In a remarkable achievement, Mrs. Deborah Iwalola Johnson-Opeseitan, a student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has broken a 61-year-old record in the Department of Zoology. She graduated with a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0, a feat never before accomplished in the department's history.

Mrs. Johnson-Opeseitan's journey to this academic milestone is an inspiring one. Speaking to The Sun Newspaper, she revealed that she initially pursued a Bachelor's degree in Botany at the University of Ibadan (UI) from 2004 to 2008, after her JAMB score fell short of the requirements for Medicine and Surgery, a field her parents had always envisioned for her. During her time at UI, she developed a keen interest in plant taxonomy and ethnobotany, finding purpose in identifying and understanding the uses of medicinal plant species.

After completing her NYSC in 2009, Mrs. Johnson-Opeseitan enrolled for a Master's degree in Public Health (Epidemiology) at the University of Ibadan. Her outstanding performance earned her a PhD grade, and she was invited to continue her studies towards a doctorate. However, she had to put her academic aspirations on hold due to marriage and family responsibilities.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent ASUU strike in 2021 presented an unexpected opportunity. With more time at home, Mrs. Johnson-Opeseitan decided to pursue another Master's degree, this time in Natural Resources Conservation. It was this pursuit that led her to UNILAG and ultimately to her groundbreaking achievement.

Initially, Mrs. Johnson-Opeseitan's goal was simply to attain a grade that would allow her to proceed directly to a PhD program without having to complete an M.Phil. However, as her first semester results began to come in, she noticed a consistent pattern of A's. Despite her initial disbelief, she maintained her high performance, even in challenging courses like Physiology, where she scored a 71, securing the perfect A she needed.

Her course leader confirmed that she is the first person to achieve a perfect CGPA of 5.0 at the Master's level in the 61-year history of the Department of Zoology at UNILAG. This accomplishment is a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and intellectual capabilities.