21st March, 2011
“It has not been easy, considering all what I went through. I burnt midnight candle, starved myself when there was nothing to eat. But for God and my uncle, Mr. Afolabi, who convinced my father then. It was not that my parents did not want to send me to school, but they don’t have money and my father had asked me to go and learn carpentry work. Maybe today, I would have become a first class carpenter.â€
These are some of the words of Mr. Muideen Remilekun Gbadamosi, the overall best graduating student of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Odogbolu Local Government Council, Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, while speaking with P.M.NEWS during the institution’s 2nd Convocation ceremony recently.
Gbadamosi, who also won the best graduating student from the College of Science and Information Technology (COSIT), posited that poverty would have prevented him from rejoicing today and thanked his parents for their efforts in ensuring that he completed his education despite his travails in Ilorin.
According to the Petroleum and Chemical Sciences best graduating student, “my story has been somehow worrisome. Imagine what happened when I finished my secondary school. I enrolled in Kwara Polytechnic for the IJMB (Advanced Level), where if one completes with a good grade, you get direct entry into 200 Level in the university.
“I had a good grade because I scored 12 points out of 16 points, but you know Nigeria, if you don’t know people or you are not connected, your efforts will be in futility. I was in Ilorin for two years, trying to see if I will be admitted, but no way. I had to return home, but my parents were disturbed and they advised otherwise.
“One day, I went to WEMA Bank in Owode and I saw the poster of TASUED. I got the form and went for the oral test. I was one of the best students then, so I was admitted. Since I entered the school, it has been very rough and tough, but my parents tried their best and God will let them eat of the fruit of their labour. Today, I am the best among the rest, glory be to Almighty Allah,†he enthused.
Born in Lagos, Gbadamosi hails from Owode Yewa in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State. He had his primary education at Yewa South Secondary School, Owode Yewa, between 1996 and 2002. He was the first child of a family of five who lost their last child last year. His parents are Mr. Musa Gbadamosi and Mrs. Mulikat Gbadamosi.
On his plans for the future, Muideen said he would want to become a lecturer. “My plan is to proceed on my Post Graduate Degree (PGD) after my service, because I want to be in academics. I like imparting knowledge to others. During my time in school, I always organised my colleagues for tutorials.
“As our course is new in the university, most of our lecturers are from the University of Ibadan and they really did their best. Now that the state government is giving us appointments here, I would want to be a lecturer,†he added.
The governor had announced that the 12 first class students will be given appointment in the state.
While speaking with our correspondent, a joyful Mrs. Mulikat Gbadamosi praised the efforts of her husband, whom she described as a good father and good husband.
She further thanked her son, Muideen for not letting the family down as he had always held on to the aphorism that he should always remember the son of whom he is.
TASUED recently graduated 3,025 students at its 2nd Convocation ceremony which also witnessed the award of Post Graduate Diploma in Education to 127 students and conferment of honorary Doctorate Degree of Science (Honoris Causa) on Olorogun (Dr.) Sonny Folorunsho Kuku (OFR), the Olorogun of Ijebuland who was the former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of Olabisi Onabanjo University (O.O.U), Ago-Iwoye between 1993 and 1999.
—Biodun Onafuye /Ijebu-Ode
