Students in Nigerian universities have stories to tell, but hardly anyone to tell them to. For our new weekly series, Aluta and Chill, we are putting the spotlight on these students and their various campus experiences.

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Our subject this week is Martha Obike, who is in her fourth year, studying political science at University of Uyo. She shares her struggles with finding a place in a school and society that have a different idea of how her body should look like.

Why did you apply to study political science?

This wasn’t the original plan, actually. I applied for law but my scores didn’t meet the required cut-off. I had no choice but to take the supplementary form and go for political science which I got. I wasn’t so enthusiastic about it, but I gathered my stuff, left Aba, Abia State and made for Uyo. 

Was the lack of enthusiasm because you didn’t get Law?

Yes. One of the reasons I went for Uniuyo was because I heard they had a good law department. It sucked not to get it, but I had to get this university thing over with. 

Fair. How did you find Uniuyo?

It was very quiet and strange and the social life was almost non-existent. From the first days, I had an inkling that I might not fit in immediately. As I said, I got in after I applied for the supplementary form, and academic activities had already started before I resumed. I was practically the new kid on the block. The wildest thing about this was that the first semester exams were only three weeks away.

Wow.

God, the stress! I had to sort out all the paperwork and register for courses as fast as I could, and the system didn’t make it easy. I was being yelled at everywhere. At some point, I was ready to give it all up and defer my admission till the following year, but my mum talked me out of it. I sat for the exams, returned for the second semester when everyone did and wrote the exams too, and I didn’t do badly – I made a 2.1.

Did the stress reduce after that?

Not really, but I guess that’s how the Nigerian university system works. I couldn’t have totally avoided that. To be honest, the academic part of this university wasn’t even what weighed me down in my first two years. Settling in and finding my place here was what proved to be a herculean task.

What was that about?

I always knew some of the things here would be strange and require some getting used to, especially the food and language, and I was right. I could have managed if that was all, but the people here are also strange, and for some time, they got to me.

What happened?

It started with stares in my first year. I didn’t know what it was about me that called attention. But almost everywhere, people were looking at me with something close to pity in their eyes. I didn’t know what it was about until they started talking about it.

What were they talking about?

My body or the lack of it. The first set of people who talked about it to my face were girls from the hostel. They quizzed me about my physical appearance, asking me why I was skinny, as opposed to thick.

Uh, why was that a problem?

That’s the question I kept asking myself too. I realised that there is a stereotype that has been internalised here —  the women have to be thick. And that discovery made me question my place here; I didn’t fit into the standard. 

How did you feel about that?

Terrible. It was as though I was under scrutiny. These people questioned everything I did —  my lifestyle. To them, I was not eating enough and it was a shame that I didn’t have all the physical attributes they had. I got this treatment everywhere in school — the hostel, classes, and most of the places I went to. I just couldn’t get a break.

Was it the regular banter or it’d crossed the line to bullying and body-shaming?

At first, I thought it was pure jokes. And I like to think that I have a sense of humour, so I didn’t pay attention to it. Then I started dealing with people who told me to stick to wearing trousers because skirts didn’t look good on me. Or about how I wouldn’t be able to handle sex, being skinny and all.

These experiences weren’t a one-time thing, and when they persisted, I didn’t feel safe and comfortable in my body. That complicated a lot of things for me.

What do you mean?

This sort of thing makes you lose control. And when you lose control over such an integral part of yourself like your body, you start to make decisions that eventually take their toll on you. 

Oh my! What did you do?

Well, I went on this eating spree; I ate everything I could find just so I could add more flesh, get some curves and break free from the clutches of social ridicule I was subjected to. You would think that was all I put myself through, but it wasn’t.

It wasn’t?

No, man. I started doing squats. No pain, no gain, right? I did that for a few months, but it didn’t work. When the exhaustion hit, I knew to stop. I couldn’t kill myself. 

Did you try talking to them?

I couldn’t make them stop; if I confronted them, they would dismiss my concerns or even get defensive. I couldn’t do anything about it. I was completely and utterly helpless. 

So it became psychological?

Sort of. My confidence and self-esteem were in shambles – like really low. At this point, I was certain that I was imperfect, and no matter how hard I tried, there was no way I was going to fit in. And it affected my relationships with many people, especially my friends who partook in this. Do you want to know the most painful thing about all of this?

Sure thing.

The bulk of the body-shaming came from girls. You would think that girls should understand how damaging this is, but nah. God, I was so resentful.

Do you still feel that way?

No. I had to take care of myself eventually – mental health inclusive. I needed my peace of mind, and I wasn’t going to get it if I held on to that kind of anger. What mattered the most was to learn how to love my body, be at peace with myself, forgive people and move on. I made this resolution towards the end of my second year.

What was the process like?

I started a blog where I wrote about my struggles with body image, among other things, and by a stroke of sheer luck, I got a lot of responses, most of which were positives. That did a lot for me. I remember a guy reached out to me on Facebook and told me he understood what I was going through and that there was nothing wrong with my body. Not that I needed the validation, but it helped. There were other positives like that. I’m glad I wrote about it. Writing can be so therapeutic. 

Right!

It started to get better in 300 level, and I haven’t slowed down or looked back since then.

Sorry you had to go through that. 

It’s fine. I’m here now, living my best life. Hehe.

Did this experience have any effect on your grades?

Not exactly. I kept to my normal routine; I went for lectures and did every other student thing. Nobody would have guessed that something was wrong with me. I did a good job of concealing my troubles. The realisation only hits when I’m back home and alone with my thoughts. Despite everything, my grades didn’t falter. I’m still holding on to my precious 2.1.

It’s lit that you moved beyond that. Now, what do you think about the physical standards people expect women to aspire to?

It’s pure bullshit. Nobody has control over how they look. The need to fit into these standards explain the insecurities girls have over their bodies, and they go into a fit, finding coping mechanisms to help them feel better about themselves. There is really a lot of unlearning to do to get rid of this body-shaming culture.

 What have you made of the whole experience and how do you think it will help you going forward?

Well,  I know that not everybody will like me for who I am, and it’s up to me to do that and cling on to every shred of my sanity. Now, I derive some joy from the little things – like the tall trees lining the sidewalks of the school, and how it’s pleasurable to take walks past them in the evening, especially when students from the music department are practising.

The most amazing thing about this is how I have learned to move on as fast as I can from any unrealistic social construct designed to bring me down. We continue to move.

Can’t get enough Aluta and Chill? Check back every Thursday at noon for a new episode. Find other stories in the series here.

Students in Nigerian universities have stories to tell, but hardly anyone to tell them to. For our new weekly series, Aluta and Chill, we are putting the spotlight on these students and their various campus experiences.

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Our subject for this week is Bakare Emmanuel, who recently wrote his final exams as an Electrical Engineering student of UNILAG. After realising the limitations of the public school educational system in Nigeria, he decided to take matters into his own hand.

When did you start university?

2014. My dad made the decision — school and course, and I was cool with it for the most part. Do you want to know why he decided on UNILAG?

Sure.

They didn’t want me to go far away from home.

Haha. Of course.

So, I can’t relate when people say they used university as an opportunity to explore and possibly get a break from their parents.

What was your first year like?

I spent most of my first year studying. I had things to prove to myself, and it kind of paid off. I had a 5.0 GPA in my first semester. This was enough to get me the three scholarships I maintained until I finished school. But that was also when I had an epiphany. 

Care to talk more about that?

See, I had expectations about what university was supposed to be like. Everything we did in secondary school was pretty hands-on. My teachers were tactful and lovers of practicals. I was used to that mode of learning and thought it would be the same in university.

Spoiler alert: It’s not. I was doing more theoretical work than practicals and stuck in stuffy classes. Don’t even get me started on how boring the classes were. It didn’t feel good to me. It didn’t feel like the routine I would want to stick with for the entire time in school. 

Pretty much sums up public university life. So what did you decide to do?

I’ve always loved computers, man. Obsessed with them, actually. I started learning how they worked during my early years in secondary school. I even used to fix the school’s computers. Then I moved to programming. That was the genesis.

Back to my first year at the university, I saw that this academic life might not work out the way I wanted. My CGPA was pretty good and I was certain that it wouldn’t be much of a problem if I wanted to try my hand at programming and find a job. It was a risk, but the worst that could happen was that I would slump to a 2.1.

Did you start applying for jobs?

Yes oh. I started applying for random internships. Oh man, that was my first real experience with how hard this adulting thing is. I was just like “this life is hard oh”. Maybe that was my fault, but you can’t blame me for my positivity. I was applying to Google, Standard Chartered, Microsoft and places like that. The applications all ended in tears. Rejection is a tough pill to swallow.

I’ll bet.

Sometime later, I saw an ad for software developers in a Google Developers WhatsApp group I was in. I messaged the guy and he asked me to send my CV to an email. I didn’t have an impressive CV, so I didn’t even put much hope into it. They got back to me and I did the first series of interviews, which were not fun at all.

But you got it?

I did. However, the company had this weird payment policy: you get paid based on your output and productivity, not per hour or anything, but by the results of the hours you work. Also, the pay cap was 15k per month, so no matter how much work you put in, you couldn’t earn more than 15k every month.

Wild. How much did you earn on average?

#3,000. With all the work and hours I put in, I usually got 3k, and I worked an average of 160 hours per month. I think I only managed to get all 15k once. It was depressing. I kept thinking I wasn’t doing enough. That’s one of the things that happens when you are short on experience. I was there for a year before I left.

Did you go back to being a full-time student?

You wish. I got another job as a Software Engineering Intern in 300 level. This was definitely a step up. For starters, they provided accommodation and the place was flexible. The workspace culture was pretty good. Actually, I was lucky to get the gig because they didn’t always hire students. I guess they couldn’t refuse my charm. 

LMAO. New job and a workspace upgrade. Did that affect your paycheck?

I was earning 25k now. Lol. I should have asked for more, but it felt too good to be true at the time. So, the hustle continued; I was combining school with work and sharing my time between the mainland and island. My workload was considerably less than the previous job, and I knew how much to expect every month.

Speaking of school, how was it going at this point?

I’m not proud to say this, but I wasn’t so crazy about school anymore. Something had happened the semester before I got the internship. During the exams for one of the programming courses I was taking, everyone replicated my code. They all got As, and I got an E. It was my code oh.

That was it. I thought the system was rigged against me, and I wasn’t going to put my hope in it anymore. That course affected my CGPA badly —  threw it from 4.87 to 4.51. Graduating with a first-class seemed unlikely, so I decided to plot another course.

I understand.

I took a remote job as a side gig with an outsourcing software company, which guaranteed extra 50k per month, and everything was going great. As time passed, I took other freelance and remote jobs.

I know what I said about school, but as much as I knew, I wasn’t finishing with a first-class anymore. I also understood how important it was for me to get myself a second-class upper degree. I would lose my scholarships if I slipped to a 2.2. 

Yikes. What happened next? 

I resigned from my internship job to take an internship with Interswitch — industrial attachment.  I was hoping my portfolio would be enough for the people at Interswitch to give me a full-time offer, but they put me on a 40k intern’s salary. 

What was your experience with Interswitch

It was a good experience. I got to do stuff for companies like Microsoft and did some other cool work. It was stressful, though. I found it very regimented; it’s a fin-tech company after all. There was only a little creative energy flowing around. I ran away after my IT ended. 

SERIOUSLY? 

Yup. They wanted to keep me and offered me a 300k contract, but I was done with the place. I wanted something new. In the first semester of my final year, I got two job offers almost at the same time. The first one was with the UK division of Goldman Sachs, with an offer of 47,000 pounds per year.

God when! Why does everything sound so good when it’s not in naira?

Lmao! I was still in school, so I wrote them back about the possibility of deferring it till next year. Luckily, they agreed. 

That’s huge. What about the second offer?

It was a remote job with Deimos Cloud, a DevOps company operating out of South-Africa and I took it.

How much is this paying?

A whole lot more than the jobs I’d taken. My starting salary was over half a million. It was a good deal.

That’s a lot. Weren’t you overwhelmed with all this? 

Not really. This wasn’t my first experience with money or a foreign company. At some point, I was working for a US company and earning $15 per hour. I was calm about all of this.

How did your parents feel about you earning this much so young?

Well, I moved out of the house when I was 18, so there was only so much they knew about what I was doing and how much I was earning. 

I see. What were your grades like at this point?

I was still in the second-class upper division. It was very important for me to finish strong, so I took schoolwork more seriously. It was hard to focus, though; a lot of things change when you’ve started earning money.

This is an irony of sorts, but school started to feel like a distraction. I was still trying to balance everything when I went to South-Africa for three weeks on the invitation of the company I am working for. Luckily, we had just finished the first-semester exam, so I didn’t miss out on much.

Mad. Did anything particularly interesting happen in South Africa?

It was fun. I met my boss and the other people I am working with at Deimos for the first time. There is this kind of exhilaration that comes with putting faces to names. Also, I ate a lot and even went paragliding. 

Let’s cross the bridge to the #NairaLife side, what does your average monthly expense look like?

What do you do with the rest?

I have some investments I pump money into; that takes a major chunk of what I have left after basic expenses. I can’t really account for what’s left after all these. I guess everyone is guilty of a little lau-lau spending.

You went from earning #3000 naira to over half a million in four years while studying at a Nigerian university. That’s huge. How would you say you struck a balance between work and school?

First, I had my friends. The tutorials they organised for me to catch up on schoolwork I’d missed was key to making sure I finished school. The little time management skills I have helped a lot too.

I had a vision right from my first year at university and that was all I needed to get some sort of balance. People might think this is another “school is a scam’ story, but it’s not. The university paved the way for everything that has happened in the past four years or so.

What are you looking forward to now?

Well, the Goldman Sachs offer is still on the table, so I should be on my way to the UK sometime next year. At the moment, I think I should take it easy and flex a little. I hear travelling is a fun thing to do.

Can’t get enough Aluta and Chill? Check back every Thursday at noon for a new episode. Find other stories in the series here.

About two years ago, Amasa Firdaus, a Unilorin Law graduate who had gone to the Nigerian Law School and passed the bar exams was denied her Call to Bar for refusing to remove her hijab. At the time, this was considered a dress code violation. This is no longer the case.

Everything worked out and she was called to bar seven months after she was first denied. At the recent call to bar ceremony that held in Abuja, a lot of Muslim women were allowed to wear their hijabs under their wigs for the ceremony. This was only because of the effort of Firdaus. We reached out to her and got her to share this story with us.

When did you decide that you wanted to study law?  

In junior school. When I got my JSS3 results —  I didn’t do well in mathematics — I was advised to choose arts class and the only course I dreamt of was Law. My childhood dream was to become a medical doctor. This changed due to my ability in mathematics.

LOL. Mathematics humbled a lot of us. What was the process of getting into uni like?

Getting into Uni wasn’t difficult. My first attempt was UNILAG. I did the Post-UTME in 2010, immediately after my SSCE, but I didn’t get it because I didn’t get up to the cut off mark – 70. I had to wait for a year. I studied harder and I did better in both UTME and Post UTME. I got admission to the University of Ilorin in 2011.

When you started university, what was your impression of university life? 

University was awesome! There were ups and downs but by Allah’s will, I did well and always came out with good grades. 

Law School was the next step. Did you have an idea that the school would fight you on how you chose to dress?

Well, in a sense. The first time I heard about the challenge of dressing in law school was in my second year when a female lecturer, also a Muslim, narrated her experience bitterly. It was a shock. 

I vividly remember how one of my classmates stood up and lamented the inappropriateness of the system, clamouring for a change. 

I said nothing that day, maybe because I was perplexed. But, I believe the resolve to never remove my hijab just for the sake of becoming a lawyer began at that moment.

Now, let’s talk about the call to bar event; can you walk me through what happened that day?

It was a memorable day. I set out just like other colleagues to the International Conference Center. I got there more that one hour before the program was scheduled to start. I joined the queue with my other colleagues, two of whom were dressed like me in hijab. As soon as one of the marshalls saw the three of us, she pointed at us and told us to step aside and REMOVE THAT THING. We knew what she was referring to, so we stepped aside hoping a miracle would happen and we would be allowed in. 

When the ceremony was about to start, which meant the doors would be locked, my two other sisters complied and removed the hijab. That was how I missed the call that day.  But I didn’t leave quietly, I needed my voice to be heard. I began to say, “Just because I am a Muslim and I know the importance of hijab, I was denied the call to bar. God is going to judge this!”

I guess everything was a blur, but did you think that you may not be called to bar that day or ever?

I can’t say that it wasn’t expected, but I was hoping I would be called to the bar that day with my hijab. However, I was prepared for the worst. I prepared the words I chanted on the eve of the ceremony. I was prepared and determined to make my voice heard if my right was eventually denied. I knew I may never be called to the bar again, but I was prepared to face the consequences. Becoming a lawyer didn’t, doesn’t, and would never be worth losing my identity as a Muslim woman. It was an unshakeable resolution.

The event created a new conversation about human rights. Did that make you feel like your story was getting enough attention?

What I did was a personal resolve with the help of my Lord. I needed no one to validate it. But, of course, I was encouraged to see people’s interest in the matter. I was, I am and will forever be grateful for that. Even without a green light that I would be a hijabi lawyer, people’s concern gave me hope and strengthened my resolve even more.

 You weren’t called to the bar until months later. A lot must have happened in that period. Tell me about this?

I was denied the call on 13th December 2017 and I was eventually called on 10th July 2018. That means I waited for seven months. 

A lot happened. Several calls from all parts of the world and walks of life. 

The House of Representatives called for a public hearing, which was postponed and postponed until it was eventually overruled by a kangaroo court order.

There were temptations here and there. I received a call from a very senior member of the profession who tried to lure me into agreeing to attend the July call without hijab. He promised me he would make sure I got called if I promised to comply. The sad part is that he is also Muslim. I told him that as much as I would like to be called to the Nigerian bar, it had to be with the hijab. He was so angry that he started raining abuses on me, but I was so guided that my response was nothing but silence.

Another prominent challenge were the calls I got from colleagues, friends and family who seemed concerned more than I was. They wanted to have definite answers as to when I would be called or at least if there were green lights but, because I couldn’t give them the desired answer, they usually ended the call gloomily. That bothered me, but I was still unaffected with that. I knew the sacrifice was for a greater purpose.

Everyone seemed to think “removing your hijab was the easier thing to do”. And that it would have saved you a lot of trouble. Why didn’t you go down that route?

It isn’t as easy as they think. It’s a dressing I chose from a place of utmost conviction, an obligation from my Lord. The absurd practice of needed an end. It was a sign that they didn’t respect the religion.

 This was a victory for many people, but you were at the forefront. What did it mean for you then? And what does it mean now?

As I said, I am like a pencil in the hand of the creator. And I will forever be grateful that I was used to write a new rule and erase the archaic rule in the legal profession. I will forever be grateful.

This chapter is done and over with. You have a license to practice now, so what do you get up to these days?

From the beginning, academics was my dream. I have always wanted to be a law lecturer. That hasn’t changed. So, right now, furthering my studies is the goal. I pray Allah makes it easy.

Students in Nigerian universities have stories to tell, but hardly anyone to tell them to. For our new weekly series, Aluta and Chill, we are putting the spotlight on these students and their various campus experiences.

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For this week’s Aluta and Chill, we spoke with Khalilah Ahmed, a 300 level student of Fountain University, Osogbo. She talks about what it means to be a victim of admission scam and finding a second chance in another school.

Fountain University is a private university. This means when you hear about ASUU and strikes in the news, you can’t relate. How does that feel?

It’s great. I know I have a limited time here, and nothing will extend that time. The stability bangs. It’s easier to plan for what comes after university, this way. 

I only understand that this is super important because I’ve passed through the public university system. Before Fountain university, I was at Lagos State University, studying Law. Law was what my parents wanted, and being the good girl that I am, I went for it. I was in my second year when I left.

Wait a minute, did you eventually decide law wasn’t for you and left or did you leave because of the strikes?

I wish one of those reasons was the answer. It’s a sad story, really. I was at LASU until I discovered my entire admission was a scam, that I wasn’t really a student of the university. I had no choice but to leave.

Whoa. This went from 0 to 100 real quick.

Yup. Someone at the LASU ICT department helped me with the admission process. I sent him my details and all. Everything I did went through him. And I thought that was pretty standard, until everything scattered and the truth came out.

How long did you spend in LASU before you found out?

About two years. In hindsight, I should have guessed something was up since my first year. First, I had issues with getting my matric number. Then, there was a problem with printing the eligibility letter that I needed for my 100 level exams. Somehow, he sorted it out and kept the mirage up. 

How did you find out?

It was exam time again in 200 level. He’d left the school at this time – thank goodness –  so I had to meet someone else. He checked my name on the central database, and he found nothing. As in, I was never really a student. I didn’t exist. Everything up to that point was fake.

That must have been heartbreaking. 

I wanted to die.  But again, it was good that I found out as early as I did. It could have been worse if I’d found out later. I mean, imagine if I’d found out in my final year, just as I was about to enter law school or something.

Did this issue affect your choice in choosing another university? Why a private university, as opposed to a public university again? 

Well, my dad’s friend works at Fountain, and when the LASU thing happened, he told my dad about Fountain and sold him the idea of me studying here. It was the best alternative at the time, so I wrote another JAMB, gathered my O’ Level results and started all over again.

What mental preparation went into adjusting into the new environment?

It was hard at first. I like to maintain a small circle, so I only had a few friends at LASU. Then I had to leave, come here, and make new friends. It was really difficult. The only exciting thing about transferring here was the fact that I was finally leaving Lagos. It felt like an escape.

I get that. But still, Fountain is a Islamic faith-based school. You must have had more freedom at LASU where no one really cares about your faith and all. How was it like navigating a new campus with stricter rules?

There is not much to do here outside academics and religion. Fountain University is a very boring place; all you do is go to class, go to mosque for prayers, sleep, and repeat. At LASU, I wasn’t under a strict schedule and had the liberty to do anything I wanted when I wanted. To say the least, it can be frustrating.

It feels like you’re stuck with a routine, doesn’t it?

It does. They have a fixed way of doing pretty much everything, and nobody wants to rebel or try to change anything because it might result in suspension. The communication between the management and students is a one-way model; there is no free flow, no avenue to lay our complaints, and everyone is even scared to do that. So, we all stay in our lane.

There are no student leaders who can speak on behalf of students, are there?

There are, actually, but we didn’t always choose them, not until the last election anyway. Before that, we used the Shura system, they just picked someone based on criteria like grades. But now that we choose the people we wanted, I hope things will change. I really do.

I’ll bet. From what you’ve said, Fountain and LASU are two different worlds. Do you have a coping mechanism?

Sort of. I have to believe that I can do it; that I could stay and make the best use of my time here. This is my second chance. Also, My brother was really there for me when I first got here; I told him virtually everything and he was always there to listen. I know what I said about how I suck at making friends, but I had a couple of people with whom I was cool with when I first got here. They were in 400 level, but they made the adjustment easier than it would have been if I was alone.

It helps that I’m now studying Mass Communication as well. I mean, Law wasn’t bad at LASU, but I just find Mass Communication more interesting, so it’s sort of easier. It feels like I’m finally doing what I should be doing.

That’s refreshing, but do you think Law would have been a complete waste of time?

Not really. I just don’t find it enjoyable as I do mass communication. If the LASU complication didn’t happen and I graduated with a degree in Law, chances are that I would drop it somewhere and do something related to communication.

So you think something good came out of the bitter experience?

You could say so. Most of the things I’m doing right now are related to communication, even outside of academics. There is this female group I started with two other ladies two years ago. We teach other girls, especially fresh students all the basic media things; how to use a camera, how to edit, do voice-overs, etc. I really enjoy doing this because I feel so useful, so at peace with myself at every session. The best part of it all is that it doesn’t eat too much into my time – two hours on Saturdays and two extra hours on Sundays. It’s really fulfilling

Lit.

Yeah, it is. I have also been exploring the outspoken traits in me. My public speaking game is on another level than it was at LASU. I’m a very shy person, but that can’t stop me now – I can’t let it stop me. There is still a long way to go, but baby steps. 

You have quite a story. Now, you’re in your third year and close to the finish line now. What does that mean for you?

There are lots of expectations. I’m almost done with school now, so everyone expects me to have it figured out. If I tell them I’m going for service after school, they will take it further and ask what I have planned after that. And the plan is still fuzzy at the moment. So yes, there is a lot of pressure attached to it. However, I know that as the time draws closer, I will be a step closer to figuring everything out. One step at a time, abeg.

Check back every Thursday at noon for a new episode. Find other stories in the series here.

Students in Nigerian universities have stories to tell, but hardly anyone to tell them to. For our new weekly series, Aluta and Chill, we are putting the spotlight on these students and their various campus experiences.

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On this week’s Aluta and Chill, we have Obinna Ugwu, a 500 level student of the University of Ibadan, studying Industrial Engineering and bossing it. He shares his story with us; about how he’s worked hard to get the best out of his time in school.

Let’s start with something interesting, what is the most exciting thing you’ve done recently?

Let’s see. I was in China for two weeks to represent my University in a study trip sponsored by Chinese tech giants, Huawei. I was with nine other Nigerians, and it was so cool. We learnt about Chinese culture, language, and some of the amazing technology Huawei is currently working on.

Interesting. How did a final year student from UI hop on a plane to China?

The Students’ Affairs Division of UI nominated me. We proceeded to Lagos to write some tests and do some interviews at the Huawei office. That was all really; next thing I knew, I was selected to represent the University and was on my way to China.

The programme is called Huawei Seeds For The Future; it’s a CSR initiative run by the company. Every year, they select top students from different universities and bring them to China to learn about culture and technology. In my batch, there were students from Azerbaijan and Indonesia.

Lit. I might be wrong, but this feels like a culmination of some sort. So, could we start from the beginning when you first got into the university?

Of course! Industrial Engineering was my first choice, against the wishes of my parents who wanted me to go for Medicine and Surgery. I’ve always been sort of a rebel and MBBS didn’t seem like what I would like to do. For starters, I hate biology and I hate the sight of blood. It was never going to work out. 

I also felt that studying a mainstream Engineering course would not give me the body of knowledge that would make me competitive globally. I went online and made research, found Industrial Engineering, and it was sold to me as a bridge between Engineering and Economics, and that caught my fancy. I was admitted in 2014, but I didn’t resume school until 2015 because the 2013 ASUU strike slowed down the school calendar.

That was the genesis and truthfully, it is one of the most important decisions of my life. 

I get it, but did it feel like that at first?

The early days were rough. I came from a lower-class family, so there was a massive problem with finances. I was not comfortable at all and it affected a lot of things; the way I dressed, the things I ate and stuff like that. There was this red shirt I used to wear all the time. Anyone who saw a red shirt from a distance could tell it was me. Also, I was drinking garri whenever I had gone through the little money I had.

That must have been tough.

It was. But I knew I was in school to make something of myself, so I threw practically all of me into my academics. I mean, it was all I had. And I knew it would make things better. End of the first year, I came out top of my class. 6.5 out of 7.0 CGPA.

Mad. How did you pull this off?

In 100 level, the only thing I had going for me was academics and my friends. I attended most of my classes and studied extensively. Actually, I didn’t see it as a herculean task; all I needed was discipline.

That definitely made you feel that you were doing something right, didn’t it?

Yes, it did. It also broadened my scope and made me hungrier. I didn’t have to think about this a lot because this was when the opportunities started coming in.

Tell me about these opportunities.

 I was in 200 level when I got the first of the scholarships; Total E&P CSR scholarship. I actually applied and wrote the exam when I was in 100 level. They contacted me in 200 level and I filled some documents and all. It was going to be more money than I had ever handled on my own. I guess the possibility that I might not get it eventually was scary because I totally took my mind off it.

I remember the day the money entered. It was sometime during first-semester examination and I was taking a break from studying to watch a football match. A text message came in and I saw a lot of zeros. It was more than what I had ever seen. Man, it was wonderful.

I’ll bet.

A few months later, the second one came.

Levels on levels.

This one was awarded by Shell. They paid for two years at once. So, I had a few hundred thousands on me.

Balling.

Before then, I used to have like 1000 naira in my account, and that was all. And the only reason I had the 1k was that that was the minimum balance I needed to have in my account, so I couldn’t withdraw it. I would have if I could, and my account would have been plainly empty. It was a transformation of sorts.

So 200 level was the turning point.

That year was actually a good one, not only for me but my family too. My dad got into a new line of business and was doing better. Generally, things started looking up.

It was always going to happen.

Yes, I guess. But I couldn’t let that be it, so I forged on. I believe so much in nurturing the right relationships. You need people to get the best out of life. I found some mentors in my church and department, and I always went to them for advice. This shifted my mindset about grades – they are important but you need to be more than your grades. I embraced versatility and ventured into other things. 200 level was really good.

Okay. Walk me through your third year?

2017 and 300 level was characterised with a lot of firsts for me. First, I became the General Secretary of my Department’s Student Association. It was a pretty big deal for me because it put me in a position to add value to a relatively large association.

Then, I started to learn chess.

Chess?

Chess. I really got into playing it that I became the captain of the Faculty of Technology chess team. I led the team to the inter-faculty games. Oh, I was also in the University of Ibadan chess team. I was really into it.

On your way to becoming a grandmaster, aren’t you?

Heh. I enjoy it, but a grandmaster is another level. I can hold my own against lots of people, though. I also challenge other players online, but not as frequently as I used to because of my engagements.

I get you. We are still on your third year.

Yes, I also began to read more books in my third year. Like all sorts of good books. Basically, I just started doing things I wasn’t doing before, and they showed me new possibilities I hadn’t thought of.

And yes, I got into my first relationship in my third year.

Ooh, interesting. How did it turn out?

We were together for a number of months and life kinda happened. We ended on good terms, though; we just realised that we both wanted different things. It was good while it lasted. In retrospect, I think the relationship was good for me. It made me understand what to look out for in the future. I’ve tried to be with other people, but nothing as serious as the first one. Right now, I’m single to stupor.

So the third year took the baton from your second year.

For the most part, yes. But it was also when I had to deal with a series of failures for the first time in a while.

Man, what happened?

First, I tried to become an ambassador for Unilever. Several stages and lots of invested time and energy later, I didn’t get selected for the gig. That was not something I was used to. The rejection mail stung so badly.

We win some, we lose some.

Like I said, my third-year was a lot of firsts. The Unilever thing was the first of a series of failure. Fast-forward to my fourth year, I thought to start applying to jobs, and I got called for an interview with a company in Lagos.

I want to say lit, but I don’t know with the way you’ve set this up.

Patience na.  I went for the interview. I was answering the first question – I hadn’t even finished before the interviewer interjected and said, “You bore me.”

Wow.

That disoriented me and blew the whole interview. As expected, I didn’t get the job. That was another thing I wanted that I didn’t get. But it also made me realise that not everything I want will be mine, and that’s not a bad thing in itself because failures are stepping stones to success. These experiences, especially these two gutting ones helped to reshape how I think. I couldn’t let myself become a victim, so I went back to the drawing board and improved on what I thought I was deficient in. I tried out a couple of other applications, but I still got rejected at different stages. 

Oh, by the way, my grades dropped to a 2’1 in 300 level too. I was now on 5.9 – the thin line between a second class upper division and a first-class. We kept it moving, though.

The only way to do it.

I guess I was being prepared for something greater. The next thing I know, I was offered an internship role with British American Tobacco.  I was with them from August 2018 to March 2019. 

YO. That’s lit. Can you tell me more about the internship?

I was an Integrated Work System Intern. The job required knowledge of Microsoft Excel, and at the time I started, I could build next to nothing on Microsoft Excel. I took that as a chance to learn something new, and by the time I was completing the internship, I was more responsible and could hold my own with Microsoft Excel. My time there taught me the importance of data analysis and its importance in decision making. It also propelled my interest in Data Sciences and Artificial Intelligence and opened up a new world for me.

It was one of the most life-changing experiences that I have had, to be honest. I was working with some of the smartest people that I’ve seen.

This internship happened between your fourth year and fifth year, right?

Yes, it was. I went for the internship in my fourth year. At the end of my fourth year, I’d managed to get my GPA to  6.0 – back in the First Class region.

How did this happen? 

It’s still kind of a blur; I just thought so many people had high expectations of me, and I wasn’t going to let them down. So I threw myself into everything. I attended more classes, studied way more, and took the internship as though my life depended on it. That didn’t mean I let go of all the other things I was doing; in fact, I became the Media and Marketing Support, Hult Prize – a global student entrepreneurship competition.

I had to relearn the importance of balance during this year too. I was into so many things, and every bit of these activities was instrumental to my growth, so I figured out a workable model to combine all. 

When I returned to school after IT, I contested for the post of President in the department student association, and I won it. 

That has a ring to it; President Obinna. So, you are in your final year now.

Yes, I am. And I’m not only the president of my department, I’m also the Campus Director, Hult prize, University of Ibadan.

Another feather to a much-decorated cap.

We are in the second semester now; my last semester, and I am a first-class student, the president of my department, the campus director of Hult prize, University of Ibadan amongst others. And of course, I travelled to China on a Huawei-sponsored trip.

I know you play chess, but what other things to do for fun?

I hang out with friends. I watch a lot of movies and series. I’m a big fan of Marvel comics and follow the cinematic universe religiously. 

What do you hope to get out of your final year, and where would you go from there?

First, I would like to graduate with a first-class. I’m on a 6.0 now. After that, I would be looking for roles in management consulting firms, production companies, investment banks, across several industries, it could even be a startup. I really don’t mind, as long as I’m able to challenge myself.

All the best, Champ!

Students in Nigerian universities have stories to tell, but hardly anyone to tell them to. For our new weekly series, Aluta and Chill, we are putting the spotlight on these students and their various campus experiences.

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This week, we have Feyisayo Akinola, a final year student of University of Lagos (UNILAG), studying psychology. UNILAG is known for shitload of things, but we decided to hear her experience: Where do you draw strength when everything goes awry? How do you stay on your lane and keep your eye on the goal? How do you strike that balance you need and preserve your sanity? Feyi has a story to tell.

How did you get into UNILAG?

That’s a funny story, I got into UNILAG in 2015. That year, UNILAG set their cut-off mark to 250. UNILAG was my first choice, but I was transferred to Afe Babalola University because I got 242 in JAMB. I applied to study Economics but it was changed to Urban and Regional Planning when I was transferred to Afe Babalola. After a series of back and forth, I was transferred back to UNILAG to study Psychology.

Wait a minute, how did that happen?

Heh, I don’t know.

Grace of God?

I don’t know if I can call it that because I wanted to study Economics. But after the whole transfer thing, it resulted in psychology.

So how did you reconcile that? 

I’d been offered admission to different universities before that year and it had always been psychology, but I kept rejecting it — literally and figuratively. I wrote in Covenant; they offered me psychology, I went to Uyo, then UNICAL, and I got psychology there too. I couldn’t waste an extra year when UNILAG happened, so I took it.

I get that. How were your first days? Did you have any particular expectations about university?

I didn’t want to go to school in Lagos. I’ve lived in Lagos all my life. I thought I needed to explore, so I could have a mix of different experiences. 

Right.

In the beginning, I had to go to school from home (Festac). I couldn’t get a hostel. It’s always super hard to get a hostel in UNILAG and my dad wouldn’t allow me to stay alone off-campus in my first year. I was leaving home at 5 AM to meet up with early morning classes. I had evening lectures too, as late as 6 PM, and I wouldn’t get home until 9 PM.

Tough.

Then, there was also the first-semester result part. I had issues with my grades.  I mean, everybody talks about how you have to build your GPA when you’re in 100 level. I tried to do that. When I saw how fucked-up my results looked at the end of my first year, it almost felt like my life was over.

I had to meet  a lecturer and I was like, “Ma, I can’t fail your course.” And she was like, “Are you that smart to think that you can’t fail the course?” After a series of back and forth, she called to ask for my matric number and admitted that they didn’t add my test scores and all. Bla bla bla.

Man.

A  friend of mine became my backbone. He reassured me that it would be over soon. At another point in 200 level, I was really ready to give up school. See, I hate stress, and the stress school was giving me was really overwhelming. I was like if I can stay in my house, there will be no lecture to worry about; I’d have my apprentices working and sewing with me. I just wanted to leave school.

Was there a process to how you eventually got a hold of yourself?

Not really. The only thing was that I had my friend; he was always giving this push. It was almost like he was in school with me. He would go, “I’m going to read with you, so you won’t feel alone.” That helped a lot.

You’ve got to thank God for friends. In your four years here, what struggles have stood out for you? 

Let me chip this in; I was into politics, and that meant that I had to shuffle the stress of political positions with school and find a balance. Every time I missed a class, it felt like I’d missed the whole session. Everything in the two years I was the welfare secretary for my department ate so much into my time. But it also helped me with exposure. I met a lot of people. It made me discover a strength I didn’t know I had in me. I can lead people. 

I dig that. What other thing has made school really worth it for you?

Uhh. Business? 

Whoop. Tell me more about that.

Well, I contemplated doing a little bit of make-up artistry, but it felt like I wouldn’t make as much as I would like. I knew I could market and sell things, so I thought to start selling wears to UNILAG student. It was a hit. I mean, it was another thing I had to balance with academics and politics, but it turned out well.

Sweet. But tell me, what drives this entrepreneurial spirit?

I love to be independent. I hate asking for money. I feel like if I have something working for me, I won’t have to ask anyone for money. My money is my money. I own my business, I spend my money and account for whatever I spend.

Secure the bag. Speaking about money, how do you avoid being broke?

Well, I’m not perfect; I can’t totally avoid it. You need to be extremely disciplined with money. If I tell you I’m broke, I’m broke, I might actually have like 500k in another account for business. But I’m broke because I can’t touch it.

Sweet. Tell me about an interesting experience you’ve had in school

Heh. I was going to the library from my faculty one time, and I followed by this guy. He’d approached me at the faculty but I’d ignored him. I got into a cab and left. This guy got into another cab and literally followed me. When I got down and he caught up with me, he yelled, “You bloody virgin, why don’t you want to talk to me?” Everybody turned to look, and I was like “Whoooa.” I was really embarrassed, at that moment, I wondered if the earth could open up and swallow me. 

That kain thing.

He went on and was like “I don’t wanna fuck you, I just want to be your friend. You should stop acting like a nuisance.” Everything was a blur; I didn’t even know when I raised a hand and slapped him.

Whoa. You didn’t.

I did. I regretted it almost immediately because I caught more people’s attention with that. Besides, it could have gone downhill from there. I could have just ignored him and continued on my way. That was 100 level, anyway. But it was an embarrassing event.

Since we are on the subject of boys now, recently, a BBC documentary exposed some lecturers in UNILAG, and their thing for female students. I have to ask, did you have any similar experience?

No, I don’t think I’ve experienced that because I tend to avoid male lecturers and their offices. But you have lecturers hitting on you. Like they seize your phone and ask you to come to their offices to pick it up. But not me. I’m not coming to your office. I will leave it for you when you’re ready, you’ll bring it out and drop it at the department. 

LOL.

Even when I have issues with a course taken by a male lecturer, I don’t go to their offices. I’ve been very careful.

In the years you’ve spent in school, how do you think you’ve grown?

I’ve learned to blend in. I tend to associate myself with people I feel are connected to the things I want to do in the future.

Is there anything you would change?

No… but if I had to, I would change the fact that I didn’t get into school on time because the people I would have loved to collaborate with on stuff left before me.

So you will be leaving soon, does that make you feel any kind of way?

I feel fulfilled. This is where self-awareness comes in, and I’m aware of where I am and of what I want to do. 

What are you looking forward to the most?

I’m not sure because I don’t know what to expect. I work with the universe. I believe the universe will give you something positive if you have something positive in mind. But I’m really looking forward to what it has to offer me.