With 4.91 CGPA, Khadijat Idowu has emerged the overall best graduating student for the 2021/2022 set of Babcock University, Ogun State. Idowu, who graduated from the Department of Sociology and Social Work, tells ENIOLA OYEMOLADE in this interview about her academic journey, how she was able to balance her academics with politics and extracurricular activities; the roles of social workers in the society, among others.
You recently graduated as the overall best student from Babcock University. What does this feat mean to you and how does it make you feel?
It was and still is overwhelming, I knew I was doing well but I didn’t realise I was doing this good. I feel so blessed and thankful to every single person who has directly or indirectly impacted me in this journey.
You studied social work as a course. Was this your choice or it was an accident?
I always knew I wanted to help people and I was in search of a career that would help me achieve that. Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy were in my top choices but I found Social Work more intriguing which was why I chose to study it. Studying Social Work was one of the best decisions I have ever made and I am thrilled to have such supportive parents who embraced my decision even when they had no idea what my course was about.
What is the social work department about?
Briefly, social work is all about providing needed resources for individuals, families, groups, communities and societies in order to live well-functioning lives. Social workers operate in different fields. We have different types of social workers such as medical social worker, mental health and substance abuse social worker, child and family social worker, gerontology social worker, forensic and criminal justice social worker, international social worker, community social worker, public health social worker, political social worker and so much more. The social work department at Babcock University not only provides us with needed academic resources but also has an exchange programme where students get to travel to the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) to gain more knowledge and better understand how social workers operate in full functioning multi-diverse societies.
At what point did it dawn on you that you might graduate as the overall best student of your set?
I would say seeing my final CGPA when the results were released made me have a good feeling I would graduate as the best in my department but I didn’t think that far of being the best overall in my set.
You finished with a 4.91 CGPA. Surely, you must have put a lot of effort into achieving this. Can you tell us some of them?
For me, it was really all about being determined in getting important things done; I would usually plan out my day with things I want to do on sticky notes and stick them to the back of my phone or on my notebook just so I can be constantly reminded to get them done. Also, being consistent about coursework and by this, I mean attending classes regularly, taking notes in class, getting assignments done on time, and then top it all with prayers.
What was your reading pattern like?
I did not have a definitive study pattern; this is why I would always take down notes during lectures because I rely heavily on those notes once I’m ready to start reading. Honestly, I’m not a fan of personal timetables; I understand it works for some but not for me.
You mentioned you were the vice president of your department and later the president and also the senate president. You also served in the premier council of student leaders at the university. Would it be right to say you have a thing for politics?
Yes, this is absolutely correct. Politics to me is about being accountable for the services you render to people who are counting on you to make that change they need in order to be the best versions of themselves. It is also to have an assurance that they are in a system that works.
You were also a member of a chapel drama club where you performed in stage plays. How were you able to combine all these with your academics?
“All work and no play….” I enjoyed participating in extracurricular because that’s where I get a break from coursework which helps to balance social life with academics.
Unlike how it is in other Western countries, social work is not really recognised in Nigeria. Why do you think this is so?
This is largely due to the fact that we have several unlicensed individuals who claim to be social workers without proper training and certifications. The government also has a huge role to play in this because a bill to enable proper licensing is yet to be passed.
What do you think the government or what is the government doing at the moment to salvage this situation?
The establishment of the Nigerian Institute of Social Work and the regulation of professional social work practice in Nigeria are the goals of our bill, which should be passed as soon as possible by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Assembly. This is to facilitate professional license to practice and ensure accountability.
What are some of the roles of a social worker and what are some of the qualities you think a social worker must have?
A social worker can assume roles such as being a case manager, an advocate, a counsellor, a broker, a researcher, an educator, or a facilitator in any organisation or treatment setting. There are several qualities but at the core are empathy, good communication, critical thinking, active listening, cultural competence, resiliency and self-awareness.
As a country, what do we stand to gain if we have enough social workers?
Social workers fight for social justice and help in policy making and implementation. Here in Nigeria our main vice is incompetent governance, but with the help of social workers in appropriate sectors, Nigeria will have a functioning system that promotes equity.
What is the next step for you?
The next step would be to get a master’s degree, practice professionally and have a fulfilling career.
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