Igboanugo Annastatia, a young Nigerian student has accomplished an extraordinary academic journey, graduating with a first-class honours degree and a perfect GPA of 5.0/5.0 from Rostov State Medical University in Russia.
Annastatia’s academic excellence can be traced back to her secondary school days at Godfirst International Secondary School in Abia, where she achieved remarkable results in her WAEC with an impressive six As and three B2s in 2014. In 2015, she began her journey at Imo State University and, in her second year, decided to pursue a remarkable opportunity – the bilateral education agreement scholarship (BEA) between Russia and Nigeria to study General Medicine and Surgery in Russia.
Upon receiving the news of being accepted on a full scholarship to Rostov State Medical University, Annastatia was overwhelmed with joy and couldn’t contain her excitement. She had always dreamt of studying abroad and the scholarship provided her the means to achieve her dream.
Throughout her rigorous medical education, Annastatia dedicated herself to academic excellence. She meticulously studied 8-10 hours daily, spending most of her time between her university, her apartment, and church. Her unwavering commitment to success, coupled with her strong faith, kept her motivated to push through challenges.
One of the most significant hurdles she faced was the language barrier during her first year of medical school. Despite having completed a year of Russian language courses, Annastatia still struggled to comprehend certain medical concepts. However, her determination led her to watch medical YouTube videos, write copious notes, and undertake numerous translations from Russian to English to overcome this obstacle.
Annastatia credits her inspiration for her achievements to two remarkable individuals in her life. Firstly, her late father, Igboanugo Celestine, a successful businessman, emphasized the importance of education and continuously encouraged her to excel. Secondly, her secondary school director, Engr Gilbert Uche Madu, served as a brilliant role model and ignited her passion for learning through creative teaching methods.
Reflecting on her educational journey, Annastatia recalled an audacious moment when she confronted one of her teachers in Russia. Despite not yet being fluent in Russian, she knew she had passed a chemistry test that the teacher had failed her on. Trusting her instincts, she took her concern to the department head, leading to a revision of her grade and a transformation in her teacher’s attitude towards her.
To aspiring students, Annastatia’s advice is to hold a strong desire for excellence and persevere through challenges. She encourages students to never be deterred by failure, as each failure is an opportunity to grow and progress toward success.
