Oseiga Praise Odafen is the best graduating medical student of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, for the 2023 set. In this interview by Saturday Tribune’s, Kehinde Adio, she shares the secret of her academic success and speaks on the Nigerian health sector, among others.
Tell us about yourself.
I am from Edo State. I attended Raberto Primary School in Abuja. I did my Junior secondary school at Cherry Field College and my senior secondary school at Nigerian Turkish International College, all in Abuja. I sat for the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2015 and had 5 A1s, 2 B3s, and 2 C4s.
I wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2015 and Bowen University offered me admission to study Medicine and Surgery.
I am also privileged to have a BSc in Human Anatomy before I opted for Medicine and Surgery. This is one of the advantages that students enjoy at Bowen University.
Why did you choose Bowen University?
My parents wanted me to study in a Nigerian private university because of issues with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and their prolonged strikes. Also, I was encouraged and motivated by my elder sister, Dr Odafen Salome, who studied Medicine at Bowen University.
What are your challenges during your study?
I battled with time management. Medicine is a very demanding course. I was into many extracurricular activities. At one point, I was not having enough time for myself and for my academics. I had to learn how to plan, prioritise, and strike a balance between my academics and my other extracurricular interests on campus.
Moreover, I overcame anxiety and the fear of failure by praying to God and speaking positively about myself. The prayers and words of affirmation I received from my friends and my family also helped.
In addition, the stress of studying medicine was a challenge. I had to learn how to allocate time to rest and eat well because I needed a healthy body to function. I learnt how to call for help from friends, roommates, family, lecturers, and senior colleagues.
What is the secret of your academic success?
God is the secret of my academic success. With how challenging medical school was, I ran to God a lot of times, and He never disappointed me. I was always attending lectures and clinical activities, reading books and lecture materials, and utilising online medical education applications.
Moreover, the generosity of my classmates to share academic information, my active involvement in group discussions, assistance from my senior colleagues, and the support from my friends and family helped.
In addition, I tried not to compare myself with anyone else. I had this mindset that the only person I had to be better than was my previous self. This helped me to work harder, learn from my mistakes, and aim higher.
Do you think you would have done as well if you had studied at the University of Ibadan or the University of Lagos?
I would have done well with God on my side, staying focused on the goal, adapting to the learning system over there, and applying my secrets to success.
How would you describe the student-lecturer relationship at Bowen University?
In terms of the lecturer-student relationship, Bowen offers a premium package. I cannot emphasise how much I benefited from my relationship with my lecturers in Bowen. It is very keen. They are approachable, friendly, kind, and dedicated to making sure we get things right — in academics and other areas of life.
The learning system generally fosters growth in one’s academics. We are taught by the best lecturers who are experts in their fields. The school often creates policies that favour students, and the curriculum aids us in building an expansive wealth of knowledge. Also, the students frequently form communities that cater to academic needs, as well as other needs.
How could brain drain be managed in Nigeria?
Brain drain could be minimised by improving the remuneration and catering to the welfare of healthcare workers. The workload doctors battle with is much compared to what they are paid. Also, practising in a hospital with no proper facilities or equipment or even basic needs like water or power supply can be discouraging. Making standard functioning facilities and equipment in hospitals available would go a long way in addressing brain drain. The government must invest more in the health sector and take proper care of doctors. There is no other way around it.
Unrelenting disease surveillance, continuous collaboration and alliance with international health agencies, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), and improving our health sector would also help.
What did you enjoy from your parents as a Bowen student?
I enjoyed much from my parents. My parents took care of my needs in school and made sure I did not lack anything. Whenever it came to my education, they went the extra mile. They also taught me the importance of books and made me love them. Right from childhood, reading was my hobby. My mum was one of my support systems in school. She would always call to pray for me, encourage me, and cheer me on. Lastly, they gave me elder siblings who acted as mentors, guided me, and inspired me.
What is your take on graduate unemployment?
I would advise universities to incorporate entrepreneurship programmes in their curriculum to help their students become analytical thinkers and solution providers to societal problems in ways that would help them create jobs. I would advise graduates not to be discouraged or opt for illegal means of employment. They should rather learn skills that have value in today’s world, such as coding, graphic designing, affiliate marketing, data analysis, copywriting, etc.
More importantly, the government should allocate enough funds to maintain the facilities in public universities. Fhey should also make sure there is prompt and sufficient remuneration for academic staff to minimise ASUU strikes and improve academic stability.
What are your dreams for Nigeria?
I have many dreams for the Nigerian health sector, but I’ll highlight a few. I hope that one day primary health care centres will be functional, effective, and adequately staffed to meet the healthcare needs of the people. I also hope that healthcare becomes affordable, accessible and available to everyone, that the lives of health workers are cherished and protected, and that there is harmony in the health workforce.
Lastly, I hope that there is an increase in the percentage of the national budget that goes into the health sector, like to at least 15 per cent, to achieve adequate funding for the sector.
What is your advice to university and other tertiary institution students?
I would advise them to trust God always because He knows the way. They should work hard, set goals, and have plans. They should take care of their health, keep the right company, learn how to ask for help, and never give up on themselves and their dreams.
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