Why I stayed out of relationships in university – UNIPORT best graduate Victory Abanjo

Victory Abanjo, a brilliant student from Delta State, has emerged as the overall best graduating student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), achieving an impressive 4.89 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). In an exclusive interview with PUNCH, Abanjo shared the secret behind her academic success and her passion for counselling.

Abanjo attributes her achievement to hard work, consistency, and finding a study system that works for her. Unlike many of her peers, she discovered that studying alone was more effective for her than group studies. Her flexible study schedule allowed her to read at any time, often putting in solid three-hour study sessions with breaks in between.

Despite facing financial difficulties, especially in her first year, Abanjo found ways to cope. She started an online business, VTU airtime vending, which helped her earn rewards and fuel her academic pursuits. Her excellent performance in 200-level opened doors to cash rewards from well-meaning organizations.

Abanjo's passion for counselling led her to establish "The Talkspace," an initiative providing guidance to teenagers and young adults. Although still in its early stages, the project operates mainly on WhatsApp, organizing programs and inviting guest speakers to address pressing issues.

After her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year, Abanjo plans to fully establish The Talkspace as a standalone brand while pursuing a career in industrial psychology. Her vision is to create a safe space for young people to discuss their challenges freely.

Abanjo's advice to students aspiring to graduate with a first-class degree or emerge as the overall best graduating student is to have a clear goal, maintain focus, and work consistently towards achieving it. She emphasizes that success requires hard work and dedication but ultimately leads to rewarding results.

Abanjo notes that counselling is gradually gaining acceptance in Nigeria, particularly among the younger generation. However, she believes that more needs to be done to promote the importance of mental health and counselling in the country.