Behind every outstanding achievement is a story of determination, sacrifice, and consistency.

For Geraldine Ekor, that story culminated in a perfect 5.0 CGPA, earning her a place in the history of MiVA University, Nigeria’s first online private university, as one of the most accomplished graduates in the institution’s maiden convocation held recently in Lagos.

Geraldine, a Climate Change and Sustainability consultant, who strongly believes in leaving the world better than she met it; had her first degree in Microbiology from the University of Lagos before she enrolled for her MBA.

Speaking about her routine while her programme lasted, she said, “‎A typical day started with preparing for work and spending the day at the office.

“Most of my academic work happened outside my working hours. I studied after work, during my commute, or early in the morning before work. It required discipline and consistency because I had to fit my studies into every available gap in my schedule.”

Though Geraldine did not set out to achieve this first initially, her approach to her studies helped her make the impossible become a routine miracle.

According to her, becoming the overall best graduating student was never my goal. She had simply wanted to do her best and learn as much as she could; hence, hearing her name being mentioned as the top student of her class came as a pleasant and humbling surprise.

“I had to be intentional with my time. I studied in the evenings after work, late at night, early in the mornings, and sometimes even during my commute to work.

“The key was consistency. Even if I only had a short amount of time, I made sure I used it productively,” she…