Colette Offiong Bassey, a Nigerian woman, has made history by breaking a 44-year record at the University of Calabar. Colette achieved the distinction of becoming the first-ever first-class graduate of the Department of Linguistics and Communications Studies at the institution.
Colette, who was heavily pregnant at the time of her final exams, gave birth to a baby boy just a few days after completing her exams. The university confirmed in a statement that she is the only student to earn a first-class degree in Linguistics and Nigerian Languages during the 2018/2019 session, and the first in the history of the department dating back to 1977.
Colette expressed gratitude to God and her husband for their support in achieving her academic success, taking to Instagram to share her joy and thanking everyone who contributed to her achievement.
“I give all glory to God. I remember finishing exams on a certain Wednesday and giving birth that Saturday. It was one heck of a ride, but it ended in praise,” she wrote. Colette’s accomplishment is a source of inspiration and motivation to many, especially women pursuing higher education and breaking barriers in male-dominated fields.
