Olotu; 400L

Q1: How did you come to BMU?

A: I came here in 2019. I had other universities that I had intended to go to. But, as God would have it, I am here now.

Q2: What's the hardest academic moment you faced this semester and did you cry?

A: Well, yes. I did not cry per se, but seeing your pharmacology results just one or two digits can make you very emotional. Those were the times I was really sad.

Q3: How do you define failure and success as a student?

A: Failure and success is largely subjective and relative. But because there is a man-made standard, every university measures success and failure against it.

If the grading system is not there, there is no yardstick to measure success and failure. A successful student, then, is somebody that is meeting up the grading standard of success or of excellence. The students that are not doing well, the “failing students”, are the ones that are not meeting up to the grading standard of success.

Q4: Have you ever made any major mistakes as a student and what lesson has it taught you?

A: Yes, I've made many mistakes as a student that's taught me a lot of things. Procrastination is one of the major mistakes. I was supposed to have a test tomorrow. I procrastinated and told God that they should cancel the test.

Guess what?, they canceled the test. To me, procrastination is not a challenge. But it shows on the result when I do it. As I’m talking now, my pharmacology has a lot of binary numbers, but God is helping us and will continue to help us.

Q5: Is there any deity that you believe in and why?

A: Yes, I believe in a supreme being-God. I don't want to call mine ‘deity’. I believe in a being that is outside the understanding of man. I believe in Him for many reasons. One of the reasons I believe in Him is that I have experienced Him first hand.

Q6: Would God EQUALLY help students who have been diligent in keeping up their spiritual/academic life since the beginning of the semester and students who only come to Him when it’s time for exams?

A: Yes, He will. The Bible says God loves us and the love of God is not as a result of who you are. God loves you because of who He is. It is not about what you do. It's just that you have to do certain things to align with spiritual principles.

The fact that you pray or fast, does not change the love of God. So if God loves us because of who He is and not because of who we are, then it does not really matter what we do.

God loves everybody so God will help everybody.

That is what I believe.

Q7: Do you think religion plays any role in academics?

A: Yes, I do. One plus one is not always two. It equals many things. So you have to force the thing to become two or more. God, in my opinion, helps us to align to that force, that violence, that makes one plus one two or more.

God helps you. God can give you speed and favor academically. But then, there are general principles in life- if you work hard, it is supposed to yield success- all things being equal in an ideal situation.

If a student that doesn't know God works hard, obeying the general principles that God has already put in the entire cosmos, he would still excel. It's just that having God is an added advantage, like an icing to the cake.

Q8: What’s your honest opinion about romantic relationships in school?

A: In my opinion, there are no rules anywhere. Everybody's saying their opinion. For me, the Bible is the basis and the Bible is the standard. Anywhere the Bible is loud on, we are loud on in that area. Where the Bible is not loud, we say it as an opinion. Most of all these things are opinions and they are valid to the degree to which their validity is perceived. The Bible did not tell us what age to get into a relationship.

For me, is there any place-school, work, church, etc- in this world that you go with the intention of finding a spouse?

No but, in the process of doing one thing, you can catch another.

We can catch another thing whilst fulfilling our purpose.

You can use one stone to kill 13 birds.

I believe that the Bible does not give us any rule.

If you are mentally stable or you think that you are capable enough, you can be in a relationship. The person should not distract you. If you are going to be in a relationship in school, there are rules and boundaries that you must follow. I'm not part of the people that will be bent on saying, ‘you should not be in a relationship’. Every other thing is an opinion because the Bible did not state categorically that you should not be in a relationship while you're in school. I've said it before that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was between the ages of 13 to 16 when she gave birth to Jesus. I think we would call that ‘teenage pregnancy’ but we respect God enough not to say that. How about that? I think that there are no rules, but we must respect boundaries and know what we want. Yes, they are all opinions and they are valid to the degree to which we perceive their validity. There is no fixed path.

Q9: Do you wish to see your Mrs. Right in this university?

A: If God permits and I see the person that is meant for me here, ‘I don go’. Anywhere it happens, whether here in BMU or not, even if it's on the day I'm graduating, we are moving. There's no time to waste.

Q10: Who instantly pops up in your head if I ask about anyone that has shaped your academic journey?

A: One of our professors. Professor Uche. He's a professor of gynecology and obstetrics. Professor Olu Osinowo, he's late now. Dr. Iza, the HOD of microbiology department in BMU. Dr. Abaye and a host of others. These are the people that come to mind as you asked this question.

Q11: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

A: I see myself in the nations of the world. I don't know how to explain that.

Q12: Do you see yourself in a hospital prescribing drugs in the next 10 years?

A: Everybody has their path. I don't think that's mine. I want to be a doctor because I love the profession and I also want to have ‘Doctor’ added to my name. That's one thing that inspires me. I do not really want to practice medicine, but of course, I'll practice because I cannot waste my time here without practicing later. I don't see myself practicing for 10 years, though.

Q13: What's the biggest misconception you think lecturers have about students?

A: They judge people and conclude too fast. If a student is not doing well academically, they can speak to you as though you don't have a future. I think life does not revolve only around academics. As much as academics is important, there is a whole lot of life outside the four walls of the campus. Since there are no guarantees in life, if someone is not doing well academically, it is not a guarantee that the person will not do well in life. And vice versa.

Another misconception I have observed over the years is that most times, they tend to see those that are doing well academically, superior to those people that are not doing as much. It’s not supposed to be so because, like I said, one plus one is not always two.

Q14: Are there any fault in the educational system of Nigeria that if given the opportunity to change, you’ll change instantly?

A: Yes, there are many faults in the educational system, but I'm not one that likes to point out faults. For the sake of answering the question; one, I think that there should be a system of mentorship in the educational system. Not counselling, mentorship. Mentorship is not counselling.

There should be a system of mentorship because some people may not have formal education as their strength, but they should not be looked down on.

This system of mentorship would aid them academically, and also help them to see that there is life outside the four walls of the campus. Two, there are many things that formal education does not teach. For instance, success. ‘The school’ is basically built to teach generalism. They don't teach you how to live outside the box. They teach you how to fit into it.

One of my greatest books that I found some time ago is titled "If you want to be rich, don't go to school." That does not mean you should not go to school. (I'm a student and I'll soon graduate). The point is that I think that schools should also imbibe certain features into their curriculum like, lectures that can aid for other things outside academics.

Q15: If you held a position in the SUG BMU, what's one thing that'll be different under your administration; one thing we're going to know Olotu for?

I would want to be known for transparency, accountability and structural leadership that is built on vision, mandate and purpose.

They would say that I was visionary, upheld character and I was a person of integrity.

Q16: Are there people/experiences you've met/had that gave you either subtle or obvious confirmations that you were destined to be in BMU and would you like to share?

A: Yes. I met with a Precious that asked me if I could be one of the mentors she would want to have.

It's a confirmation that I'm here to help certain people achieve certain things.

Q17: What's one question you wish I asked you?

A: ‘How are you doing?’ You did not ask how I am doing. You just came here and bombarded me with questions without knowing my emotional stability. Quite unfair.