Edem, Edem Bassey; 400L; MBBS

Q1: How did you get to know about BMU and how did you come here? A: Okay, I never thought I would be in BMU. I got a call from the admission officer in 2020, that I've been given scholarship to study at Bayelsa Medical University. I started researching about the school. Then, I came here Q2: The course that you're studying right now, would you say you're doing it out of passion and would you say that you're working in purpose? A: Well, the course I'm currently studying is first out of passion. I really wanted to be a doctor and I think it's part of my purpose. Q3: Has BMU ever frustrated or annoyed you in any way and would you like to share? A:Very many times. Even as we speak, I'm supposed to have written my professional exams but it's frustrating reading every night and knowing that the exams is not holding even this month. It's frustrating and annoying because BMU can really do things impromptu. It does not encourage planning at all. Q3: What's the greatest struggle you've ever faced as a student? A: Money. I don't have money. That is the problem I have. Q4: What's the hardest academic semester you've ever faced? And what's the hardest academic moment you faced in this particular semester and were there times you cried? A: The hardest points in my life were in the beginning of my 200 level as a student. I was shocked. I was literally struggling. It was a lot and I cried many times. Since my department doesn't work with semesters, the most craziest moment right now are any moments before a pharmacology test. I literally cry every time I read pharmacology. Not because I don't know what I'm reading but because, the more I cover the more I discover. Q5: Have you made any mistakes as a student that has taught you a deep lesson? And have you ever failed as a student and how did you handle it? A: Yes, I've made a lot of mistakes and I’ve failed quite a number of times. Something really "spectacular" happened on 6th May, 2020. It's one moment I can never forget in my life. I was invited to go to a club. For the first time in my life, I faced seduction and it was horrific. I almost fell but God came through for me. Then failure. I was in human physiology, before I migrated to medicine. I wrote an exam. The lecturer called me and told me that he's going to fail me because I'm a course rep. The highest in my department was E, 44/100. I told him, "Sir, it's not possible. All of us know that we read well for the exam." I had 39/100. My goodness, I cried. I spoke to a couple of people and they only told me that sometimes you need to look at failure and do well. I braced up. God helped me and I migrated to medicine so that result did not count. Then again, before our first MBBS exams, scores are accumulated from our 200 level to 300 level amd are graded over 30. For anatomy, I had 12/30. I'm not a dull student but I saw 12/30 and I began to cry. I said, "God, that's already a disadvantage. I'll need a whole lot in the exams to pass." Long story cut short, I passed the course. Then I saw in one of the physiology test that I read overnight for that I had 9/30. I did not know how to feel. I shut down for three days. I cried every single day. In summary, I still passed. I did not just pass, I passed with an A. Q6: You were in 300 level, Human physiology. You were almost done with school so why did you migrate? Why didn't you just finish? A: Well, first and foremost, I didn't like human physiology. When I first came to this school, they told me that there wasn't medicine. I told them straight away that the mail I got from Amnesty says that I am coming to here to study medicine and surgery. They said they know what to do. Then I found myself in human physiology. Atleast, I preferred it to anatomy. Somehow inside me, I knew that this is not what I'm meant for. I lost interest in the course, 300 level first semester when we started doing research. I was confused. I stopped going to class regularly. I didn't even take my IT seriously. I barely went to work. I got sacked in two places. So I just stopped it. I did not like physiology. I just did not see myself being a physiologist at any point in my life. Q7: You've mentioned God in our discussion. You believe in God? A: Yes, I believe in God because first and foremost, I don't have a life outside God. I've seen God in many ways. I've seen God help my father in many ways before he passed on to glory. Before my dad passed on, he told me that the only way I can succeed is through God. Without God, I wouldn't have been a student. After my dad passed on, the plan was to quit studies, help my mum especially, to fend for my younger ones. Suddenly, God gave me an admission with scholarship that I did not deserve. Q8: Do you think religion plays a role in academics? A: Well, on the matters of religion and Christianity and education, there are certain things that are called principles. God put some things called laws in place that if anybody, whether or not the person is a Christian, believes in and obeys these rules, it would work for them. For instance, "give and it shall be given unto you". You do not need to be a Christian to do that. Once you give, it shall be given unto you. Now, for academic success, it's very simple. You just need to be determined and hardworking, then you will yield results. That's all. When we begin to make religion out of it is because we have had understanding of the supernatural. There is a spirit of favour that can accelerate or help a man academically. There are certain scores I've had, that I know I do not deserve. For instance, in the Viva of my first MB exam, I got into the exams stuffed. But the man began to ask me strange things. I knew deep down in my heart that I failed. There's nothing this man will do to me that will make me pass. When we checked the results, I passed. I can only but explain that it's because of God. It is foolishness not to read for an exam because that's not a student's character. Why people still engage spirituality in academics is because they have an understanding that even in academics, you need a spirit to survive. Some people take their pens to a shrine; some take it to their pastors to pray for them; some wear some kind of handkerchiefs, or bracelets or rings to come for an exam. So yes, Spirituality, as I would like to call it, has a whole lot to play in academics. Though, it's possible to not be spiritual and still excel academically. That's my point. Q9: Would God EQUALLY help students who have been diligent in keeping up their spiritual/academic life since the beginning of the semester; students who only come to Him when it’s time for exams and students who go away from Him during exams? A: There are certain people, like you rightly said, that have understood the balance of the two. Let's take the first set. Of all the prayer warriors who I've ever learned of, Daniel was most effective because he did not just pray, he prayed with understanding. It's when you read then pray that He will crown your efforts with success. Anointing on an empty vessel is a wasted investment. If God makes you to shine or pass a class that you do not have a proper understanding of, you will become a catastrophe. You will become a problem. Now, moving to the second set of people. The ones who only become serious with God during tests and exams. There's an economy of mercy. God is merciful and He has factored mercy in creation. Those people can even be clubbing as well as praying during the exam period. Those stories or testimonies that you hear, where people do not know what to write because they were preaching all over the campus instead of reading and they got 77/100 in an exam happened because the mercy of God was factored in it. There is a point where the mercy of God will end. It's like a thread. You will have to put in your own labor so that God will look at it. When you read, it makes a whole lot of sense. It shows that you are willing to sacrifice so He will bless the works of your hand. But sometimes, like I always say, Daniel does not need to be in a class. He has the spirit of excellence in him. He can be going about doing his father's business. We never heard that Jesus was taught in school; we only heard when He appeared by 12 years. He was asking questions. Where did he learn it?? Then the last group of people stay away from God because they want to cover up. They feel like they can do it by their power. The Bible instructs that you should not forget assembly of the brethren. Coming to church is important. It's good for believers to come together in harmony because that's where God commands blessings. Remember I told you, the academic world is governed by a system. If you put in hard work and you are determined, you will succeed. That's how God structured it. So long as the earth remains, seed time and harvest will. Whether you plant or not plant, grass will grow. It's as simple as that. Take a person who has been so committed to spiritual activities, neglecting academic work since the beginning of the semester. It's normal for him to stay away from church to cover up when it's close to exams. He will be banking on the mercy of God for success now. He may pass but there are people who've been more diligent than him that would fail. In my class, it's not everyone that goes to church. But during my MB exam, all of us became spiritual, suddenly. We conducted prayers every Friday. Still, some of us failed. Q10: Does anyone pop up in your head if I ask you if there's anyone that's majorly or minorly shaped your academic journey? A: Dr. Chuks. He really inspired me Q11: Since you came to this school, have you ever gotten entangled with the wrong association and did it affect you? Secondly, are there people or experiences you've met/had that were subtle or obvious confirmations that you were meant to be in this school? A: Talking of wrong association, there are certain people that I've met that I regret meeting them. It was as though they were sent to pollute my life at the time. I saw them as agents of darkness, people that were fashioned against me. They exposed me to certain things that were not healthy. The first sharwama I had in this school was bought by some set of people. They took me to a club. It was an end of semester get-together. I saw people that I respect go for that meeting, so I followed. I did not know that that was the beginning of the problems. I cut them off silently. Then there are certain people I'm grateful I met. Like the Chaplain of this institution. He did not throw me outside. Also, I met a wonderful brother in my life. His name is Ovie. I do not take him for granted. I also met Immaculate at some point in my life as well but we got separated because of love. Till today I don't know why. Currently, I have to say this because I need to say it. I met somebody recently. She fulfilled the scripture when the Bible said "He sent forth His word unto Jacob and it enlightened upon Israel". She is more precious to me than many things. In fact, she embodies her name as "Precious". Q12: If you were the VC of the school for one day, what's the first thing you would do? A:Stop social nights or social activities or anything vibration. I could tweak or modify it. I will have a press conference with the students where I will not just tell them my plans, but hear their concerns and make them part of the policy making decisions of the school. I would give them leadership responsibilities too. Q13: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? A: In the nations. I should be a consultant or in the process of becoming one. I should have launched into ministry by the special grace of God. I must have gotten married and even had my first child. Q14: What do you think people misunderstand about your course? A: Medicine is overhyped. They also think it's easy to have 50/100. Well, it's not. People also think that we're proud. It's not as though we are proud but the course itself is a proud course. Medicine students hear a lot of things When you are knowledgeable about a lot of things, you tend to be seen as puffed. Q15: What's the biggest misconception that the lecturers have about students? A: That we don't read. All or most of us read at night. We are trying our best. We come to the class with sleepy eyes. And they would look into our face and tell us, we are not reading. Q16: Has the Nigerian educational system ever harmed you? I wrote JAMB twice. I did well in my first JAMB. I wrote the second because I had to be a source of motivation for my sister. My WAEC result was the best in my school. Talking of failing a course, Failure is not in the DNA. I don't believe I was born to fail. I can't fail. Q17: How do you define failure and success as a student? A: Personally speaking, for you to be a successful student, you should be excellent in all you are doing. An exceptional student should have the ability to adapt quickly and understand concepts. A successful student knows how to approach questions. He has a time management model. He's focused. His attention span is not derailed. He's early to class. That's somebody that is destined for success. Results have a way of defining success. You cannot say somebody is successful without checking the result. A successful student is a distinction student. Success is a mindset. If you fail, it depends on what you are using to judge the failure. People fail at different levels. Failure means "first attempt in learning" There are certain successes that will have to come as a result of multiple failings. I don't think there's any great person that has not failed. I would not listen to if you don't have a track record of failing. Failing is also when you not do well in a particular course and you allow that circumstance to drain you instead of motivate or propel you to go forward. Q18: If you held any position in the SUG BMU, what's one thing that would be different under your administration; one thing we're going to know Edem for? A; Firstly, I would run for the position of the Vice president. I will tweak the social activities of this school. We will make it more informative and educative. The program would be such that people will have fun, learn and Jesus will be seen. I will use my capacity as vice president and shut down this school for Jesus. You have to remember me for that one thing. Q19: Are there any faults in the Nigerian educational system that if given the opportunity to change instantly, you are are going to change and what change(s) are you going to implement? A: There's a lot. Number one, infrastructure. Then, there are certain people in the rural communities that are the hope of this country yet, they are not educated. If a change will have to come, we'll engage parents and tell them the necessity of education because there are people that still believe that the girl child is not supposed to go to school. When it's time, they get married and give birth. We'll change the narrative from the grassroots. Aside that, I will influence the curriculum. These days, education is like forcing students to cram things they would never use. I would like it to be more practical. I believe so much in experiential knowledge. You should be able to put what you know to work. There are students that are stuffed up but cannot do practicals. What's the use of the knowledge then? Also, students will have time to attend conferences to learn how to speak properly. I will ban pidgin English. I will raise the standard of admission into certain departments. There will be a policy of oral interview. Students would be put on probation for weeks so that we check that they'll not constitute a nuisance to the society. Many people that are called graduates are actually terrorists because they passed through the same school that taught them how to be skilled in terrorism. For malpractices, I will scrap out every "miracle center". It will be bombed. I would make sure there are a lot of paper types during exams. Q20: What's your honest opinion about romantic relationships in school? A: I strongly believe that a lot of people, if not most people, that are educated, will meet whoever they are going to spend the rest of their lives with in university. Some have already met them in secondary school but will only get reunited in future. Some will meet at NYSC camp. Some will meet in the course of looking for jobs. Well, in my generation, sadly speaking, once a boy is talking to a girl, there's already a misconception in the minds of anybody that's looking, especially the elderly ones, that there is something wrong about this relationship simply because a boy is talking to a girl. In fact, there are people that make rules that you should not hug, shake hands, or even have a conversation with the opposite gender By the way, I came to this school with that mindset. I saw girls as men, enemies. Gradually, my mind changed. Romantic relationships are beautiful things. It's good to hear your parents tell you that they met each other in school. "I saw her go to class." It makes a whole lot of sense that they struggled, in the four walls of the same university. Although I'm not a fan of the same level, because it's a whole lot to be in the same class with your partner. I'm not saying it's not possible. Just depends on if both parties are understanding. That's what keeps a relationship- understanding. I would approve any romantic relationship that starts in school. Q21: What's your criteria for entering into a relationship? A: You have to have stuff. Once a girl poses as a challenge, intellectually, I would just start to like the person. But not romantically. I would want to be close to you because it does a lot of things to my brain. It means we can work together. I grew up believing that girls do not know anything. So when I see a girl that knows stuff, I will be forced to know more stuff so that girls don't pass me. But then if you pass me, well, I will like you. If you are not intelligent academically, you should be vast in other matters of life. You should not be a social media freak. You have to be a doctor. I don't like nurses, respectfully speaking. Then, you must be fine. I don't believe that there are ugly girls in my life. But if you were ugly before you met me, you automatically become fine. You should be able to listen to me. I can talk a lot but you should be able to hear me, tell me what I'm saying is wrong and draw me back.You should not be scared of attacking me at any point. Finally, you have to be very spiritual. I don't talk to people that do not take God seriously. Q21: When would you know that you're ready for a relationship? When I have money. When I'm able to take care of myself and four others. That's when I know that I'm ready for marriage. I don't want to be in a relationship that will lead to a breakup. I want one that ends in marriage. Q22: If you have not already found her, do you wish to find your Mrs. Right in BMU? My life is in the hands of God and I believe that my paths are ordered by God.

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