How 24-year-old ‘genius’ bagged first class degree at Bayero University Kano

Despite the “many hiccups” he faced along the way, Omeiza Aliyu bagged a first class degree in mass communications at the Bayero University Kano (BUK).

Aliyu is said to be the third student to graduate with a first class in his faculty since it was established in 1975.

He joined Alhassan Doguwa, the chief whip, house of representatives, and Victor Olunloye, who bagged first class degrees in 1990 and 2010 respectively.

Aliyu graduated with a cumulative gross domestic average (CGPA) of 4.51.

A native of Kogi, Aliyu was born into the Dahiru Ohindase family at Okene Eba, Okene local government area of the state.

He told TheCable that his father died in 1999, leaving a vacuum for his mother to “start afresh in a world full uncertainty and was left under the tutelage of his mother”.

Aliyu, who has been described as a genius by his level coordinator, said he owes his academic success to God.

“I owe my success to God Almighty who has been my strength all this while,” Aliyu said.

“With all sense of humility, I believed God has destined me to be what I am today in fulfillment of His plans.

“I must admit it was tough, but through persistence, hard work and prayers, I was able to achieve my goal.

“It was really not easy because along the line there was so many hiccups and so many challenges, but with God’s help, I was able to overcome them.”

Omeiza told TheCable that “my mother has been my strength and the backbone that supported me all this while through my primary school, secondary and to the tertiary level, and Glory be to Allah for crowning her effort”.

Commenting on Omeiza’s academic feat, Ashir Ashir, his level coordinator, said: “I discovered him at the end of first semester exams of his level 100, when he posted 5.00 and had since monitored and mentored him till the end.

“Omeiza is highly intelligent, a bookworm, a genius that is highly conscious of his background and I’m not surprised he joined the exclusive class of mass communication graduates at the end of his programme.”