By Ikenna Nwokedi
The Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka has honoured and rewarded her first candidate first class product, Lilian Chiderah Mbagha.
Miss Mbagha who broke the record of becoming the first academic product of the Department to graduate with a First Class Honours was duly rewarded with a merit and cash award during the 11th Faculty Lecture Series of the Faculty of Agriculture held on Tuesday, 13th May, 2025 at the Faculty of Agriculture Hall.
The Faculty rewarded Miss Mbagha with a merit award while her Department under the leadership of Dr. Onyekachi Chukwu gave her the sum of N70,000 for emerging as the best graduating student with CGPA of 4.55 first class honours, an automatic internship placement with one of the department’s partner organizations and a partial scholarship for MSc program in the Department.
Reacting after the presentation, Miss Mbagha stated that her achievement still feels a bit surreal as there was no secret formula but instead was consistent in her studies recalling days of sleepless nights and also being prayerful.
Miss Mbagha stated that attaining a first class degree is possible for any student who is consistent and intentional by balancing academics and other activities. She eulogized her Head of Department, Dr. Chukwu for his leadership style and encouragement as well as her supervisor, Dr. Egwunatum and all who played a huge role in her successful journey.
An elated Head, Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Dr. Onyekachi Chukwu averred that it is a privilege for him as the head of a Department that graduated the first candidate with a first class which is the beginning of higher classes of degree results and a sign of student’s acceptance of the course which commenced with only one student 15 years ago.
Dr. Chukwu informed that the Department which is on the verge of kick-starting her Postgraduate program had for a long time established a reward system but this time, decided to make it more attractive by going beyond just issuance of certificate and awarding plaques to including cash prizes, postgraduate scholarship and internship opportunity.
The scholar while expressing hope that the reward packages would encourage her students to do better in their academic pursuit disclosed that the initiative were not just his but a cumulative achievement of his predecessors and the entire academic board members of the Department.
He also eulogized the immediate past HOD, Dr. Jacinta Ezenwenyi who presented the awards to Miss Mbagha for her role in the success story as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Cordelia Ebenebe for providing leadership that promotes excellence.
