28-Yr Old Lady, Aarinola, Breaks OAU’s 28-Yr Medical School Record, Clinches 12 Distinctions

28-year old Aarinola Olaiya has graduated with distinction and emerged the 2017 overall best student from the medical school of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Miss Olaiya broke 28 years record, after becoming the first person to graduate with distinction in Medicine from OAU since 1989.

Ife University Medical Students Association disclosed the superlative feats of Miss Olaiya via Twitter during the weekend.

“Aarinola Olaiya becomes the 1st Student in 28yrs to have a Distinction in Surgery at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, OAU, Ife. Congrats!” tweeted OAU Medical Students Association via its handle @IfumsaOau

John Owotade, now a professor, graduated with distinction in Dentistry in 1989. It is however not immediately known if Mr. Owotade’s 1989 achievement covered the whole College of Health Sciences, like Miss Olaiya’s in 2017. 

The President of the Medical Students Association told CAMPUS REPORTER he would check records to confirm when resumes on Monday.

“It is about determination, dedication and grace,” Miss Olaiya told CAMPUS REPORTER on Sunday. “I am happy!”

To earn overall distinction and become best graduating student, CAMPUS REPORTER gathered that, as OAU College of Health Sciences released the students’ final MBChB results, Miss Olaiya had grabbed distinctions in the following 12 courses:

• Part Three First MBChB Examination
  Distinction in Medical Biochemistry
  Medical Physiological Sciences.
• Part Four Second MBChB Examination
  Distinction in Pathology
  Distinction in Pharmacology
  Distinction in CLI
• Part five Third MBChB Examination
  Distinction in Dermatology and Venerology
  Distinction in Mental Health
  Distinction in Obestrics and Gynecology
• Part Six Final MBChB Examination Result
  Distinction in Surgery
  Distinction in Medicine
  Distinction in Community Health

Commenting on the young woman’s feat, one of her colleagues, Anthony Ifedigbo told CAMPUS REPORTER that Miss Olaiya had set pace for others and made everyone proud.

“She did very well because it takes grace to achieve such feat in college of health sciences,” said Mr. Ifedigbo. “We are proud of her.”

Another student, simply identified as Bimpe, said: “I know Aarinola very well. Although the going was tough but she became tougher to get going. I am happy for her. Whoever knows what this record means will definitely know that this beautiful young lady must have read her eyes out. It takes hard work to achieve great success in Great Ife”.

Miss Olaiya’s day of honour, alongside other students, is in December when is expected to hold this year’s convocation ceremony at the Amphi Theatre, the school’s architectural masterpiece.

About 17 prizes and awards await Miss Olaiya during the convocation ceremony, reports our correspondent who is familiar with OAU.