PROTEST: Mapoly Students Declares "BLACK WEEK" In Abeokuta (See Facebook/Whatsapp Screenshot) #SaveMapoly

The #SaveMapoly Campaign, the Average Nigerian Student Dilemma and Need for Proactive Policies

Olanrewaju Oyedeji 

When I woke up and saw students thronging to the social media with their hashtags, right in my head I knew they have been frustrated and saw the Need to act. 
Nonetheless , it Is worrisome that even with the embarrassing state of Nigerian Education and what students are made to pass through, constant disagreements on policies continue to ravage our campuses. 
I have heard arguments that politicians act the way they do because they don't have their kids in Nigerian public Varsities, while I agree to some extent, I believe it still boils down to lack of basic urge for responsibility. It is funny that it is when students file out or launch a Social Media campaign that conflicts receive very fast pace of resolution. In a situation where the world is clamoring for better Educated individuals, it is funny that our own country keep diminishing in quality but improves in quantity. 
One can begin to ask questions of if the Ogun State Government made a unilateral decision in deciding to turn Mapoly to a University, in a normal setting, the staff Union should be carried along when the decisions were made. 
It seems in Nigeria we care less about the time factor, administrators sometimes I think feel students should be ready to wait even longer. 

A responsible government should not wait till students protest or take policies that would harm them. 
While it is encouraging that students now explore the Social and Digital Media, the fundamental question one needs to ask is why disagreements need to take place from time to time in Nigerian Education sector, there has been arguments that Education is too cheap in Nigeria but Education especially for a developing country like ours should be made accessible for as low as possible. 
The #SaveMapoly Campaign shows the continued dearth we have in the Education sector, the need to revamp the sector and the need to allow more funding which would be monitored from time to time. 
Sometimes it's not just about establishing a University, it's about not delaying even the future of the thousands of students policies affect, only those that take Education seriously, build a future. 
All stakeholders should join the voice to #SaveMapoly and bring everyone to listen to the plight of this beautifully made students even as they cry in pain.

See Screenshot below:

SU ELECTION: Vote Team Movement For Revolution – Come One, Come All (Read Details)

Now it's time to VOTE for those who will fight for the right of our dear students. This TEAM is here to help with the inadequacy that has been happening in our institution. We can't do it alone without your favorable support. 

... And i present to you the TEAM MOVEMENT FOR REVOLUTION

Journey 4 President
Ben10 4 V. President
Olamide 4 Gen. Sec.
AFO 4 Fin. Sec.
Oshomo 4 Treasurer
Aremu 4 Welfare Dir.
Phoenix 4 P. R. O
Cosmas 4 Social Dir.
Educated O. G 4 Sport Dir.
Cyrus 4 A. G. S

Student union has been the most powerful and effective voice student has ever had in history. Where there is no student representative the student body at large is *WEAK,* that is one of the reason we must all turn out towards forthcoming election *.. if truly we want to put a lasting solution to the crisis on campus.

Please don't  say or think what is your business with the election· My brother and sister it's your business because your are a student of this our Great Citadel of learning and am sure you are not happy with what is going on in campus and you want a Lasting Solution. Therefore i present to you the *VOICES* of the *VOICELESS*

Mapoly To Release New Academic Calendar For 2nd Semester – Press Club Mapoly (Read Full Details)

 

BREAKING: MAPOLY TO RELEASE NEW ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR 2ND SEMESTER EXAMINATION 

The Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Today, is set to releases the new academic calendar for the commencement of the second semester Examination following the MAUSTECH/OGUN POLY crisis which disrupted the School second semester's academic calendar.

PRESS CLUB MAPOLY learnt that there was an Academic Board meeting held today where the new examination date was deliberate upon in order to begin the second semester examinations.

It would be recalled that The first phase HND Examination was scheduled to began on the 18th of September 2017. 

 Meanwhile, The meeting was said to be inconclusive and by Tomorrow the new academic calendar would be out..

To this Effect, PRESS CLUB MAPOLY however implore and also urged Students to start preparations towards their examinations immediately as We expect the examination date to be announces soonest.. 

© PRESS CLUB MAPOLY

MAPOLY Resumes Academic Activities - ASUP MAPOLY CHAPTER

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta, Chapter has decided to suspend the ongoing industrial action and resumed full academic activities on Monday 23rd October, 2017.

The Union took the decision at its congress held on Friday October 20, 2017.

It would be recalled that the Union has been on a work-to-rule since September 18 of this year, which consequently resulted in the suspension of the school’s second semester examination.

Chairman of MAPOLY ASUP, Comrade Kola Abiola, while briefing journalists after the meeting alleged that the government did not only ignore its letters and communiqués but also paid half salaries of September to staff of the institution.

He said, “60% of salaries of September is yet to be paid and the assurance for salaries of October is not guaranteed, even according to the governor”

However, the union out of trust for the new rector resolved to suspend the ‘work to rule’- an industrial action in which workers are present at work but slow down their operations.

“The Acting Rector, Mr. Ayodeji Tella made series of promises concerning welfare and the admission process as a mark of trust for the rector, we decided to suspend the work-to-rule that we have embarked on”,he said.

The union gave the management two weeks ultimatum to balance the staff salary or witness an indefinite and strongly marked industrial dispute.

Mr. Abiola said, “we have given the management two weeks ultimatum in which the balance of the 60% of last month salary should be paid and ND1 admission into either Ogun state Polytechnic, Ipokia or/and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta should commence”.

“If you don’t admit into either of the two schools this year, that means that one academic session is lost and it has an implication with the regulatory authority” he explained.

The union stated some other conditions which include a reply to its last communiqué dated 1st October, 2017 by the Honorable Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.

Abiola said, “At the end of the two weeks, if these conditions are not met, then the union would have no choice but to declare industrial dispute with the management of MAPOLY”.

When asked about the date for the commencement of the exam, he said it was not in the position of the union to tell when to start exam because “it is the prerogative of the management to arrange the calendar and decide when to start exam”.

Meanwhile, the governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosu has earlier in the day assured students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic at a Town Hall meeting for 2018 budget, that the school may start exam on Monday.

He said, “Before I left for Abuja yesterday, I met with your new rector and I asked him about the exam. He said he was looking at Monday next week…. You may start on Monday.

Comrade Abiola refuted the governor’s claim saying “our decisions were not borne out of any intimidation by anybody. What we have done as academic staff is not to confront anybody but to ask that the basic welfare of the people you want to move to the new location of the school should be paramount”

He claimed that no lecturer is bordered about going to the newly established Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia but the government should put into cognizance the conduciveness of the said institution and the welfare of lecturers.

“We have asked the government not to engage in illegality. Ogun state polytechnic is not known by law. Why do you want to move staff that are employed by a legal entity to a school that does not have any legal standing” he queried”

Signed:

Comrade Poviesi Daniel Pastor Dee

ASSOPATS PRESIDENT ELECT 

Broadcast by;

Mido-lee 

Assopat PRO 2 elect

MAPOLY WILL STILL BE IN EXISTENCE IN FOUR YEARS- AMOSUN (See Photos)

MAPOLY WILL STILL BE IN EXISTENCE IN FOUR YEARS- AMOSUN

* Appoints Acting Rector

* As students protest state of education in the State

Michael Adesanya

Abeokuta

Against insinuations that the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Ojere, Abeokuta, Ogun State has gone into extinction over the upgrading of the school to a University status, the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has said the school would still be in existence for the next four years.

Amosun disclosed this while speaking to the State students who came in their hundreds to his Oke-Mosan Governor's Office, Abeokuta to protest the state of education in the State.

The State recently upgraded MAPOLY to Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUSTECH) and created Ogun State Polytechnic which would be located at Ipokia area of the State.

The placard carrying students under the aegis of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Ogun axis began their protest at the National Nigeria Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Abiola Way down to the Governor's Office where the demonstration was terminated.

They tagged their action "Rescue Ogun State Education Campaign (ROSEC)". Some of the placard inscriptions read: " Save Ogun State education ", " Education must survive" and "Mapoly must survive".

The Chairman of Ogun NANS, Comrade Olawale Balogun told the Governor that the students was not happy with the State of education in the State, urging the government to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

He specifically mentioned the delay in the commencement of the examination of MAPOLY, saying the action would affect the career of the students.

Balogun said the association was not in tune with the cancellation of the payment of West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and the hike in the Acceptance fee of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

The Governor said the State government is working hard to improve the standard of education in the State.

On MAPOLY, Amosun disclosed that it was their lecturers who were delaying their exams, saying he has explained to them the issues in clear terms.

He said the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) of the school would be invited immediately to address the issue.

The Governor said the students who were currently running various programmes at different levels would finished their studies, insisting that no student would be taken to Ipokia.

Amosun emphatically said that there would not be automatic appointment for the aggrieved lecturers in both the University and the new polytechnic, insisting they would have to apply for the new ones.

"I am not happy because this my school. What is happening today is because those that have been given the privilege to serve us are not serving well"

" Everybody here (current MAPOLY students) will finish their courses, it will take four years before MAPOLY will go into extinction, You are not going to Ipokia . If the lecturers don't want that, we will sort them out"

On the University and new Polytechnic, he said "We will sort for new lecturers for the university and the new poly.  Mapoly lecturers are not comfortable with it, I said the appointment they have is for MAPOLY, for the new University, they will have to reapply. If they are qualified, they can take them".

"I will ask the Commissioner to meet them again".

On the delay exams, the Governor stressed "They cannot hold us to Ransom, they will explain to us why there is delay but it cannot be because we are creating new schools".

"We are only admitting ND 1. We are not admitting any student to Mapoly. We are not sacking anybody, we are not taking them automatically. Why should we carry another place problem to new one.

"We are only admitting ND one. If you have carryover you are going to Ipokia. I told them (management) don't admit new students to MAPOLY".

He added "Education will be free at the primary and secondary schools, for tertiary we will subsidise it".

Meanwhile, the Rector of the school, Prof Oladele Itiola has proceeded on his terminal leave.

The State government in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo  Adeoluwa however appointed, Mr Ayodeji Salimon as the Acting Rector of the school with immediate effect.  

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THE EFFECTS OF MAPOLY TRANSITION TO UNIVERSITY ON ITS STUDENTS

It is no longer news that Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere Abeokuta Ogun State has been converted into Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology. The Transition has Led

to the following problems:

=> Lecturer Protest against Mass Labor Turnover

=> Delay in the Examination of HND 2 FT/EV

=> Communication Gap between State Government and Management of MAPOLY

=> Inconsistent Lecture for ND1 & ND 2 FT/EV

=> Failure to admit new students for ND 1 and HND 1 FT/EV

                           

 Ogunbiyi Ahmed ET Muftau Arifayo "2017

Based on the aforementioned problems each stakeholder (Government, MAPOLY Managements and Students) are agitating for their right but the noise of the grass root (Students) seems not to be heard. The transition has posed a significant effect on students such as;

=> Students that have any issue such as Carryover/ Extra year, how will they complete their programme?

=> Students have lost focus on reading most especially HND 2 FT/EV which can significantly lead to mass failure if the examination commences soon.

=> Students that hold Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Certificate have no reference point anymore based on which school they finished from.

=> National Youth Service Corps of Outgoing HND 2 FT has been delayed as well because no mobilization without final examination

=> Delay in youths plan as various outgoing students have individual plans which have been affected negatively by the delay in their final examination.

Mapoly Students

      However, the crisis going on wouldn’t have occurred if the Ogun state government had learnt from the TASUED/TASCE crisis, which recently occurred as a result of lack of funding. As student(s) of MAPOLY, we have not said the transition is not a good achievement but proper structure ought to have been put in place, structures that will mutually benefit both parties (Government and MAPOLY stakeholders). 

The Government should not have scrapped MAPOLY while the new MAUSTECH was being established. Better still, MAUSTECH should be entirely new varsity at Ipokia instead of destroying laid down structure in MAPOLY. The implication is that if MAPOLY had not been scrapped by statue and simply related to Ipokia, (name can be changed to Ogun Poly) then the workers will no longer have the right to argue that they cannot be transferred or moved to the same institution new location. This issues has posed a very negative effects on both students’ and MAPOLY Staff as the student’s graduation is not guaranteed while the staffs’ employment is at stake.

Concerning Profferable solutions, the issues are still not far-fetched and rectification can be done amicably if the following can be considered based on the problems and its tremendous effect on students and MAPOLY Staff :

=> MAPOLY Staffs should be included in transition committee to ensure mutually but beneficial satisfactions.

Government should have a general meeting with all Management both teaching and non teaching staff in order to develop goals and planning strategy which can resolve the current issues 

=> They should consider the current human resources in MAPOLY by retaining qualified staff for University and deploy others to new establishment.

=> MAUSTECH should be entirely a new university at Ipokia to avoid needless argument.

=> MAPOLY should be de-scrapped, if already scrapped, movement to a new site will them simply be on disarticulation of co-habilitation policy.

                                  Ogunbiyi Ahmed ET Muftau Arifayo "2017

     It is high time the institution enjoy the goodness of the government, OGSG should support the institution (MAPOLY) by completing the road leading to the institution, building more lecture room, practical room, and payment of staffs salaries.

    In conclusion, all government should learn from this, the OGSG has basically focused on infrastructure in the state which is a very good idea, but then again, infrastructure cannot go in isolation. Others aspect should also be considered basically on EDUCATION and ENTREPRENEURSHIP and AGRICULTURE. If the students are not schooled or empowered, they might destroy the infrastructure of the government. Agriculture however will promote the culture and tradition of the state and as a result leads economy boom in the state as well as job opportunities.

Written by:

Ogunbiyi Ahmed and

Arifayo Muftau

Should MAPOLY goes into extinction, Recession will take over Abeokuta - ASUP Chairman

Following the crisis rocking the conversion of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to a University of Science and Technology and establishment of a new Ogun state Polytechnic in Ipokia , the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of polytechnic, (ASUP), MAPOLY, Comrade Kola Abiola, has warned that, the extinction of MAPOLY may cripple businesses in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The ASUP Chairman, who spoke during an interview on a radio programe, Ayekooto on a private radio station Sweet 101.7 Fm , Abeokuta, explained that, most of the markets including, Panseke, Kuto, Omida and Lafenwa all in Abeokuta are duly patronized by MAPOLY students.

“Traders will cry for help, transporters may die of hunger while houses will be vacant in areas like Abule Ojere, Oluwo, Onikolobo, Panseke, Ita-eko and other student areas”.

Speaking on the crisis, he lamented that the Union has not received any positive response from the state government, saying that they have written three separate letters to the government through the commissioner for education Modupe Mujota.

The ASUP Chairman further explained that the association is not against the conversion of the Polytechnic to University, saying, the union is more concerned about the survival and sustenance of both Institutions.

Comrade Abiola however noted that, the 2017 \ 2018 admission might not be successful, saying there are no plans for the new students both in Abeokuta and Ipokia.

In his words “In MAPOLY there is always about 9 to 10 hours non- interrupted electricity supply, but since this crisis began, we hardly get electricity for three hours. “We are concerned about the survival and sustenance of both Institutions. But, nobody is talking to us, we have written three separate letters to the government through the commissioner for education and one directly to the government, we got no response. “The government doesn’t give us money to finance the institution, yet we find means by paying our staffs. “We didn’t say the government is doing bad, what we need is that, they should call us for dialogue and listen to our points”. 

Meanwhile ,there was confusion yesterday in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta as the staff of the institution shunned the proposed second semester exams billed to start yesterday. This was following the faceoff between Ogun State government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, MAPOLY chapter over the conversion of the Polytechnic to Moshood University of Science and Technology, Abeokuta, and establishment of Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia.

Students who had prepared for the exams were left stranded at the examination centers as there was no one to conduct the exams nor address the students on the new development. Members of the Academic Union were however seen gathering for an emergency congress at the Union House within the Polytechnic. There was no one to address the press on the outcome of the congress which lasted for about two hours but a member of the Union who spoke in confidence with our correspondent revealed that the congress declared a 'work-to-rule'.

The Chairman of the Union, Kola Abiola, who was later monitored on a television programme insisted that the lecturers of the institution had become endangered specie over the conversion. The Chairman said that while the government did not include any members of the union in the technical committee, the union was also not consulted by the same committee.

He explained that while the new University has been recognised by the National University Commission, NUT, the staff are yet to know the status of the new Polytechnic. He lamented that while the Polytechnic has not been recognised by the National Board for Technical Education, courses are yet to be accredited. 

With all these controversies, according to Abiola, the government is also bent on moving the lecturers to the new polytechnic. He said, "If you look at the website of NUC, you will see Moshood Abiola University of Technology that has been recognised, what's is the status of Ogun State Polytechnic with National Board for Technical Education?.

"This is a question we are constantly asking Ogun State government and the technical committee. If I am going to Ipokia and accreditation has not been gotten for Ipokia, what happens to my fate? "The Governor of Ogun State has said they are in agreement with NBTE and to our own understanding, we don't know when NBTE goes into an agreement with anybody because there's a standard for accreditation.

"We are not saying we all want to work in the University. The university has been recognised but no course has been accredited but the Polytechnic has not been accredited by NBTE, the Polytechnic has no accredited course. As government, do you want to bring in students for courses that have not been accredited? 

Abiola explained that three different letters had been written to the state Commissioner of Education, Modupe Mujota while another one was written to the Governor through her office. He however said that none of the letters, including one which was published on a daily newspaper, was acknowledged by the government.

While asked to talk on the proposed exams for which time table had been released, Abiola said, "We are not on strike, but exam is not starting, lectures still continue." Efforts to speak with the management of the Institution proved unsuccessful as calls put across to his mobile line of the Public Relation Officer, Sulaiman Adebiyi was switched off.

Source: www.platformtimes.com.ng

Current MAPOLY students will not be transferred to Ipokia - Amosun

Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun has revealed that current students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY) will not be transferred to the newly-established Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia.

This is coming after months of speculation on whether current students of MAPOLY transferred to the new Polytechnic.

The governor said only fresh students will be admitted for ND programmes at Ipokia. He made this known on Friday when he led the technical team and other members of the State Executive Council, including his Deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga to the Foundation-laying of Ogun Poly, Ipokia on Friday.

Speaking at the site of the main campus in Ijaye-Okeeyinbo, Amosun however said staff of MAPOLY who wish to work at MAUSTECH must re-apply. He also said those who want to work at Ipokia will get automatic employment.

"We are not bringing anybody from ND2, it is the new ND1 students that will be admitted here. We will allow people in Abeokuta to see what they are doing through. But those that will be given admission ND1 this year will come here.

"To those lecturers, we have to fix that. If anybody is expecting that the same set of lecturers at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic are going to be retained to Moshood Abiola University of Science and technology, that can’t be.

"Everybody that wish to be in the university will apply, but any of them that wants to come here is automatic. I’m appealing to them that we meant well, it is only the name and location that has changed," he said.

On the number of buildings that we available at Ipokia, Amosun said, "I know what it takes, I know what it entails. Ogun is 40 and the maturity should reflect in the way we do things. All we need to do now is to provide lecture rooms, we are ready to take up to 4,000. If we want to do it in batches of 200 so be it.

"The contractors are here, we are starting immediately but the administrative blocks may not be ready because you are talking of about three or more blocks but the ones that they will need, we will make sure they are available. We will use accommodation for lecturers too to make sure they are comfortable.

"I know it is a well founded fear when ASUP (MAPOLY) said they don’t want it but you know there will be some prices, there will be some sacrifices. The fears of transportation, we are going to provide buses for people from Idi-Iroko to take people here," he added.

Amosun noted that the institution would not only be a full conventional institution but one that would comply with international standards whose graduates would be able to compete favourably with others around the world.

The Governor further said the establishment of the Polytechnic was part of his administration’s socio-economic blueprint to distribute infrastructure across the state.

MAPOLY Students: Determination Propelled us to become Chartered Accountants

Two undergraduates, Miss Oluwakemi Bakinde, 24 and Miss Opeyemi Sowemimo, 18, of the Department of Accountancy, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, who recently became chartered accountants shared their experiences of determination and setting their priorities right with Funmi Ogundare

Becoming a chartered accountant combines innovative education with mentored work experience to produce an accountant that possesses a greater ability to analyse and interpret business problems and develop dynamic solutions.

Bakinde, an indigene of Ogun State, expressed delight about her achievement while attributing it to determination, prayers and encouragement from family, friends and lecturers. “For me, I feel happy, delighted and great because it has always been one of my dreams to become a chartered accountant before being a graduate. It is a rare privilege to achieve this and I pray God Almighty guides me through achieving my other dreams.Perhaps this was the driving force for Miss Oluwakemi Bakinde, 24 and Miss Opeyemi Sowemimo, 18, of the Department of Accountancy, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, who became chartered accountants while pursuing their academic programme at a time when most of their colleagues are running after one social activities or another on campus.

“Without doubt, there is nothing anyone can achieve without prayers and the will of God in such person’s life. So, prayers, determination, encouragement from friends and family as well as lectures contributed greatly to this achievement. At this juncture, I must really appreciate the efforts of my lecturers in school whose experiences, professionalism, encouragement and passion for their students’ greatness were and are immeasurable at this point in my academic pursuit. I must also appreciate the lectures received from tutorial centres.”

Asked how she feels being one of the few students to become chartered accountants as undergraduates, she said, “the statement does not really hold true for us at MAPOLY because our department is renowned for producing chartered accountants who are still in their National and Higher National Diploma programmes. In fact, not too long ago, precisely in 2011, one Kaosarat Alade then in her National Diploma (ND) emerged as the best female student of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), having in 2009 at the age of 21 become a chartered accountant.”

On what makes her department and the institution to stand out from others, Bakinde described it as not only one of the best departments in the polytechnic, but also a force to be reckoned with among other institutions.

“The fact that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has always accredited the programme and the retinue of successful chartered accountants and other graduates of the department, including the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun lay credence to the outstanding status of the department and the polytechnic.

“We have seasoned, committed and professional lecturers who will leave no stone unturned in equipping their students with all ingredients needed for success.”

For other students of accountancy who desire to become chartered accountants, she advised them to always encourage themselves. “It is true that Rome was not built in a day, but without the determination and will to get there, you will not even commence the journey at all. Therefore, as much as the journey may not be smooth at all times, they have to believe in the fact that they can achieve it.

“For instance, while I am delighted about my achievement, a colleague of mine, an ND II student who was 18 years old also became a chartered accountant. It means others should aim to better and surpass the feats recorded by those before them. Like I also said earlier, with prayers, commitment, believe and support, the sky is always the beginning of greater things for all.”

In her submission, Sowemimo, the first child in a family of four, who already qualified as an associate of accounting technician in December 2016, said accounting has always been her passion, adding, “I love studying and teaching accounting.”

She said she began to pursue professional programmes after her secondary education. “I started the foundation level of ICAN called the ATWA. I started from ATS I and while I was preparing for ATS II was when I got admission into MAPOLY. MAPOLY also contributed to my study in these programmes in that what we did at our National Diploma (ND) level were related to the foundation level of ICAN at ATS I and ATS II and I gained more knowledge by gaining admission and receiving lectures in MAPOLY. I did Economics and Accounting at ATS I which we did here in ND I and also Communication Skills and for ATS II, I did Statistics and Public Sector Accounting which we did at ND II. All those things helped me so much that it would have been nearly impossible for me to achieve this without those lectures.”

Asked if one must be proficient in mathematics to succeed in the study of accountancy Sowemimo said, “we have different opinions on that but I think there is more to accounting than what people think. They may think it is just about the writing aspect but there is mathematics in accounting. You have to be mathematically versed before you can venture into accounting.”

On how she was able to combine academics with professional programmes she said: “It was not easy but I had to cope. I always had a conflict of interest on whether to come to school or go for my professional lectures. We always have our priorities and we also know what should come first. It was not as easy for me but all thanks to God. I knew what I wanted and I knew how to prioritise.

“Also, determination and discipline helped me, there were times I had lectures here in MAPOLY and my ICAN examination was close, I stayed at home to read for the exams and thereby missed out of lectures at that period. There were also times I had to leave ICAN for school. I prioritised what I wanted from the many that I had at hand. All of those times, I didn’t attend any social gathering though I was an honorary member of the Excel Assembly Foundation. In fact, I was not committed to it.”

On how she surmounted the challenges at the time, she said, “the exams affected my grades here on campus. My expectation was to finish with distinction, but when I started moving close to it, it was late. I had 3.36 in my first semester ND I, but it was not enough because I knew what I wanted. I had 3.85 in the first semester of my second year but cumulatively, it only moved towards distinction but not distinction in the end.”

Asked how she felt when she passed these examinations, she said, “I was happy because at the end of it all; it was worth it and I have some dignity with my name. I felt I have set a good path for my siblings to emulate being the first of four and knowing how impressed my parents were, I felt fulfilled. I felt it was a reward for my grades that dropped in school. It was more like compensation. It filled the gap left by my average grades.”

Sowemimo, whose role models include the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Accountant-General of Ogun State, Pastor Joseph Aborewa and some of her lecturers, aspires to become a renowned chartered accountant.

“I looked up to great prospects ever since I was young. Qualifying as a chartered accountant does not make you renowned but I am planning to become a versatile one that deals with accuracy and integrity. I love to become a point of reference to generations and I love to be a motivational speaker.”

She also advised other students to set their priorities right as a way of improving on their academics. “They should have priorities. My opinion can be different from someone else’s but when you know what you aspire to become, you will know what you want to work towards. I also believe in the fact that you should expect the unexpected and if possible, become the unexpected. What you do not sacrifice for will later be your sacrifice.

“As students, you must know what you want and you must set your priorities right. You shouldn’t do things because you want people to feel you, you should rather do things based on personal benefits and how they benefit your future. You should be futuristic. When I was missing classes, some of my mates thought I was unserious, I didn’t look at them because I knew what I wanted and I knew what to do to get them.”

To the lecturers and management of MAPOLY, Sowemimo said: “they should be considerate with the 70 per cent attendance required of each student. Sometimes the fact that you are not in school for classes does not mean you are unserious. It is a fact they must understand. 70 per cent attendance makes students committed but the management should be considerate.”

SOURCE: thisdaylive.com