How a trader’s son overcame financial hardship, academic setbacks and persistent discouragement to graduate with a 4.72 CGPA
When Makata Emmanuel entered Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, he carried an ambition that would later place his name in the history of his department.
His goal was simple but ambitious: graduate with a First Class.
What he did not know at the time was that the department had never produced a First-Class graduate.
He also did not know that some of the people around him would repeatedly tell him that the feat was impossible.
Years later, Emmanuel has turned that “impossible” ambition into reality.
He graduated with a 4.72 CGPA, becoming, according to his account, the first First-Class graduate in his department.
For Emmanuel, however, the certificate represents much more than academic excellence. It represents years of sacrifice, discipline, financial prudence, resilience and an unwavering belief in his ability.
The Record He Was Told Could Not Be Broken
Emmanuel had already set his sights on a First Class before gaining admission.
But during his 100-level year, he learnt that no student had previously graduated with the highest academic classification in his department.
Rather than lowering his ambition, he saw the situation as a challenge.
The absence of a First-Class graduate meant there was no obvious precedent to follow.
For Emmanuel, that made the objective even more significant.
He wanted to become the person who would change the narrative.
Poverty Could Not Become an Excuse
Behind the academic achievement was a family struggling with limited financial resources.
Emmanuel came from a family of low-income traders. His parents could not always afford every resource that could make university education easier.
Laptops, academic materials and other educational needs sometimes presented serious financial challenges.
Yet, he refused to allow his circumstances determine his academic outcome.
His parents, he said, provided whatever they could despite their limitations.
In return, Emmanuel developed a strict financial discipline.
Every naira he received had to serve a purpose.
“I made use of every single penny they sent me judiciously,” he said.
The university library and virtual library became crucial alternatives whenever he could not afford certain academic resources.
Instead of focusing on what he lacked, he maximised what was available.
‘We Told You It Was Impossible’
Financial difficulty was only one part of Emmanuel’s battle.
The other was psychological.
He faced repeated discouragement from fellow students, including senior course mates, colleagues and, at different points, junior students.
They questioned his ambition and advised him not to put himself under unnecessary pressure trying to break a record they considered impossible.
The criticism became even louder when Emmanuel temporarily slipped from the First-Class range.
For those who had doubted him, the setback appeared to confirm their prediction.
According to Emmanuel, some reminded him that they had warned him from the beginning.
Others even suggested that departmental or faculty authorities might not approve a First-Class result if he eventually achieved it.
But rather than accept their doubts, Emmanuel chose to focus on what he could control.
The Semester That Changed Everything
The temporary decline in his academic standing became a major turning point.
Instead of giving up, Emmanuel returned to his books with greater determination.
In the following academic session, he recorded GPAs approaching 5.00.
The impressive results helped push his cumulative performance back into First-Class territory.
The comeback became one of the defining moments of his undergraduate journey.
It demonstrated to him that a setback did not necessarily mean the end of an ambition.
For Emmanuel, the response to failure was not surrender.
It was more work.
His Background Became His Fuel
One of the strongest motivations behind Emmanuel’s pursuit of excellence was his background.
He said looking back at where he came from made failure unacceptable.
His ambition was driven by a desire to succeed despite the circumstances surrounding his upbringing.
He adopted the philosophy that he had to work exceptionally hard to compete with people who already had advantages.
“I knew that in order to attain success, I had to be twice as good as the best,” he said.
That mindset became a personal standard throughout his undergraduate years.
He also wanted to leave a legacy.
Graduating with a First Class would mean becoming the first person from his department to achieve the feat.
That possibility of having his name permanently associated with the department’s history became another source of motivation.
He Chose Books Over Social Life
The achievement came at a cost.
Emmanuel sacrificed much of the social lifestyle associated with university life.
Parties and frequent social outings were not priorities for him.
His routine revolved largely around school, church and his residence.
When other students were sleeping, Emmanuel was often studying late into the night.
The library became one of his regular destinations.
So did lecture halls and the university chapel.
It was a deliberately structured lifestyle built around his academic objective.
Lecturers Became Part of His Success Story
Although Emmanuel’s determination was central to his achievement, he did not walk the journey alone.
He acknowledged the significant support he received from lecturers who encouraged him and recognised his academic potential.
Some gave him opportunities to participate in academic research, experiences he considered valuable for an undergraduate.
His lecturers also encouraged him during difficult periods and reminded him that the First-Class target remained achievable.
One of the notable opportunities came from his Dean of Faculty, Professor John Nibutagaba.
Emmanuel said the Dean gave him an opportunity to develop his leadership abilities by serving as an Electoral Officer representing his faculty during a Student Union election.
The experience gave him exposure beyond academics and contributed to his personal development.
Parents Who Gave Everything They Could
For Emmanuel, his parents remain among the most important figures behind his achievement.
Although they could not provide everything he might have wanted, they consistently provided what they could.
Their support, he said, made the journey possible.
He believes that without them, the road to graduation would have been considerably harder.
His First-Class achievement is therefore also a tribute to parents who supported their son despite financial limitations.
More Than Breaking a Record
Emmanuel’s achievement has significance beyond his personal academic record.
He believes he has opened a door for students who will come after him.
For years, First-Class graduation was viewed as an unlikely outcome within his department.
His success has now provided a real example that the feat can be achieved.
He described himself as being pleased to have broken what his friends and course mates referred to as an “iron curtain.”
His hope is that other students will now see the possibility of reaching the same academic height.
‘Keep Going’
Emmanuel’s message extends beyond university students.
He urged Nigerians pursuing their dreams not to abandon their ambitions because progress is slow or circumstances appear unfavourable.
According to him, consistency is one of the most important ingredients for achieving long-term success.
He believes people should remain committed to the right direction even when they are not progressing as quickly as they desire.
“Even if you are not moving at a faster pace, as long as you are moving on the right track and in the right direction, keep going,” he said.
For him, success may not always come immediately.
But dedication, discipline and consistency can eventually turn an ambitious dream into a measurable achievement.
A New Standard
Makata Emmanuel entered university determined to graduate with a First Class.
He encountered financial limitations.
He faced discouragement.
He experienced an academic setback.
Yet, none of these ultimately prevented him from achieving his objective.
With a 4.72 CGPA, Emmanuel has graduated with First-Class honours and, according to his account, become the first student in his department to do so.
His story is therefore not simply about a university result.
It is about challenging an established narrative, refusing to accept limitations and creating a new standard for those coming behind him.
What others described as impossible has now become a record.
And for the students who will follow, Emmanuel’s achievement has left behind something more valuable than a number on a transcript: proof that the barrier can be broken.