There is a sentiment many people attach to education courses these days that discourages prospective candidates from choosing them as first choice. Why did you choose a course in education? Was it by choice or was that what you had to ‘settle for’?
Actually I didn’t choose Integrated Science Education as my preferred course of study, but that was what I was given. I wanted to study medicine initially but because AdekunleAjasin doesn’t offer the course, I decided to study biochemistry. Fortunately, I was not given. At first, I tried to change the course to the one I preferred then, which was biochemistry but to no avail. Thank God I wasn’t able to change then, not only because of my grade now but because I enjoyed studying my course and I am proud to be an educationist.
People’s sentiment about education courses is not good, especially for our country. Educationists are the nation builders. Any nation that wants to develop must educate its citizens. The cause of the sentiment about education courses is the low reward attached to education profession. Therefore, I urge the government to review teachers’ salaries just like their other colleagues in other fields like medicine, law, and so on. If this is done, more people will come into education sector and this will go a long way to help the country develop and achieve its goals.
What informed your choice of Adekunle Ajasin University?
I got to know the school through my sister who studied there. When I wrote the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and my score couldn’t guarantee my admission to study medicine at LAUTECH, my sister who was schooling then at AAUA urged me to come to her school. She told me I could put in for post-UTME in her school even though I didn’t choose AAUA as my preferred choice; that they give opportunity to people like me to choose the school as other choice. Then I thought of giving it a trial. I wrote the test and passed; and I was given Integrated Science Education instead of biochemistry.
Is there anyone or anything in your background that you would say helped you achieve this outstanding result today?
A lot of people helped me. First is God Almighty, the giver of life and wisdom. My parents contributed a lot physically, and with their prayers. They always encouraged me to be focused in my studies and to always remember the child of whom I am. That statement did a lot in my academics, especially serving as check on everything I did. Also, the late Mrs. Deborah Awe contributed a lot to my success stories. She was my guardian before her demise. While alive, she always wanted me to be a good and hardworking person because she believed that is what could make someone successful. My family background also helped a lot to achieve this success because that is one thing that informed my decision to excel in my academics. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but I wanted one; so to have this, I have to excel in all things I do, especially in my academics.
Some enter University with their eyes on being the very best; others ‘stumble on’ that feat. What is the story for you? Is this ‘a dream come true’ or a pleasant surprise’?
It’s actually a dream come true. I have always dreamt of being the best. In fact, right from inception, I had always wanted to be the best in all things I’m involved in. After the first convocation I witnessed in the school, I began to dream of being the overall best of my set. Thank God, it’s now a reality.
How did you manage to prevent socialization and especially the addiction to social media from taking your eyes off the goal?
It is by God’s grace. Although you can call me a phone freak, I am never a social media freak, because when it comes to social media, I’m not too good. I find it difficult to chat for long periods; and I don’t make too many friends to always hang out with either. That doesn’t mean that I don’t socialize. In fact, I love networking (meeting new people) but I don’t go outing that much. I was even involved in school politics as a two-time honorable member of NUESA Students Representative Council (SRC) and was the caucus leader during my second term as an honorable in the house. As regards socialization or social media taking my eyes off my goal, that could not have happened because I was determined and ready to go extra miles just to achieve my goal.
Tell us about some challenges you experienced along the way, and how you overcame them.
Leading my class as the governor was one tricky challenge, but I never let the ego of being the governor get to my head. As the class governor, I chose to serve my mates than to be feeling too big. I also had challenges in terms of financing that I had to take up a part-time job in teaching just to feed myself and be able to afford some things. I would also help my mates do some petty works like assignments just to earn something. I thank God for sustaining me this far.
What do you plan to achieve next, and where would you want to see yourself, say, 10 years from now?
I plan to achieve something big, especially in academics. I plan to start something, further my studies and bag my Ph.D very soon. Ten years from now, I see myself as a successful entrepreneur, by which time I would have bagged my doctorate, by God’s grace.
and then