Dr Belusochi Joe-Ikechebelu, who emerged as the best-graduating student during the recent convocation at Babcock University, Ogun State, tells IKENNA OBIANERI about her journey towards achieving the feat
Were you expecting a perfect cumulative grade point Average when you began your degree programme at the university?
My goal was to work hard and do my very best. I was not expecting a perfect CGPA, but I felt it would be a good feat. I am content with my performance, and I know that I did my best to come out with the best result.
To whom do you owe your success?
I owe my success to Almighty God, my parents, and my friends. My parents and siblings were there for me when I was overwhelmed, tired and exhausted. I had classmates that turned into a family; the struggles brought us together and we celebrated our successes together.
You are the daughter of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, Prof Joe Ikechebelu. How did your parents influence you academically?
My parents’ position put me on my toes. However, talking about my choice of career – Medicine, I can say it’s my choice, though not without the influence of my parents. I have been surrounded by Medicine for as long as I can remember. I thought about other courses, but Medicine was better economically as it provided better job security.
What was your performance like in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination?
I had one B in Civics and eight ‘A’s, all A1 in my West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
What was your study pattern as an undergraduate?
I found it very difficult to read at night because it doesn’t work for me. Once it is 10pm, I sleep most of the time and wake up between 3am and 4am to read. Just because everyone around you is reading till daybreak doesn’t mean you should, especially if you know it doesn’t work for you. Early morning reading is my style. I also tried to maximise every part of my day, especially dutifully taking notes during lectures and listening attentively.
Will you say your upbringing played any role in your academic excellence?
Yes, it did. My parents have always been pragmatic about our education, making sure that we receive the best. Seeing them still pursuing excellence at whatever stage they are, has served as a reminder to be the best wherever we find ourselves. It was my idea to study Medicine and I was encouraged by my parents who saw it as a very good option in Nigeria due to the job security it provides.
Why did you choose to attend a private university rather than a public one?
I wanted to study abroad and got admission into three universities in the United States of America to study Biological Sciences prelude to Medicine, but my father declined for reasons best known to him. I simply didn’t want to spend longer than I had to at the university. Private universities can guarantee my graduation date from my first year in school. I have been to private schools at primary and secondary levels and know that good private institutions have great qualities.
What was your university experience like as an undergraduate?
I will describe it as bitter-sweet. I made amazing friends that made my journey at Babcock everything that it was. And there were moments of wanting to pull my hair out. There were many rules that took a lot of time to get used to; some for your good and some, we did not understand why.
You have probably heard the comparison between graduates produced by private universities and those produced by public schools. What is your opinion on that?
It is difficult to have an opinion on that because I have not attended a public school to compare the systems. Babcock University offered me the very best education to compete globally, and I am confident in the skills and knowledge I have acquired from the lecturers and mentors.
What are some of the rules at the university?
There is a lot one should not be caught doing. The usual ones as seen on most campuses are, no smoking, no drinking, no sexual immorality, no indecent dressing, or public display of affection.
Were you a sociable person?
I will really say I tried to be a social person. I had friends but it was a really small circle of amazing people that I was glad to have found in my life. I also had friends who studied other courses that I met up with and we socialised. It was difficult for me to maintain many relationships on campus due to the volume of work in Medicine.
Were you involved in extracurricular activities?
Yes! I was part of the school’s badminton and football teams. I had other hobbies which included yoga, hand balancing, and contortion. They were very important to me as a source of recharge to be able to push through and get to the finish line. I am not an advocate of focusing on one’s academics only, not making time for anything else. It is important to create a healthy balance in all parts of your life.
Was there a time you ever felt like giving up?
A lot of times; it is the most common feeling in a medical student’s life where one just wonders whether he or she can drop out.
How did you handle such moments?
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Whenever I thought of it, I just told myself, ‘You’ve come too far now, you have to finish and finish strong’. The last two years were the most difficult as they tested every inch of my mental health. How did I handle it? I prayed to God for strength and received great parental support. Also, I took breaks when needed and kept going.
Medicine doesn’t have a ‘B’ grade. It is distinction, pass and fail and it is usually a cumulation of assessments and the final professional exam. I had two pass grades and eight distinction grades out of the 10 professional courses offered in medical school. I took 10 courses throughout my time in medical school. Right now, my favourite is Surgery because it’s very hands-on.
How did you manage to cope with the challenges in medical school?
In retrospect, the first two to three years passed by quicker than I could imagine. I was filled with excitement about learning the anatomy and physiology of the human body and others. Nevertheless, it was still hard. The most unsaid thing about Medicine, or maybe it’s said but doesn’t weigh in till one is studying the course, is the volume of information that one is expected to know. Why wouldn’t medical students always read? At one point, I got tired of constantly being in school and studying one course after another. But it was the point of no return; that degree has to be bagged!
I remember that, in my second or third year, I asked a senior with so much hope in my voice, ‘Does it get easier as you go higher?’ They said, ‘No, it doesn’t’. I was dumbfounded at their reply. What helped me cope was having other extracurricular activities. I was part of the school’s badminton and football teams. I had my other hobbies, and they were very important to me as a source of recharge to be able to push through and get to the finish line.
How did you manage the attention you received from men?
Medicine naturally shifted male attention away. Everyone knows medical students are super busy and barely have time. So, when they (men) found out that it was Medicine I was studying, they naturally pulled away because they knew I would not have much time. It made it easier.
What plans do you have for the future?
Right now, I’ll get started with housemanship. This seems to be the deciding factor for what speciality to pursue. Once I have made a decision on my speciality, I can start the work of becoming a specialist in my desired field. I like to think of myself as a reserved, self-willed, and determined person. My friends will describe me to be a very logical and goal-oriented person.
What was your toughest moment as an undergraduate?
The lockdown year, 2020; COVID-19 affected my studies much more than I would have thought. We were at home for six months, although we had online classes for most of it. It wasn’t the same anymore. I felt the passion for Medicine being sucked out of me. By the time we resumed, it was so hard mentally to commence learning again. This also happened to coincide with 500 levels, one of the longest years in medical school. I thank God for pulling me out of that rut on time before my major medical board exam.
Were there times people accused you of aiming for ‘perfection’ as an undergraduate?
I have naturally been a perfectionist for as long as I can remember. But as for being accused of it, no; I don’t think so. Friends around me supported and believed in me that I could do it. There were moments when I wanted to stop going after it, and just enjoy the rest of my school year but they were like ‘No! You wouldn’t want to have any regrets of not achieving what you always wanted’.
Do you have any interest in any of the specialised areas in Medicine? Why and how will Nigerian society benefit from it?
For now, I don’t have a specific interest. I am still counting on my housemanship to provide clarity as I will be rotating through all the specialities. After then, I will be able to benefit Nigerian society with my desired field.
Do you have mentors who have influenced you positively?
My mentors are my parents. They have been a solid rock and inspiration through every second of my journey. My lecturers from my university, who taught me excellently, poured every knowledge they gained from their years of experience into me so that I can excel as a doctor. I cannot wait to make them proud!
How did your family receive the news of your feat?
I had told them that I had got eight distinctions, but it wasn’t official yet that I would be the best-graduating student till the school said so. My parents were very happy, and I felt glad to have made them proud.
Did you have a target for each semester?
Our curriculum runs with yearly academic sessions. Yes, I had a target to do my very best in each continuous assessment so that by the final exam, it would be easier to reach my target score. It was a lot of dedication and hard work. I also remember that for every exam, I prayed for the best result, but I can say that it is more of my family’s fervent prayers that kept me going and picking the distinctions from one level to another. Also, I have this mindset that if it is worth your while, and if it’s important to you, give it your all.
Getting outstanding results requires hard work. What were the sacrifices you had to make to stay focused and consistent?
Usually, the most common sacrifice was social life, but I am not much of an extrovert. So, there was not much to sacrifice in the first place. I think the major sacrifice was the hours spent perfecting my understanding of Medicine. It’s gruelling and mentally tasking to say the least.
What is your view that doctors in the country are largely relocating abroad?
This to me is a result of a failing health system and loss of value for training received in the country; a country that doesn’t value its labour force. Everyone deserves good remuneration for his/her hard-earned training. Doctors are underpaid, under-resourced, overworked and under-protected. Looking at the budget allocation to the health sector alone will tell you that the Nigerian government has not given adequate priority to the healthcare system. About six per cent of the budget is allocated to the health sector instead of 15 per cent as advised by African Union. This poor budget allocation in turn leads to poorly resourced federal, state and local hospitals and understaffed, overworked and under-paid workers. If a doctor has to start a side hustle to survive in Nigeria, then there’s something wrong as Medicine itself is already demanding. The government has to do more for the health of the citizens by improving the welfare of the workforce and the work environment.
What awards and prizes did you receive from the university for your success?
I received the award for 2023 Best Graduating Medical Doctor of Orion VII Class, Benjamin S. Carson Medical School, Babcock University; 2023 Price for Best Medical Graduand, Distinction in Internal Medicine (2023), Distinction in Surgery (2023), Distinction in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2022), Distinction in Pathology (2020), Distinction in Pharmacology (2020), Distinction in Human Physiology (2019), Distinction in Human Anatomy (2019) and Distinction in Human Biochemistry (2019).
