Phebe Oyine James: UNIABUJA Graduate Sets New Family Milestone with First-Class Honours
Before gaining admission to the University of Abuja, Phebe Oyine James received a clear mission from her father: to graduate with a first-class degree. For five years, she held steadfast to that instruction, aiming for nothing less than a 4.5 CGPA at the end of each semester.
Growing up as the fourth of five children in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Phebe was no stranger to the frequent power outages that shaped her community and mindset. It was this reality that inspired her final year Chemical Engineering research project, which focused on treating wastewater from the Gwagwalada abattoir while simultaneously generating electricity using a microbial fuel cell. This innovative approach tackled two pressing local issues: environmental pollution and electricity scarcity.
Her supervisor, Dr. Bala Isa Abdulkarim, an environmental engineering expert, immediately supported her ambitious project and stood by her through every challenge.
Phebe candidly described Chemical Engineering as the toughest branch of engineering, emphasizing the challenging leap she made from basic sciences to advanced core courses. While her friends and colleagues offered support, her unwavering personal standard—where “A” was the minimum grade—was the driving force behind her success. Her older sister, Favour James, stood as a pillar of encouragement throughout her journey.
When the results came in, Phebe’s parents were overwhelmed with emotion. She became the first person in her entire family, from both her mother’s and father’s sides, to graduate with first-class honours.
Reflecting on her achievement, Phebe expressed profound “gratitude to God.”
Crowned the overall best graduating student of the 2023/2024 academic session, Phebe remains determined to excel in all her future endeavors, continuing to set the bar high for herself and others to follow.