Michelle Obama joins other dignitaries to celebrate Merrilyn Akpapuna, a Nigerian girl

The United States First Lady Michelle Obama joins other
dignitaries to celebrate Merrilyn Akpapuna, a Nigerian
girl that emerged the best graduating student at the
Dillard University, New Orleans, CHARLES ABAH reports
Like a giant masquerade in the market place, all eyes
were on 20-year-old Nigerian, Merrilyn Akpapuna, two
Saturdays ago at the Dillard University, New Orleans,
United States.
The Psychology graduate not only obtained the highest
academic honour Summa cumlaude (first class), she
also emerged the best graduating student in the ivory
tower. As the institution’s valedictorian, she was on the
same podium with the wife of the President, Michelle
Obama, during its convocation.
Interestingly, three other Nigerians joined Akpapuna in
the league of the best graduating students at the
university. The three salutatorians are Victor Ogburie,
Stephen Igwe, and Emole Anyadimgba. They also made
a first class in their chosen disciplines.
Besides, Akpapuna won two other awards for highest
academic achievements for the College of Arts and
Sciences and College of General Studies.
In an online interview with our correspondent, the
youngster says her success in the 155-year-old ivory
tower was not without some challenges.
She notes, “When I first got to Dillard, I had to learn the
differences in the spelling of certain words and adjust to
a new metric system. These constituted challenges but I
was able to overcome them by putting in extra time to
study. I also faced some difficulties due to the difference
in the education system. In Nigeria, the teaching system
follows the British pattern, which is different from the
system in the United States.
“However, despite these challenges, my cumulative
grade point average is 4.0/4.0. In other words, I made
an A in every course I took during my four years study in
the university.”
But her stay in the US and particularly in the university
was not all about academic work. She participated not
just in student politics but also in other activities that
affected humanity positively.
She adds, “My stay in the university was not all about
studying. I took time out for my social life and made a
great effort to ensure that my spiritual life did not
suffer. I was also a student activist and a leader. I was
the President of the African World Network Organisation
and Lead Fellow of the Melton Foundation.
“At Dillard also, some of my awards and recognitions
include the Daniel C. Thompson/Samuel Dubois Cook
Honours Programme, Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honour
Society, Dean’s List of Scholars, 1st Place for
exceptional work in Algebra Relay, National Institute of
Science, Beta Kappa Chi Honour Society, Alpha Kappa
Mu national Honour Society, and Psi Chi National
Honour Society.”
Again, for the youngster, her Dillard accomplishment is
not just by a mere stroke of fortune. Excellence seems
to be her middle name. Indeed, following her success at
the Management Education Training, Ikeja where she
took tutorials on Scholastic Aptitude Test, she received
full scholarship to study in the university.
Before then, the third daughter of a dental surgeon,
Emmanuel Akpapuna, had excelled in the West African
Secondary School Certificate Examination, coming tops
of her class at the Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls
Secondary School, Yaba, Lagos.
The Delta State-born psychologist enthuses, “Upon
graduating from secondary school, I took SAT classes in
Management Education Training in Ikeja. I decided to
come to the United States after I had received full
scholarship offer for my tuition, room and board. In fact,
I had scholarship all my four years in college.”
But being a female student, did she experience any case
of intimate harassment from her lecturers and fellow
students? Akpapuna, who says she wants to proceed
immediately to the Western Michigan University for her
graduate programme, says there was nothing of sort.
“Men did not disturb me on campus and no lecturer ever
asked me for intimate favours. Again, let me tell you, the
factors that brought about my success would have
remained the same even in Nigeria. So, I believe I would
have excelled in the same way if I had stayed in
Nigeria,” she says.
Advising younger Nigerians who might want to follow
her footsteps, she says, “Be ambitious and go for what
you want and do not let anything stop you. Realise that
there is time for everything. Set priorities and live by
them.”
Appraising the case of the Chibok pupils abducted by
the Boko Haram, Akpapuna describes the insurgents’
action as crazy.
“So, imagine 276 girls being abducted from a school in
the city you’re living. How crazy is that? How is it that
even after all this time, the government is still not able
to make a concrete and accurate public declaration of
what is being done to find the girls? This is very sad.
Nigeria is my home but I would be just as enraged if
this happened in any other part of the world.
“The terrorist organisation holding these girls has been
committing several horrifying acts, especially in the
Northern part of Nigeria, and nothing major has been
done to stop them. These acts by the Boko Haram have
been done to ostensibly stop western education, which
is said to oppose Islamic tradition.
“We may not be able to physically save these girls but
what we can do is talk. Our voice is our power and if
everyone is talking about this, we increase the likelihood
that something will be done about it,” she adds.
For 27-year-old Emole, who also obtained a first class
with a cumulative grade point average of 4.0, the Dillard
authorities also provided him full scholarship throughout
his stay in the university.
According to the Computer Science graduate, he
balanced his schooling with extra-curricular activities
and participation in collegiate organisations such as the
Rotaract Club and National Society of Black Engineers.
He adds, “I served in various leadership roles in the
organisations, and through these student organisations,
I learnt about community service and have been
afforded the opportunity to participate in many
community service projects. I also participated in some
undergraduate research projects, which I presented to
the school during my undergraduate research
competition. I emerged the first place.”
On why he chose to study Computer Science in the US
instead of Nigeria, Emole says there is no way one can
compare the academic environments of the two
countries.
He says, “Nigerian universities offer Computer Science
but it cannot be compared to what obtains in American
universities, which is why I decided to come to the
United States. Again, I came to the US on the platform
of a scholarship that covered my tuition, room and
board.”
The US First Lady, during the convocation, urged the
226 graduands of the university to contribute to
producing future geniuses.
“Imagine the impact you will make. You have no
excuses to stand on the sidelines. Education is still the
key to real and lasting freedom. It is up to us to
cultivate that hunger for education in those coming after
us.
“We got here today because of so many people who
toiled and sweated and bled and died for us; people
who never dreamt of getting a college education for
themselves but who worked and saved and sacrificed so
that we could be here today. We owe them. We owe
them. And the only way to pay back that debt is by
making those same kinds of sacrifices and investments
for the next generation,” Obama, who received an
honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the university,
said.