How I Bagged First Class Degree As Footballer - Akwa United Youngster

How I Bagged First Class Degree As Footballer - Akwa United Youngster

Precious Oham

Akwa United attacking midfielder, Paulinus Okon has revealed how he combined football and education to bag a First Class Honours, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Okon made history by becoming the first student to graduate with a First Class Honours in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in the faculty of Engineering from the University of Uyo.

Paulinus graduated with a Cumulative Grade Points Average CGPA of 4.50 and was awarded the 2021/2022 Best Graduating Student in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering during the institution's 29th/30th convocation ceremonies in Uyo.

In an exclusive interview with the club's website, Paulinus revealed that the journey to his academic achievement was rough and tough but his determination was the driving force behind his success.

 "The desire to play professional football has always been there but I didn't know it would be that challenging combining higher education with football. The pressure wasn't that much when I was in secondary school, but when I got admission into University,

"I realized that it was a different thing entirely. Having to attend football training sometimes twice a day and also attending lectures in school was very stressful. 

" I have been involved in an accident at least three times because of rushing to meet up with lectures. I have slept in class many times, and my colleagues usually make jest of me; even some of my lecturers told me that I was embarking on a suicide mission by trying to play football while also going to school.

"I still remember in my first year in school when I asked about the possibility of graduating with a First Class Honours, I was told that the department has never produced a First Class graduate since it was established, and even if someone makes

"First Class that I shouldn't dream of being that student because of combining education and football, but I have always believed in myself and I was determined to succeed. 

" I'm very happy and I thank God that all the hard."