I Never Envisioned a First-Class – Amarachi Ekeocha, LAW BGS

By Daniel Nnam, Ojo-Ami Eniayo, Serah Adetoyinbo, Oluwakemi Okeowo, and Idris Abiola

The chances of finding money in the back pocket of a forgotten piece of clothing during laundry are almost zero. But when it happens, you feel a rush of dopamine—a sudden burst of joy at this unexpected discovery. That feeling of stumbling upon something pleasurable without searching for it? That’s good fortune. This defines Amarachi Ekeocha’s journey as she emerged as the Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Ekeocha’s story is unconventional because achieving such a feat begins with “dreaming big.”

“I never even envisioned that I would come out with a first class because it was never a thing for me, to be honest. I didn’t even bother checking at some point because I thought I had dropped,” she admitted.

Despite not aspiring to graduate as the best in her faculty, Ekeocha approached her academics much like she approached life. Every session, course, and lecturer was a challenge she resolved to overcome. While others put themselves under immense pressure to graduate with first-class honours, Ekeocha focused on giving her best without pressuring herself—even though she knew her close friend Joshua was trailing just behind her in grades. Ekeocha and Joshua eventually finished with CGPAs of 4.63 and 4.62, respectively, a difference of just 0.01!

“I don’t think I work well under pressure. I think pressure would have made me even worse. Plus, it would have affected our friendship,” Ekeocha said when speaking of Joshua.

She never saw Joshua as a competitor but as an intelligent friend. Amusingly, his matriculation number was directly above hers, so she often saw his grades before hers.

“Over the years, I grew to know that this boy cannot tension me,” she said jokingly.

This doesn’t mean Ekeocha didn’t work hard. She described herself as a “studier” who spent most of her days in the library. 

“The library was my second house. When I wasn’t in class, my coursemates knew where to find me.”

As a Christian, she held firmly to the Bible verse: “Whatever your hands find to do, do it heartily as unto the Lord.” 

This verse guided her commitment to excellence, first for God, then for herself, and finally for her parents. She also described herself as a “sucker for diligence,” firmly believing that whatever a person’s hands find to do must be done well.

Her journey wasn’t without challenges. The COVID-19 lockdown, for instance, made it difficult for her to study from home due to inconsistent power supply and poor internet connectivity.

 “Electricity in my area was quite erratic at that time, and I think it reflected in my grades because year three was the session I struggled the most,” she recalled.

Year four also brought its hurdles, particularly a course titled “Land Law,” which is notorious for being difficult to pass. She and her friends decided to maintain a positive outlook and focus on their studies. Eventually, she finished with a B and an A in their respective semesters.

When Ekeocha wasn’t studying, she was likely researching, writing, reading self-help books, or listening to calm instrumentals. She also enjoyed spending time with her friends, integral to her academic journey. 

“We’ve been having tutorials together since year one. They’re a part of my life,” she said.

Her parents, too, were supportive and trusted her to excel. Interestingly, they only discovered she had been a first-class student in her final semester. Their joy was immeasurable when they learned she was the best graduating student.

For undergraduates aspiring to academic success, she advised,

“Start studying at the 100-level in the first semester. Study wisely and with the right set of people. Ask questions and read with directions. Don’t read to please yourself because you’re not marking your script. Read to please the person marking your script.”

Ekeocha is preparing for law school. Though unsure about her speciality, she is eager to explore her options. 

“I’d like to see where life will take me. I want to take on new challenges as a lawyer. I don’t know yet what I’ll specialise in, but whatever I do, I believe I’ll do it well.”