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Since his emergence as the best graduating student of the University of Lagos in its last convocation, Olumuyiwa Sosina, 21, of the Department of Mathematics/Statistics, has been inundated with a series of job offers. But he is not keen at considering any of them. For now, his priority is to complete his mandatory National Youth Service Corps.

Sosina emerged the best student, having secured a cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.96 out of a possible 5.0. He was one of the 103 first class graduates produced for the first time by UNILAG. The Enginnering department produced 33 of the 103 students that bagged first class.

The graduate told one of our correspondents that he would neither consider himself a bookworm nor extra-ordinary. He said, "I am that kind of student that cannot engage in private study beyond two hours at a time. What I did was to keep to my time-table at the end of which I went about just like any other student."

Apart from academic activities while in school, the aspiring systems programmer revealed that he only participated in the activities of the local branch of the Deeper Life Bible Church on campus. One thing he regrets though was his flat-footedness on the dancing floor. He said, "I did not attend parties and that could be why I am not a good dancer. I wish I could dance better."

Sosina said he had had a series of offers from organisations since the convocation, but was not at the moment keen on taking up on any of them.

He, however, said he would consider returning to UNILAG for his master's programme, and probably go for his Doctorate and maybe consider a teaching job within the institution.

Though undecided about what ways to veer, Sosina, has a preference for work as a computer programmer. He has therefore enrolled for a foundation course in the programme.

Asked how he related with the opposite sex on campus, he said he had his own fair share of relationships, both with the opposite sex and male colleagues.

"Yes, I related well with others while on campus, including the females, but my relationship was platonic. There was nothing untoward, and we all liked and respected one another."

His advice to those coming behind was simple. "Face your studies and don't let distractions come between you and what you aim to achieve,'' he said.

Ubanabia Onuoha also graduated with First Class Award from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She was the only female student that got first class in the department.

The Abia State-born graduate, who grew up in Lagos, said it was yet the greatest achievement of her life and that it felt wonderful. She revealed that to attain the feat she reviewed and built upon her previous efforts every year and every day.

She also said she had received several job offers from multi-national corporations. "But I want to get set for the one year national service programme and hope to do a master's degree course, before considering any employment,'' she told our correspondent.

She said her civil-servant parents had been supporting her efforts. "They were totally supportive all the way, and I know I can always count on them. I am proud of them, and they are proud of me, and I am happy to bring them this great honour."

She advised those coming behind to have confidence in themselves, believe in themselves and do their best. "You never know how far you can go when you just put your best into everything you do," she said.

Also, the overall winner of best Ph.D thesis, Dr. Ayodele Elizabeth Omotayo, of the Department of Microbiology, observed that research was an important tool for the development of any nation.

She emerged the best doctoral graduate with her thesis, titled, "Enrichment and Molecular Characterisation of Atrazine-Degrading Actinomycetes Isolated from Polluted Nigerian Commercial Farmlands."

She said, " The developed countries are where they are today because of their investments in research. I want to implore my colleagues, who are graduating today to be self-reliant. We should not just seek white-collar jobs but create jobs where possible.''

Giving reasons for increase in the number of first class graduates this year, the Vice -Chancellor, UNILAG , Prof. Tolu Odugbemi, attributed the development to scholarship, direct teaching allowance and peace on the campus.

"So many factors could be responsible for this. But I think that the peaceful atmosphere that we have created, the improved teaching and learning conditions, exposure of students to the Internet through multiple inter-connectivity spots on campus must be partly responsible for this wonderful performance," he said.

Odugbemi noted that the university had enjoyed peace and unhindered academic calendar, following the riot embarked upon by students to protest irregular supply of electricity on campus in 2005.

"Without peace, there can be no progress. And since peace has been prevailing on the campus, we have unhindered academic calendar, our lecturers are doing a great job and the students are motivated to work harder. Now they have access to the Internet to do their assignments," he said.

He added that the Federal Government's direct teaching allowance to all the departments had been a good source of motivation for faculty members.

"The students are simply reacting to a conducive environment. It is not that students are not good, but sometimes when the environment is not friendly, they get discouraged and before you know it, they lose interest. But when you encourage them, they will be motivated to give their best."

Odugbemi said the lecturers too were motivated to give their best because they are now rewarded for good performance. "We encourage ourselves with the research fair and the publications of our research fair on our web site. So, as lecturers work harder and become a challenge to the students, so are the students."

He added that the scholarship scheme introduced by the immediate-past Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, Chief Afe Babalola, also contributed to the increasing number of first class graduates.

The scholarship scheme is for students that possess a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 at the end of an academic session, the indigent, distinguished sportsmen and women and those with leadership skills.

The Dean, Students Affairs, Prof. Dele Alonge, shared the VC's views. He said the number of first class graduates increased shortly after the scholarship scheme was introduced.

Some of the students, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said that the scholarship had engendered healthy competition among them.

"N50,000 is no small money, it helps in no small way in pursuance of one's academic programme and apart from that one is also entitled to accommodation, so I have been working hard to win the scholarship," a 200-Level student of Political Science who simply identified himself as Lanre said.