The 21-year-old lady did mother Africa proud on Saturday, May 10, 2014 when she graduated with a First Class (Cum Laude) in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Tulsa.
Oluwanifemi’s mother, Mrs Yetunde Akinloye, who had been following her Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) right from her first year, said her daughter was confident that she would graduate in First Class division during her third year in the university.
His father, Chief Gabriel Akinluyi and his beloved wife shared the historic moment, as they stood taller than the cheering crowd at the convocation ceremony. In fact, a thunderbolt of cheers swept the excited couple off their feet, as their daughter became the only African student to bag a First Class in Petroleum Engineering in the university for the 2014 session.
Still short of words, Chief Akinluyi recounted his unforgettable moment of glory in United States, saying, “My head was swollen when they called her out for the award and you needed to have seen the applause. Most people in the hall were mainly whites and Asians. But the moment they called this black Nigerian girl out, in fact, we stood up and everyone started clapping for us. It was like I was the one receiving the award.”
Chief Akinluyi, a former management staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company, told our reporter that the event was a memorable one, describing it as the happiest day in his life. Although sponsoring her daughter’s education abroad took a pound of flesh off him, with lots of sacrifices for his family, her conquest has healed his pain. He has already given his blessings to her desire to commence a postgraduate programme.
According to him, Oluwanifemi chose a new area of study in the oil industry for her postgraduate programme, “Expected Oil Recovery for Non-conventional Resources.” These resources, according to findings, are those that require advanced technology and stimulation to produce. They include shale gas, tight gas, coal bed methane, among others.
Our reporter learnt that Oluwanifemi was the only African student that had a First Class in Petroleum Engineering during the 2014 session. Her latest award has added to her growing profile, having won a leadership scholarship award given to international students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills. Also, she was a mentor at the University of Tulsa International Student Mentor Programme, a position awarded to students with exceptional academic performance and good reputation on campus.
Oluwanifemi was also on the Dean’s Honour Roll, a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Society of Petroleum Engineers, American Society of Drilling Engineers, among others. Although she was diligent in her studies, she never neglected community service to improve the lives of others. Between August, 2012 and May 2013 in Oklahoma, she embarked on a Christian facility tour for children with special needs, where she assisted the children during their lunch break. Far back in 2007, she washed cars to raise fund for the Little Orphanage, Lagos.
Investigation by our reporter revealed that she was a high-flyer student at Rainbow College in 2004 and made the Honour Roll later in 2005 for her outstanding performance. She also emerged the Most Outstanding Student of Caleb International School in 2007 before she proceeded to Canterbury International High School, Lagos where she graduated in 2009.
Her father told our reporter that he discovered her daughter’s potential when he attended an open day event in her secondary school where she swept all the academic awards. He recalled that although she wasn’t a bookworm as such, she was quite diligent with her academic work.
“She wasn’t reading morning, night and day. I wouldn’t say she was a bookworm but she is indeed a serious student growing up. She was the best in 10 subjects out of 11 she offered in the secondary school that year. That was the day I knew that she had quite some potentials. I cannot really say that I was surprised that she made First Class in such a highly competitive institution like the University of Tulsa,” he said.
Chief Akinluyi confessed that he kicked against sending her to America to study when his wife, Yetunde, initially brought up the issue. According to him, since he was not doing any ‘dollar business’, how would he cope with the challenge of paying her fees in dollars? Aside the cost of the programme, he also tried to dissuade her from studying Petroleum Engineering because he considered it too tough.
“Having worked for Shell, I knew that Petroleum Engineering was a tough course. Why not take up something easier? But she insisted that she will study the course. I thank God that her success has complemented my efforts in Shell,” he said.
Above all, her daughter was like the Biblical Isaac, a promised child that took many years to arrive. So, weaning her so quick from parental love to study in the United States when she was a little above 16 was in itself a test of faith for the couple. Her mum, Yetunde, admitted that letting her daughter go far away from home was emotionally challenging but she was confident that her Christian upbringing and studiousness in her studies would achieve the desired result.
Our reporter gathered that the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), in support of Oluwanifemi’s outstanding performance, volunteered to pay her tuition fee for the programme. Although the parents still bore a large bulk of the cost, Fashola’s support was a seed of excellence that challenged her to leap higher.
Speaking on the exploits of other Nigerian children in different parts of the world, Akinluyi said such performances could be replicated in Nigerian tertiary institutions if the government can order its priorities right.
Akinluyi said his daughter’s success sent a strong message to other young Nigerians living in the cloud of despair for lack of opportunity to express their talents. He urged such youngsters never to lose hope, as he called on the government to support students that are doing well as done by the government of other countries. He also urged corporate bodies to take talent hunt seriously and look out for outstanding students in order to tap their potentials for national development.
“A child that has done very well should be encouraged by the government and other establishments. That will show the world that Nigerians can reach anywhere with government’s support. My daughter’s friend that came from Malaysia started enjoying scholarship within the first two years of her study. When the government saw that she was doing so well, her government signed her on and when she ended up making a First Class, the government asked her to work for them and continue her postgraduate programme. All of us sat on the same table at the convocation ceremony,” he said.
He said Nigerian students have great talents, which are not properly harnessed for lack of government support.
Hear him: “That is what we are praying for. That is what we expect the Nigerian government to be doing for her students. If the government can take interest in some of these brilliant minds, then, the sky will be the limit for this country. Other students who have the same capability but are not being encouraged will strive to do very well and project our good image abroad. The government should encourage these bright ones. Identify them wherever they are. Set them on and they will go to great height. We have the brains just like other people from different parts of the globe. Nigerians have proven themselves beyond doubt that they have talents.”
Also speaking, Mrs Akinluyi supported her husband’s claim that a lot of brilliant students in the country lack the required support to accomplish their dream. She urged the government to initiate policies that would encourage children that are doing exceptionally well in school.
“Going round the campuses, I don’t think it will be too much for the government to ask the Vice Chancellors to submit names of students that are constant in attaining high Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) after two years of stay on the campus. From there, they can take them up,” she suggested.
She noted that sacrifices by parents, especially mothers, to give their children quality education remain a lasting investment, as she encouraged parents overburdened with such responsibilities never to relent in their commitment to their children.
Mrs Akinluyi, who studied Microbiology at the University of Benin, denied influencing her daughter’s choice of science course. Rather, she said Oluwanifemi chose her preferred university, which left them with no option but to support her.
“She sourced for the school herself. The choice of the course was hers. I always believe that your mind is your first choice. There is no success without hardwork. I know she reads, coupled with the kind of friends she had at school. Most of her friends were high-flyers, mostly from disciplined homes, from Africa, Asian countries in particular, Uk and others, and they knew they can’t afford to drop on their academic performance. My daughter was an all-rounder: reading, hardwork, social life. She was just herself,” she said.
The excited mother also revealed her choicest wish for Nigerian education sector, saying,
“How I wish the education system in Nigeria has policies that have come to stay. Government in, government out brings about policy changes. Honestly, there are so many potentials in the younger ones today, whether those studying abroad or at home. If only the universities can be well equipped where lecturers are well remunerated to put these children on the same level or platform with their counterparts around the world. The commitment of the lecturers will also tell you the quality of students you will have,” she added.
Source :
BY SAM OTTI
Sunnewsonline.com
