Ngozi James
18-year-old Isa Musa Salmanu has scored a remarkable A1 in all the nine subjects he sat for in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, emerging the best-graduating student of Premier Academy, Abuja in Nigeria.
The student had posted a remarkable result for the JAMB University Matriculation Exams where he got a total of 347 marks, the best such score in the history of the school. He scored 98 Chemistry, 97 in Physics, 84 in Mathematics and 68 in English.
The Premier Academy management has described his achievement as the best so far since the inception of the school.
Master Isa Musa Salmanu was born in Kaduna on 9 September 2005 to the family of Wing Commander Musa Salmanu (rtd). He hails from Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
He started his primary education at NAFOWA Little Angels School before moving on to complete and obtain his Primary School Leaving Certificate at DEPOWA Primary School, (Mogadishu Cantonment)Asokoro Abuja in 2016. In between he had a stint at the Macmillan International Academy, Montgomery, Alabama in the United States of America between 2014/5.
In America, he was in the Honorary Society where he was acknowledged as an outstanding student. In his sixth year in DEPOWA, Isa sat for the National Common Entrance organized by the National Examination Council (NECO) and emerged among the top 10 in his state. This got him shortlisted for an exam for the award of scholarship run by the Nigerian National Peteoleum Corporation/Shell Nigeria Peteoleum Company (NNPC/SNEPCO Cradle to Career Scholarships).
He passed and was one of the two students awarded the scholarship to study at the prestigious Premier Academy, Lugbe Abuja (PALA). At PALA isa distinguished himself always at the top of his class and representing the school in several competitions. This march to excellence saw him emerging the best graduating student of the college for the 2023 set where he won 7 academic awards in addition to being the valedictorian.
Musa, while expressimg his gratitude to Almighty Allah for bestowing upon him the success, disclosed that numerous factors propelled him towards this achievement.
“Setting personal milestones became a cornerstone of my journey, a commitment I pursued relentlessly. My friends have also played an instrumental role; collectively, we’ve nurtured each other’s growth across both academic and life spheres. I also give credit to the exceptional teachers at Premier Academy who consistently went above and beyond to ensure I grasped even the most challenging subjects”, he said.
Musa also disclosed how he has maintained a track record of high achievement throughout his educational journey. He said he has consistently ranked at the forefront of his class. Notably, wqs during his Primary 6 year, where he undertook the national common entrance examination and emerged successful after a rigorous selection process, securing a life-altering scholarship from NNPC/SNEPCO.
In his advise to individuals aspiring to replicate his level of accomplishment , Musa urged them to be grounded in perseverance and diligence; embrace seeking assistance as a strength and change their perspective on failure, but view it as a path to more growth.
Speaking further on his ambitions and aspirations for the future, Musa said, ” Despite my accomplishments, I believe my full potential remains untapped. I am eager to continue learning and exploring new hobbies, fostering personal growth. I would also like to travel the world, meet new people and experience different cultures.
“I intend to attend university, where I hope to pursue computer science as my course of study. My ultimate ambition is to attain a level of expertise that allows me to leverage technology for positive global impact.”
THE INTERVIEW
Journey to Excellence: A Conversation with Academic High-Achiever Salmanu Isa Musa
In the pursuit of excellence, we often find individuals whose dedication and accomplishments shine brightly as beacons of inspiration. Global Sentinel team had the privilege of sitting down with Salmanu Isa Musa, a remarkable young achiever whose academic journey has been marked by outstanding accomplishments and unwavering determination. From setting personal milestones to embracing the power of collaboration, Salmanu’s path to success is a testament to the values of perseverance and growth. In this interview, he graciously shares insights into his journey, offering guidance to aspiring individuals while revealing his ambitions for the future. Join us as we delve into the story behind Salmanu’s exceptional academic achievements and the factors that have fueled his remarkable success.
Congratulations on your outstanding academic achievements! Could you kindly shed light on the key factors that contributed to your remarkable success?
I am deeply grateful to Almighty Allah for bestowing upon me this success. Numerous factors have propelled me towards this achievement. Setting personal milestones became a cornerstone of my journey, a commitment I pursued relentlessly. My friends have also played an instrumental role; collectively, we’ve nurtured each other’s growth across both academic and life spheres. I also give credit to the exceptional teachers at Premier Academy who consistently went above and beyond to ensure I grasped even the most challenging subjects.
Have you consistently been a high-achieving student, or was there a specific turning point when you began excelling academically? If so, could you elaborate on that journey?
Absolutely, I have maintained a track record of high achievement throughout my educational journey. Since my primary school days, I have consistently ranked at the forefront of my class. Notably, during my Primary 6 year, I undertook the national common entrance examination and emerged successfully after a rigorous selection process, securing a life-altering scholarship from NNPC/SNEPCO.
What guidance would you offer to young individuals aspiring to replicate the level of accomplishment you’ve attained?
My counsel to them would be grounded in perseverance and diligence. Embrace seeking assistance as a strength and change your perspective on failure; view it as a path to more growth.
Could you share your ambitions and aspirations for the future? What do you envision achieving in your personal and academic pursuits?
Despite my accomplishments, I believe my full potential remains untapped. I am eager to continue learning and exploring new hobbies, fostering personal growth. Additionally, I would like to travel the world, meet new people, and experience different cultures.
As you look ahead, what are the upcoming steps or plans you intend to pursue in light of your exceptional academic performance?
I intend to attend university, where I hope to pursue computer science as my course of study. My ultimate ambition is to attain a level of expertise that allows me to leverage technology for a positive global impact.
How did your parents receive the news of your achievement? Was there any noteworthy guidance and advice?
As soon as I received the news, I called them, and as one would expect, they were extremely thrilled. I owe so much of this achievement to my parents. They have been steadfast pillars of support throughout the entire journey and have always provided me guidance. From a young age, they saw something in me and nurtured me, enabling me to reach my fullest potential. I’m glad that today I have made them proud, and I pray I continue to do so.