NOUN’s best graduating student: ‘I was once a drop-out’

Weekly Trust: How did you feel when you got to know that you were the best graduating student?Anthonia Okoye: Whao! I was very excited just like anybody. I give God Almighty all the glory. I can say it was such an exciting moment. I am delighted that God crowned my efforts and also assisted me […]

Weekly Trust: How did you feel when you got to know that you were the best graduating student?
Anthonia Okoye: Whao! I was very excited just like anybody. I give God Almighty all the glory. I can say it was such an exciting moment. I am delighted that God crowned my efforts and also assisted me not to disappoint my family, especially my husband, my children and other relatives. I’m so grateful to all.
WT: Many are wondering why it took you this long to embark onuniversity education and why the choice of an open and distancelearning school?
Okoye: Well, back in those days, after my primary and secondary schools, I secured admission to Yaba College of Technology (YabaTech) where I studied accounting. But it was a brief period. I call it a brief period because I couldn’t complete my programme before I opted out.
WT: Why did you opt out of YabaTech?
Okoye: It was one unfortunate incident that necessitated it. In those days; because I was very good in accounting, many students chose to be my friends. Because they were close to me, many of them do also sit close to me in the examination hall. So it happens that when I was writing my last paper, some of these students were copying my script and the invigilator caught them but I was also affected. Thereafter, I was punished with an extra semester but I had to quit because even the decision for an extra semester was not made on time. It took up to a semester before the school could come up with its decision of an extra semester. Before that however, I had lost hope so I decided not to return to the school.
Of course, I got several other admission offers thereafter, including the one from University of Lagos (UniLag) but because of financial constraints, I couldn’t proceed with any. I also got admission offer with University of Abuja before I got the one with National Open University (NOUN). It was my husband who helped me buy the admission forms and did all that was required to get past the registration stage.
WT: Weren’t you worried that you could have still settled for a conventional university rather than NOUN?
Okoye: Well, I think the mode of learning is quite interesting. The lecturers are not always there to guide you like in the case of conventional universities. But it is also an advantage in the sense that, it allows students to develop themselves and improve their skills. You study on your own and grow at your own speed.
WT: Once a drop-out, now best graduating student, in the course of your studies, were there no moments you were tormented by your situation?
Okoye: I had always known right form childhood that I am a child that is above average. I remember that between primary one and three, I never came in second position. I always came first. But you now finding yourself in such a terrible position, you can imagine how one will feels.
I felt terrible and I was down. But I thank God for my husband who stood by me and said to me: “Tonia, you can still do better than this.
This is all the plan of the devil.”
 WT: Are you into any work or trade?
Okoye: Yes, I am a fashionista.
WT: How many kids do you have?
Okoye: Five.
WT: How are you able to cope with the challenges on the home-front and your work and studies combined?
Okoye: Well, I will attribute the successes in combining all of these to the grace of Almighty God; then, the supportive roles played by my husband. Anytime we are to write examinations, my husband always takes on the role of a father and mother to our kids. My children too were quite supportive. They showed great understanding throughout the period of studying.
I must confess to you that it was not easy because on many occasions I had to combine so many things at the same time. For instance, because of my busy schedule sometimes, I may not be able to study for examination on time until about two days to examination. And even while studying, some of the children might just fall sick that I will need to abandon everything and will just have to take them to hospital. So, by and large, God has been faithful.
WT: In term of strategies applied while preparing for examinations, what will you say were the key things you did which helped you in preparing and writing examinations?
Okoye: Like I said in my valedictory speech; two of the books given to us by NOUN: Key Study Guide and Study Skills, proved very useful to me because they really helped me in managing my time. I remember that when we first started with NOUN, I could barely remember what we were taught in the lectures. I also remember that I did complain to my husband, telling him that it is as if I am very old now because I hardly remember what I have read. But when I picked up the Key Study Guide and I put myself in the position of a lady that I read about, Tracy and a guy, Ren.
Tracy was a married woman just like me while Ren was just a single guy. But Tracy was able to achieve all she set for herself to achieve because she was determined and judiciously allocated her time. So, I put myself in the shoes of Tracy and made a resolve that I would start doing more than I was doing for my studies. It actually paid off because I set for myself a goal and throughout my period in NOUN I can say that I was committed to that and made sure I achieved it by having the best result among the graduating students.
WT: You said you told your husband that you were very old. So, how old are you?
Okoye: 43 years.
WT: So does that mean you won’t be proceeding with further studies?
Okoye: Well, I believe this is just the beginning for me. I am 43 years old and I intend studying to doctoral level.
WT: All through the years you were studying in NOUN, was there any time you felt discouraged, especially with your age, time constraint and marriage?
Okoye: No. All through my years in NOUN, there was no time I felt frustrated or wanting to stop. As we speak, my first daughter is in SS2, and she does tell me just like my friends that “Mum, you are still intelligent, you can do it.” So, I go around with the determination of wanting to make my friends and relatives proud. There was no time I felt sad about my situation.
WT: What was your greatest challenge?
Okoye: My greatest challenge was how to manage my time as a student, a housewife, a mother and a business woman. My business particularly suffered because there was a time I just had to abandon everything and face the study squarely.
WT: Now you have been offered automatic job and you also have your business, will you be taking the NOUN offer and still continue with your trade?
Okoye: Absolutely yes!