Lagos State University’s best-graduating student, Aminat Yusuf, who made a 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average in this interview with GRACE EDEMA attributes her success to the discipline and guidance of her journalist father
How do you feel about becoming the best student in the history of LASU?
First and foremost, it is an honour to be recognised as the best-graduating student in the history of Lagos State University. I’m grateful to God for His guidance and divine support through this journey. This feat is self-assuring. I’m more self-assured and confident now that anything is achievable with hard work, resilience, and God’s guidance. I also feel highly honoured to be recognised and celebrated by the most influential personalities in Nigeria. That alone is super encouraging. I’m grateful to the entire nation for celebrating my excellence!
Do you think your Dad being a journalist contributed to your academic success?
Most definitely. That helped. I went to a boarding secondary school, Alhikmat College. All through secondary school, whenever I came home, my dad reviewed my entire notes and scripts. He spotted the slightest mistakes, even a single letter written incorrectly, and I was seriously disciplined for these mistakes. Even my exam scripts were reviewed. The teacher’s score was insignificant to him. My results were excellent only when he so decided. Particularly, I remember in one of my results, I had 9 As, most of which were scores above 80 and 90. However, I failed Mathematics. I was scolded so much. He condemned the entire results. He was very well recognised at Alhikmat for his consistent expression of dissatisfaction over my academics. I remember he once told the school that if I was to sit for WAEC twice, I would have to hawk popcorn to fund my fees. He is the most disciplined dad I know. His consistent drive toward my academics made me so meticulous with my education, and eventually, I developed the habit of excellence. So Mr Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, my dad laid the bedrock of today’s achievement.
How do you read, what is your reading schedule like?
I enjoy reading a lot, so honestly, I don’t keep track of time. I could read for an entire day or two nonstop. Of course, save for necessary things like feeding, saying my prayers, and having a short nap. I enjoy reading mostly at night.
Did you plan to have this 5.00 from day one when you got admitted into LASU?
No, at the time I did not even know what that meant. I started with a diploma in Law at LASU. My dad made me sign a contract of excellence if he was going to fund my diploma. The agreement was that I had to be top five, and nothing less. Personally, I also was passionate about Law and desired to be an ambassador of Islam. So I was really keen on becoming the best. I finished my Diploma in Law with a CGPA of 4.98/5.0. This then motivated the goal to make 5.0 at the undergraduate level.
What is your advice for other students who would like to attain this success, how can they attain it?
Success in whatever area is not served a la carte. You must work for it. The key word is intentionality. Once make up your mind to succeed, the universe has a way of setting you up for that greatness if you are willing to make the required sacrifice. I burned the proverbial midnight candle as they say. I practically worked my socks up! It wasn’t a smooth journey but like I said if you’re really determined about a goal there’s a way the universe comes through for you.
We have more female students coming top in school, and national examinations, what do you think is the reason for this?
I think it’s our time. Awa lokan( laughs). The thing really is that there is more awareness now than ever before that for women to be heard they really need to put in more efforts. So I think it’s the awareness that for you to get a place out there you need to succeed at all costs. That is what is driving this revolution by women to succeed in their careers out there.
What really gave you this success?
First of all, I was groomed in Islamic doctrine and also had the benefits of good mentors across every level of my study both at the primary, high school, and the university. Particularly, while I was at Albarr Montessori school and Alhikmat College respectively, the foundation from these schools prepared me early for excellent academic pursuit. Also, the constant motivation by my parents, families and friends also made a lot of difference because their admonitions, and cheers, indeed encouraged me more than anything else.
But above all, I owe my success to God who made all things possible.
What problems will you like to solve in life?
Well, there is a lot I wish to contribute to making society better in my own little way. First and foremost, I would like to fight the cause of justice using the instrumentality of the law of course. If God blesses me with wealth too, I’ll also assist the needy, especially indigent students who can’t afford to go to school.
After this convocation, what are your plans?
I have both short, medium, and long-term goals. But I’ll just share a few with you here. First of all, while I’m preparing for the Law School, I’m currently devoting my time to a couple of activities. Currently, in a bid to aid legal education, I have created a YouTube channel, titled LLA (Learning Law with Aminat).
The goal is to make available valuable lessons in all compulsory law courses, as a supplementary tool to all Law students across the federation.
I’m also taking up internships with some top-tier law firms to further equip myself with the rudiments of legal practice.
Describe your five years in LASU?
I was in LASU for more than five years actually. I came in through Diploma, which ran for two years and I gained admission through direct entry to pursue a course of study, Islamic and Common Law to be precise and that took me additional four years. So, on the whole, I spent six years plus if you add the few months we were out of school on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now to address the question, my years in LASU were the most interesting times of my life because what I experienced in those years for the most part are life lessons.
I will forever cherish my days at LASU, especially the kind of friendship I forged with some of my peers with whom we shared the same aspiration and determination.
Indeed, I can’t trade those experiences for anything because they’re what have shaped me to become who I am right now.
Some young people say education is a scam, do you think so?
No, I don’t believe education is a scam at all. No matter how you look at it, education is one avenue through which you can liberate the mind of any man. The other leg of the issue is that our educational institutions are not models of development because they don’t actually prepare the students for the future; as such you can forgive those who out of ignorance say education is a scam. In my own case, I had dutiful parents who considered education a top priority and went the whole length to support me. It’s not the case for a lot of people too out there. That said, I think society at large can help to change this narrative through the kind of attention, value, and reward system it places on education. If we respect scholars the same way we respect our politicians and moneybags, then it will encourage a lot of others out there too. It’s both ways.
What advice do you have for the Nigerian govt on how to make education better in the country?
There is still a whole lot the government can do to address the state of the education sector. Thankfully, the introduction of the Students Loan Scheme is one of many steps the government can take.
Most of our public schools across all levels either primary, secondary, or tertiary educational institutions are still underfunded. I think the government can devote more funding to them. There is also infrastructure collapse too. If you visit some public schools, you see a lot of dilapidated structures such as poor sanitary conditions, etc. This is not good enough. The other troubling fact is a poor reward system and motivation too. You will recall that all federal universities embarked on strike actions for almost two years and the government didn’t seem to bother about it. That is not good enough. If you say you want to prepare the youths for the future and you’re not making the environment conducive for the teachers who will prepare them for the future, is that not a recipe for failure? Something should definitely give with this new administration.
How do you feel about the N10m gift from Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu?
The feeling is indescribable. I feel such an overwhelming joy. In fact, if you ride a horse in my mind, you won’t miss your steps. I can only say thank you God and especially pray for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu that the Good Lord will continue to bless his every cause and endeavours. The governor’s gesture is so inspiring to me. I’m indeed very grateful to him.
Do you think being religious is a factor in success?
Not exactly. Success and religion are two different things. There are many so-called religious people who are not successful academically.
But that is not to say that I don’t believe in the God factor. I believe all that we become in life is subject to God’s mercy. Now let me share a personal story here. I remember when my dad embarked on a holy pilgrimage to Mecca some years ago, when he arrived at Mount Arafat, he called to tell him a prayer request so that he can intercede on my behalf. I told him he should ask God to make me excel in my studies and career. He did pray for me. But then I matched that with a lot of hard work on my part and the universe came through for me. So, in essence, prayers without work can’t give you success. They both go together.
