Mother of 2 breaks 61-year-old record of UNILAG, bags masters degree in Zoology with 5.00/5.00CGPA
Mother of 2 breaks 61-year-old record of UNILAG, bags masters degree in Zoology with 5.00/5.00CGPA
Mother of 2 breaks 61-year-old record of UNILAG, bags masters degree in Zoology with 5.00/5.00CGPA
Deborah Iwalola Johnson-Opeseitan, a mother of two, has made history at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) by graduating with a perfect 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in her master’s degree programme in Zoology (Natural Resources Conservation).
Her outstanding performance is the highest result ever scored since the inception of the department 61 years ago.
Deborah, a staff member of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), made headlines after her accomplishment was shared in the agency’s bulletin by its Director-General, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha.
“I would like to congratulate one of us, Deborah Johnson-Opeseitan, who completed her master’s programme in Natural Resources Conservation at the University of Lagos with a CGPA of 5.0. This accomplishment is commendable,” Mustapha said.
Reflecting on her achievement, Deborah shared in an interview with SUN NG her academic journey and experiences. Growing up, her parents wanted her to study Medicine and Surgery, and she also shared in that dream.
But as fate would have it, her score in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) did not meet the MBBS requirements, so she settled for a bachelor’s degree in Botany at the University of Ibadan, graduating in 2008.
Though the course was not her first choice, she grew to love it, especially the parts that connected her to the healing properties of nature. ”At least, if I can’t study Medicine, I should be able to identify medicinal plant species and know the use they can be put to,” she said.
After completing her national youth service in 2009, Deborah enrolled for a master’s in Public Health (Epidemiology) at the same university, where she again performed remarkably well, earning a result strong enough to pursue a PhD.
But life had other plans. Marriage came, then children, and her pursuit of a PhD was paused. Then came 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic causing a global lockdown and a long academic union strike in 2021, causing her life to be on hold once again.
It was during that time that she had the idea of returning to school for another master’s degree. Deborah decided to pursue another master’s degree, this time in Natural Resources Conservation at UNILAG.
For her, the decision was driven by one goal: to graduate with a PhD-grade performance and avoid the need for a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) before pursuing a doctorate.
From her first semester, she remained committed to her studies and maintained an A even in courses that were feared by many. One of such was a tough physiology course, but she was determined and scored a 71, the exact number she needed to secure an A.
Balancing academics with motherhood, a demanding job, and family responsibilities was not easy. Deborah often had to attend classes early in the morning, stay back for Saturday sessions, and return home late, with some household tasks falling behind.
She credited her husband and her boss at work for their unwavering support throughout the journey.
Looking back, Deborah says her return to school was not just about academics—it was a personal decision to prove that motherhood and career should not end one’s academic dreams.
For those hoping to follow in her footsteps, Deborah urges them to be diligent, committed, and to surround themselves with people who understand their journey. ”If you stay true to your goals, nothing will stop you from getting to the top,” she said/.
