A brilliant Nigerian lady named Safiyyah Ismaeel, has emerged as the overall best graduating student of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Usman Danfodiyo University (UDUS), Sokoto.
She achieved this remarkable feat with an outstanding 4.91/5.00 cumulative grade point average, setting a new record as the highest CGPA ever recorded in the faculty’s history.
Her story reflects how clarity of purpose, consistency, and resilience can lead to remarkable results, even in the most competitive environments.
Safiyyah's Story and How She Did It
Safiyyah began her academic journey in 2020 with a clear sense of purpose. “I chose Pharmacy not because of pressure, but because I knew it would bring out my potential,” she shared.
Interestingly, she did not initially aim to become the best graduating student. Her goal evolved after she recorded a perfect CGPA in her first year. “I just wanted to be excellent. But when I had a 5.0 in 100 level, I set a goal to graduate with it,” she said.
Despite facing discouragement from people who believed her goal was unrealistic, Safiyyah shared in an interview that she stayed focused and refused to entertain negativity.
“People said it was not possible in this school, but I shut out the negativity.”
EXPLORE SCHOLARSHIPS
Throughout her five-year journey, she maintained exceptional consistency, emerging as the top student in almost every academic session. She emphasized that starting strong and staying consistent played a major role in her success.
“A strong beginning really helped me. Even when courses became challenging, my foundation carried me,” she said.
Her academic excellence earned her over 20 awards and recognitions, includingn Best Graduating Student in Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry,Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy and the Best Graduating Female Student Award.
Safiyyah also received multiple recognitions from professional bodies such as the Pharmaceutical Students Association and the Pharmaceutical Council. Despite her impressive achievements, Safiyyah attributed her success to faith.
“It was all Allah. Not by my power. There were others as good as me, but Allah favoured me,” she said. She maintained strong spiritual discipline throughout her studies, constantly seeking guidance and strength.
Safiyyah also expressed deep gratitude to the ASF Africa Scholarship, which supported her education from 200 level through her final year.
Looking ahead, she plans to pursue postgraduate studies (MSc/PhD) abroad, with a focus on advancing research in the pharmaceutical field.
Follow our Social Media Channels:
- WhatsApp: Scholarship Region WhatsApp
- Facebook: Scholars Region
- Twitter (X): @scholarsregion
- Telegram: Scholarship Region