Josephine Adah, 22, has received a First Class degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, Enugu State.
Adah, who is from Cross River State, told newsmen that her love of mathematics as a child inspired her to pursue engineering, despite the fact that it is a male-dominated field.
She stated that the financial difficulties she had in school (having lost her father at a young age) did not deter her from pursuing a First Class degree at the prominent institution in Enugu.
“I faced financial challenges where I couldn’t afford some of my learning resources at school,” she explained. I am, nonetheless, grateful to senior colleagues and classmates who helped me with books. I created various small businesses and was given the National Merit Scholarship from NNPC/Total, which helped to alleviate my financial load.
“I also had limited access to electricity where I lived.” I am not generally as productive at home as I am at school. My learnings were frequently difficult when we were sent home from school due to ASUU’s industrial strikes because I couldn’t continue learning as much as I would like to with little or no access to electricity.”
She admitted that her academic achievement was influenced in part by her participation in professional organizations while at university.
“When I started school, I became involved in organizations such as the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN), the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), and the Association of Catholic Engineering Students (ACES).” These communities served as the foundation for my development. They fostered, supervised, and taught first-year students how to develop character, capacity, and resilience in order to achieve in postsecondary education.
“As my year of study progressed, I joined AIESEC, Student Personal Development Hub (SPDH), and the UNN Scholars Accelerators to develop leadership skills and civic engagement responsibilities,” she explained.
Adah said of her future goals, “I don’t have a big plan.” I always take small steps. I intend to obtain an entry-level position. I am interested in the fields of energy, technology (artificial intelligence research), construction, and management consulting.
“In addition, I am pursuing graduate studies in the intersection of Civil Engineering (Infrastructure and Energy) and Artificial Intelligence.” I am also devoted to assisting youth development organizations in their efforts to enhance quality education, clean energy, and sustainable cities.”
“The news (of the first-class result) came with a lot of gratitude rather than surprise,” she added. Gratitude, because being the first person in my family with a First Class and pursuing Engineering was a watershed moment for me. The news was applauded for encouraging females in STEM courses to feel that they can stand out in any situation.
“I could also sense the joy and excitement from family, mentors, and friends who contributed to my success by sending congratulatory messages.” The victory was a community victory.”
