Record Broken
According to the graduate, she is thrilled to now be officially recognized as a first-class graduate of UNICAL's prestigious law faculty. She revealed that this achievement marks the end of a ten-year period during which no student had attained first-class honours in the faculty. "POV: I am officially a full fledged first-class graduate of Faculty of Law UNICAL!!! After 10 years," read the text overlaid on her celebratory TikTok video showing her proudly displaying her hard-earned certificate.
Clarifying the Timeline
Many social media users were initially confused by her "after 10 years" statement, particularly since she had celebrated her graduation in 2025. In response to queries in the comment section of her post, Victory provided crucial context. "My dear, the lecturers kept on victimising students, it was like a jugular in the faculty, it felt impossible to have a first class, but we broke it in my set, we had 4 first class graduates," she explained.
This clarification reveals that there had been no first-class graduates from UNICAL's Faculty of Law for an entire decade before Victory and three of her peers shattered this pattern. Her previous 2025 post celebrated completing her law degree after six years of study, while the 2026 celebration marks the official receipt of her certificate and the breaking of the long-standing academic record.
Social Media Celebration
The graduate's achievement sparked widespread celebration across social media platforms. Numerous users congratulated her on this remarkable accomplishment:
- Ekanem said: "Congratulations Torie❤️, you've always been that girl! More to come."
- Fay Fay❤️ commented: "Okay, this is how to slay. Congratulations."
- CALABAR TOPS & JOGGER VENDOR noted: "Emphasis on after 10years!!!! You did that girl."
- gifti212 added: "Congratulations senior colleague, your hard work finally paid off."
Broader Context of Nigerian University Challenges
This achievement comes against the backdrop of various challenges facing Nigerian university students. In a related development, another UNICAL student recently graduated six years after gaining admission to study mass communication, attributing the extended duration to COVID-19 disruptions and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes. These cases highlight the perseverance required by Nigerian students to complete their education amidst institutional and national challenges.
Victory Ogenekparobor's story represents not just personal academic excellence but also the breaking of institutional barriers that had persisted for a decade. Her achievement serves as inspiration to current and prospective law students across Nigeria, demonstrating that with determination and hard work, even long-standing academic records can be overcome.
