After years of striving for academic excellence, a young woman identified as Miss Oyeleye Lateefah Abiola emerged the overall best graduating student at the Kharkiv National University in Ukraine where she studied Medicine.
NAIJ.com recently had a chat with Miss Oyeleye, where she mentioned her background, her struggles and eventual outstanding success.
See details from the chat below:
Can you give us a brief rundown of your background?
My name is Oyeleye Lateefah Abiola. I am from Ibadan, Oyo state, I was born and raised there and I am from a very large family, number 7 out of 16 children.
Do you mind if we ask what your parents do for a living?
My Dad has a transporting company while my mum does buying and selling (a trader).
Miss Oyeleye Lateefah Abiola recently finished as the best graduating medical student from a Ukrainian university
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Can we get a brief rundown of your educational background?
For my primary education, I attended fountain private school in Ibadan. Secondary school jss1-3. I started at a public school, Moslem Grammar school, before transferring to Ad-din International college also in Ibadan, to complete my secondary education.
Then I moved on to study medicine at Osun state university, Osogbo campus, where I spent 3 years before we got transferred to Ukraine on a scholarship program by the Osun state Government in 2013.
I completed my medical education here in Ukraine at the VN karazin Kharkov National university.
At what point did you decide to apply for the scholarship that saw you continuing your studies abroad?
We were stagnating in the medical school of osun state university at the time, our medical school wasn't accredited. We needed a teaching hospital which was going to take time before one could be set up, so the government decided to transfer us here to complete our medical education. The decision was made in 2012, but we moved here in January 2013.
Lateefah posing in her lab coat
Are you planning on furthering your education? Maybe getting a Masters degree or even moving on to a PHD?
Actually I won't mind getting a Masters degree because I want to delve into academics, but in Medicine, I don't necessarily have to get a Masters degree to lecture.
Planning on becoming a lecturer?
I want to specialize in cardiology so if I become a consultant Cardiologist. I can lecture without a Masters degree. Since I plan to go into academics and I don't mind becoming a professor, I might eventually have to get a Masters degree. I am a work in progress and I plan to get to the peak of my career.
Were you the best graduating medical student in the school or the whole of Ukraine?
I am the best graduating student in my school, but I had the best result for the KROK 2 (medical licensing exam) which was taken in the whole of Ukraine.
Did you always know you would finish as the best graduating medical student?
I wouldn't say I knew I was going to but I knew with God by my side I was going to pass excellently because I put in a lot of work, I prepared so hard, I just wanted to be the best version of myself, and I thank God my efforts wasn't in vain.
Oyeleye Lateefah Abiola posing with some of her coursemates in Ukraine
At what point did it become clear that you would top the class eventually?
All through my years in the school, I had good grades and in our first professional exam in 3rd year, I had the second best result so I knew I could do it if I put in more efforts and discipline.
The exam took a new turn with our set and the pattern was changed. It became very difficult and a lot of us were even panicking but preparing for the exam, I read outside the scope of the exam, I watched a lot of lectures on YouTube, I revised and read all my notes from previous years. So I think that helped me a lot. So I knew having the best result wasn't beyond me I wasn't just sure.
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How did you avoid distractions in school, distraction from the boys etc? Did you have a boyfriend while you were a student?
Really boys? OK I think it's normal for guys to approach you as a lady but what is most important is to not get carried away by that, know your priority and make it a priority
My primary assignment here was to get an education, so that must be number one for me no matter what, other things should follow.
So it's safe to say you didn't have a boyfriend?
I think that's a very personal question, I will say I am in a relationship with God.
Lateefah posing with some of her coursemates
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What's your advice for admission seekers and undergraduates, especially those hoping to toe the path of success like you have just done?
I'd say about admission, be informed, get the right information about your school of choice and work with it. Concerning studying, know what works for you and put in a lot of hard work, self discipline is important. Have a study plan, and involve God, meaning pray.
By her actions, this young lady has set a standard and has become a shining example to both intending students and undergraduates.
Meanwhile, see how the British Council hosted some students who were outstanding while studying in the UK: