4.72 CGPA: How Trader’s Son Became First-Class Trailblazer at Moses Orshio Adasu University

How Makata Emmanuel overcame financial constraints and an academic setback to make history in History and Strategic Studies

When Makata Emmanuel graduated from Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, in 2025, he left the institution with more than a university certificate.

He left behind a new academic benchmark.

The 2025 graduate of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, finished with a remarkable 4.72 CGPA.

According to his account, Emmanuel became the first student in his department to graduate with First-Class honours.

But behind the impressive figure lies a story of financial limitations, discipline, academic recovery and a determination that began before he entered the university.

An Ambition That Started Before Admission

Emmanuel entered the university with a clear academic objective.

He wanted to graduate with a First Class.

“Before coming, I had this objective to graduate with a First Class,” he said.

However, during his 100-level year, he learnt that no student had previously graduated with the highest academic classification in his department.

Rather than seeing the absence of a precedent as a reason to lower his ambition, Emmanuel viewed it as an opportunity.

He wanted to prove that the academic barrier could be crossed.

That ambition eventually became one of the defining features of his undergraduate journey.

Growing Up With Limited Resources

Emmanuel’s pursuit of academic excellence took place against a financially challenging background.

He came from a low-income trading family, where his parents had to work within limited resources to support his education.

There were times when obtaining laptops, academic materials and other learning resources presented difficulties.

However, Emmanuel said his parents consistently supported him with whatever they could afford.

He responded by developing a disciplined approach to managing the money he received.

“I made use of every single penny they sent me judiciously. I accounted for every single kobo and made sure every naira was wisely spent,” he explained.

The university’s physical and virtual libraries consequently became important parts of his academic strategy.

Rather than allowing financial limitations to determine his performance, Emmanuel focused on maximising the resources available to him.

When His First-Class Journey Hit a Roadblock

The journey towards a 4.72 CGPA was not without setbacks.

At one point, Emmanuel temporarily slipped from the First-Class range.

The development tested the ambition he had carried since entering the university.

Some of his course mates who knew about his First-Class target questioned whether he would eventually achieve it.

According to Emmanuel, some reminded him of their earlier concerns that the feat would be difficult.

“There were times they would tell me, ‘We told you this was impossible,’” he recalled.

The comments, however, did not become the conclusion of his story.

Instead, the setback forced Emmanuel to reassess his approach and increase his academic effort.

The Comeback

Emmanuel responded to the setback by returning to his studies with renewed determination.

In the following academic session, his performance improved significantly.

He recorded GPAs approaching 5.00, helping him recover lost ground and strengthen his cumulative academic standing.

The improvement eventually placed him firmly back on the First-Class path.

For Emmanuel, the experience reinforced the importance of resilience.

“I kept on grinding. I remained focused,” he said.

His academic journey therefore became less about maintaining a perfect run and more about recovering whenever challenges emerged.

Discipline Behind the 4.72 CGPA

The final result was also shaped by Emmanuel’s lifestyle.

He deliberately limited his social activities and focused much of his time on academics.

His routine largely revolved around his residence, the university and church.

The library, lecture halls and university chapel became familiar parts of his daily life.

He often studied late into the night while other students were asleep.

For Emmanuel, the First Class was not something that could be achieved through talent alone.

It required discipline, consistency and sacrifices throughout his undergraduate years.

The People Who Supported the Journey

Although Emmanuel’s determination remained central to his success, he acknowledged the role played by his lecturers and family.

Some lecturers gave him opportunities to participate in academic research, which he considered valuable experiences for an undergraduate.

He also received encouragement from lecturers who recognised his academic performance and supported his ambition.

Emmanuel specifically acknowledged his Dean of Faculty, Professor John Ebute Agaba, for giving him the opportunity to serve as an Electoral Officer representing his faculty during a Student Union election.

The leadership experience exposed him to responsibilities beyond the classroom and contributed to his personal development.

His Parents’ Sacrifice

For Emmanuel, his achievement cannot be separated from the sacrifices of his parents.

As traders operating within limited financial means, they could not provide everything he needed.

But he said they consistently gave him the support they could afford.

“My parents supported me the best way they could. I don’t know what I would have done without them,” he said.

His 2025 graduation therefore represents both a personal achievement and a reflection of the sacrifices his family made throughout his education.

Breaking the Barrier

The significance of Emmanuel’s achievement goes beyond the 4.72 CGPA.

According to his account, he became the first First-Class graduate produced by his department.

That means his achievement has created a precedent for future students of History and Strategic Studies.

What once appeared difficult now has a real example attached to it.

Emmanuel believes future students can build on that example and pursue the same academic standard.

Friends and course mates described his achievement as breaking an “iron curtain” that had existed around First-Class graduation in the department.

For Emmanuel, however, the greatest reward is the possibility that his achievement will inspire others.

‘Keep Going’

The lessons Emmanuel drew from university extend beyond academics.

He believes consistency remains essential for anyone pursuing a difficult goal.

His message is particularly directed at Nigerians who may feel discouraged by slow progress or difficult circumstances.

“There is nothing that is unachievable when you keep your mind to it,” he said.

He urged people to remain committed to their goals even when progress is slower than expected.

“Even if you are not moving at a faster pace, as long as you are moving on the right track and in the right direction, keep going,” he advised.

For Emmanuel, success is not necessarily about achieving everything quickly.

It is about remaining committed to the right direction until the desired result becomes possible.

From Ambition to Academic History

Makata Emmanuel entered Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University in pursuit of a First Class.

He did so without the financial advantages that could make university life easier.

He experienced an academic setback along the way.

He also encountered doubts about whether his ambition was achievable.

Yet, he remained committed to the goal.

In 2025, that commitment culminated in a 4.72 CGPA and First-Class honours.

According to his account, he also became the first First-Class graduate in the Department of History and Strategic Studies.

His story is ultimately about more than academic performance.

It is about what can happen when ambition is matched with discipline, resilience, sacrifice and consistency.

For the students who will follow him, Emmanuel has left behind more than a record.

He has left behind a precedent.