Some are of the opinion that they are geniuses. Is that really true or is it a matter of hard work? comments pls.

They believe they are in competition with themselves. It motivates them to beat the odds.

I'm currently researching on this issue. I conducted an online survey with about 50 respondents, out of which less than 10 ( about 6) were 1st class. The distinct features about them was against popular views; 1. They're smart (they identify and utilize opportunities than the average student) 2. They're not necessarily 'intelligent' but are hardworking. The whole thing is that they don't always have the good cards (i.e intelligence) but are good players (they're smart and hardworking) NB: My findings are not concluded yet and i'm still working on getting more respondents

they are:
intelligent,
in competition with themselves or others
, they can't let their parents down,
they keep being motivated,
they take studies seriously,
they are smart

They have nothing better to do they put their whole life in education and only few become successful.

BenDanor:
they are:
intelligent,
in competition with themselves or others
, they can't let their parents down,
they keep being motivated,
they take studies seriously,
they are smart

Intelligent yes but smart? not necessarily they are just book smart and some lack the ability to logically analyse things.

falcon01:
Intelligent yes but smart? not necessarily they are just book smart and some lack the ability to logically analyse things.

You are right anyways. They may lack common sense but they are "book-smart"

Yeah, some are geniuses, most are good "crammers"..

Most Nigerian lecturers prefer "garbage in, garbage out" ..

For instance, if you write "the man has arrived" in the exam but "the man is here" is in their lecture notes, you'll score 0... No mercy.. No room for creativity.

Make I learn for here.

introvert2:
Some are of the opinion that they are geniuses. Is that really true or is it a matter of hard work? comments pls.

Well son, you don't have to be a genius to have First-class in a Nigerian university, in fact, most products of First-class are not geniuses.
The most brilliant student in a class most times doesn't end up being the best student.
Going a bit further, it also depends on the department and what it entails, school and some other factors (such as underground runs).
But then, going by your moniker @OP, since you're an introvert raised to the power of 2 (introvert2), you should be able to lock yourself inside the four walls of your room, for hours in reading your books. That's one of the cheat codes to have a first class, and it works all the time, except your villagers are shadowing you on 4D screen.

davidadeoluwa:
I'm currently researching on this issue. I conducted an online survey with about 50 respondents, out of which less than 10 ( about 6) were 1st class. The distinct features about them was against popular views; 1. They're smart (they identify and utilize opportunities than the average student) 2. They're not necessarily 'intelligent' but are hardworking. The whole thing is that they don't always have the good cards (i.e intelligence) but are good players (they're smart and hardworking) NB: My findings are not concluded yet and i'm still working on getting more respondents

You're almost very right but still, you don't have to be smart to have a First-class.
Having a first-class is more of hard work than intelligence or smartness.

Hard work in reading comes before any other thing. Intelligence and smartness are there to complement your hard work.
Reading and memorizing ability are prerequisites to scoring high in Nigeria.
No matter how smart you're, if you're too lazy in reading and memorizing, you'd be singing farewell to first class.
Ask medical students, no matter how brilliant you're, if you can't bury your head in your Keith Moore textbook for hours each day, just put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.
Reading and memorizing (a.k.a la cram la pour) is one of the pillars of having a good grade in a NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY.

Not that their more brilliant or intelligent than other students but they already know what we call WAY
Brief story back then in uni days there's this girl she's very brilliant if i go any further to explain how brilliant she is I'll exaggerate but she's too brilliant.
So one afternoon I went to one lecturers office the lecturer is a very jovial individual students go to his office and some even buy him something
So on entering his office I saw this brilliant girl she was the one crosschecking and marking the paper we did about some minutes ago.on seeing this I just smiled
So guy's put yourself in her shoe if you happen to be marking your own exam script in one of the highest grade subjects how will you score yourself?
And back then she mark for 2 to 3 other lecturers
Mind you she's brilliant so adding the two together one won't be too surprise if she come out with a 1st class

they go. the extra mile

Nothing ọ, just the brain and ability to recall in the exam hall.

It's not only by hours of reading, because I know of some mates who don't read much, at most three hrs a day and they hit 4.5.
Theres nothing like genius in the world. Just mastery of key essentials in a relevant field, either by luck, privileged information or repetitive processes especially reading past questions.

1. They read like hell
2. Attend both necessary and unecessary classes
3. See education beyond just passing exams
4. They're innately intelligent.

If you do 1,2,3 above and you're not innately intelligent, you're most likely to be frustrated.

They read a lot and understand a lot, unlike most of us.

Waiting for the elders in the game..

majority know what the lecturer wants Academically, and they Give it to them in the Exam halls.

But knowing what each lecturer wants, like knowing what another person likes Requires:
Hardwork (lots of it)
Diligence
Intelligence
And luck( here means, doing the right things at the right time with the right people)

Study and mindset
When you always have a picture of your goals, you have already started climbing the mountains

some get it through hard work, they put extra effort Just like Ronaldo.
while some are just gifted Like Messi.

in My department years back, we graduated 3 First class, one of them was the best graduating student that year, the least among the 3 made it by putting in extra effort while the other guys just relaxed and made it with ease, one of them did everything most students do, from Clubbing, Smoking, womanizing etc he was hyperactive and very social, many engineering lecturers are afraid of him because he doesnt ask questions neither does he parade himself as an alpha.

I had a drug addict cluber who equally had first Class

ok

I am honestly just beginning to understand..

They find genuine love in what they are studying, this love raises curiosity in them, this curiosity in turn makes them to go extra miles making relevant research on that course of study, that's why you will constantly find them in libraries or anywhere they will gain more insight.

Furthermore, they develop this attitude of not seeing class tests, exams as what they are in actual sense, rather they see them as practical real life problems that bothers in that field.

.

Firstly , they're intelligent.

Secondly , they're studious.

Thirdly , they're programmed and have study routine discipline.

Finally , they always want to supercede their previous performance.

They don't fuckkk in school

And In return school don't Bleep them

I think it depends on your level of intelligence , exposure , type of uni, nature of your department and your determination.

For me, I studied chemistry in a federal uni and trust me ehn, if you aspire to finish with a first class in that department, you must be ready to study for extended hours and cut off every other thing . Still, there is absolutely no guarantee cos the lecturers were harsh ASF. First class was not my target , I explored other departments and fields, made great friends and today , I work in a multinational tech firm as an engineer without an engineering cert.

Anyday anytime, I will pick alround versatility over first class in one field.

PS: I have met a handful of first class grads and I don't thinks they are geniuses. They are kinda very determined and love to study

All first class students don't socialize... They are too busy pursing CGPA... RUBBISH

Hardwork