tunapa2009:
It is a great honour to know this nairalander (username witheld)

Oladesu Olusola, First class
graduate, OAU

Oladesu Olusola, 23, got the highest number of
prizes at the 2011/2012 graduation of Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. He studied
Agricultural Economics and had 4.82 CGPA. He
shares his experience with TUNDE AJAJA

You got the highest number of awards in your
set during your convocation ceremony. Did you
see it coming?

Not really. I knew I would win some prizes because I
was the best student in my department but I didn’t
know it would be up to 10. I won 10 awards,
including the university prize. Interestingly, I didn’t
even plan towards a first class when I gained
admission into OAU. My goal was just to ‘pass’ since I had been told the school was filled with geniuses.
Planning towards a first class was like aiming too
high, but I thank God I got more than that.

What were you told about OAU?

I was told stories about how difficult it could be to
even be above average, not just to have a first class
degree in OAU. However, it helped me lower my
expectations and be humble enough to learn. The
effect was actually positive but it’s not nice to create
an unfounded fear in people. Those that eventually
had first class in OAU didn’t fall from the sky.

Now that you are out of school, how much has
your class of degree helped in getting you a
job?

Though I’m currently doing my NYSC programme in
Lagos State, I would say it has been a bit easy to be
‘considered’ for jobs, based on my class of degree,
more so that most companies request for at least a
Second Class Upper graduate. For now, it has not
gone beyond invitation for aptitude tests and
interviews, which has not translated into getting a
job, but it has been helpful. However, being
considered is something, making it through the
recruitment process to get the job is a different
ballgame. Right now, I’m still a corps member, so I’m
optimistic.

You studied an agricultural course that many
people shy away from, what informed your
choice?

I never heard of Agricultural Economics as a course
until I was offered one in 2007. I wanted to study
Medicine just like many other students of my age.
When I didn’t meet up with the required score in my
UME, now UTME, my parents considered other
options so I wouldn’t stay at home for a year, so they
came up with the course. I took Agriculture and
Economics as separate subjects in secondary school
and I excelled in them, but that combination seemed
weird to me. So, I insisted on studying medicine until
a professor in the Faculty of Environmental Design
and Management advised me to take the course,
which I did. Even when we didn’t have much money,
my parents ensured we had quality education and
they encouraged us with words. I’m sure they would
gladly reward me with material and cash gifts after
reading this interview.

Since you never wanted the course, what
would you attribute your success to?

I developed interest in the course and did the same
thing others did, but in a different way. The way I
read was different and I adopted the method that
worked for me, just like I wouldn’t go to the library to
read because of the comfort, quiet and formal
outlook. I wasn’t a genius, but I drove myself to work
hard and achieve results. I started my reading the
moment the semester began. I would study hard and
broaden my understanding of the topic the same day
it was taught or at most weekends. I didn’t allow my
notes to pile up or wait for test or exam before
reading. I also did group discussion with eight of my
colleagues, but towards exam or test, we could be as
many as 30. That helped me too as the leader of the
group.

But some people think agric-related courses
are simpler compared to others such as
engineering, sciences, etc. How easy was it?

No course was simple in the university I attended.
When compared to engineering and other sciences, it
is not simpler. Each course has its own complexities
and uniqueness, and having that understanding
makes it simple for the individual. We had cases of
some medical and pharmacy students ‘thrown’ to my
department when they could not meet some criteria
to continue in medicine, and they still continued the
downward slide in my faculty. So, no course is easy.
In fact, the course wasn’t that easy. The range of
courses offered in my faculty was wide; from pure
science courses (theoretical and calculations) to
social science and accounting subjects. In addition,
many of my departmental courses required
applications of concepts taught in class to real life
situations.

How was your previous academic
performance?

I started quite well in my elementary school and
finished as the best throughout the three terms of
Primary 5 before I left for Christ the Redeemer’s
International Secondary School, Akure, where I
finished as the best graduating student for 2006/07
session. I passed my WASSCE and UTME once just
that my score in the latter was not up to the
benchmark for Medicine that I wanted to study.

How would you rate your performance as a
first year student?

My performance in the first semester as a first year
student was quite better than what I expected,
considering what I had been told about the school, so
I just wanted to pass, at least. In the first year, I was
close to making a first class, and so I put in more
efforts with strategy and I reached a first class CGPA
at the end of my first session. I put in my best even
though I still had the intention of crossing to
Medicine. I later fell in love with Agricultural
Economics. It helps when we love the course we are
studying. The other thing that helped was that I
spoke to my senior colleagues to know what each
course or lecturer required so I wouldn’t do things
the wrong way. I put my past academic success
behind me because the thought of that could hinder
me from making progress.

Some people may wonder what this course is
all about?

The peculiar aspects of my course include
microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics,
agricultural finance, policy and marketing, farm
management and land economics and it’s very
applicable in Nigeria. An agricultural economist looks
at the economic side of agriculture, either at micro or
macro level.

Do you agree with those who claim the aspect
of agric extension is no longer active in our
agric sector?

Well, I wouldn’t agree with the notion of agric
extension being dormant, because while a large
percentage that are into farming in Nigeria are small-
scale or subsistent farmers, extension officers are
trying their best to reach many of them in order to
adopt modern farming practices. While there may
not be enough extension officers, and some areas are
not even accessible to these officers, calling the
extension arm dormant may sound too harsh.
Entrepreneurship is the new gospel for the average
Nigerian youth and I think farming activities are
beginning to increase, though at a slow rate, but
surely not reducing. I think the future of Agricultural
Economics is robust in this country because we are
entering into a revolutionary period in the
agricultural sector where it needs to be the main stay
of the economy once again.

What was your reading style during exam?

During exams, I dropped the idea of cooking (not that
I was a good cook at other times though) totally
because I believed it would waste my time.
Maintaining academic success was big enough as a
task because I had to excel in every course so as not
to drop. I made sure I moved with like minds. I focused on reading and having group discussions. I
didn’t isolate myself from others because of reading
so I wouldn’t miss any valuable information that
might concern the exam. One should not just work
hard, but work smart. I also prayed as if I had not
read. That didn’t stop me from attending social
gatherings though, especially the religious ones.

]What was your most memorable moment in
school?

That was our convocation day. Being called out
amidst the thousands of students and parents was
wonderful as well as embarrassing. I am always
embarrassed by my own success, no matter how
little it is. Even the people I didn’t know would just
walk up to me and congratulate me. The whole
experience was memorable as well as embarrassing.

What are your aspirations?

It entails furthering my education, getting a job and
so on. I would love to work in the agriculture arm of
an international organisation like World Bank, African
Development Bank, IFAD, IMF etc. I also think I will
have my own farm someday. I also would like to have
the movie scripts I write eventually made into films.
But I just take every step day by day,focusing on one
at a time.

Does it mean you don’t want to work in the
farm?

I look forward to working in a farm that has adopted
modern farming practices and operates on a large
scale.

What is your advice to students?

I advise students to develop a connection with their
course and they should not just work hard but work
smart. They should know what works for them
personally with respect to reading timetable, venue,
etc. They should seek for advice from their senior
colleagues to know specific things about their
courses and be involved in group discussions. All
these would help them. I also wish they would
believe in their country and work hard to make it
better.

www.punchng.com/entertainment/campus-champion/apart-from-working-hard-i-also-worked-smart-oladesu-olusola-first-class-graduate-oau/

ireneony:
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ireneony:
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ireneony:
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colossus2:

And you had to quote all that cos of your frivolous comment