The life of a student is quite an interesting one, one every individual should experience at a certain age. Though complicated, with a lot of stories, different stories from different individuals.  Most of the young people who begin school life at a tender age, especially rich or financial buoyant people who have not for once stayed away from home may have a hard time learning to live on their own. The middle class is of no exemption. Most of the time, the University serves as an escape route for some persons who in one way or the other is experiencing some difficulties at home. 

The willingness to learn now depends on individual’s personal determination. 

I gained admission in quite a miraculous way, quite miraculous because it was sudden, was a divine favour; more like I just imagined myself gaining admission to study, and then  put in some energy and it just came. Finances came as well, but that’s a story for another day. So what followed after the admission and settling down in school environment, was a time of living “my dream”, well, in a way; I had no worries, I did whatever I wanted, hung out with friends, attended classes, made a lot of friends,because one of the advantages of a school life is the luxury of time that comes with it, you tend to do whatever you want until you get carried away. sitting with friends at the back of the class and  making jests of nothing and everything was the trend, we were easily referred to as back benchers. I read less and interacted more. But then, at the end of each semester, my grades returned my jests back to my face with ugly grades. The grades were absolutely nothing to write home about. Session ended and the Cumulative Grade Point Average was not even enough to help sustain the Scholarship I was awarded while in first year. Finally it dawned on me that I needed to change my ways. However, despite the fact that I had resorted to changing, my turning point didn’t come, until my third year.

The day of reckoning came, on my way to class one faithful day. I saw a banner at a corner, the banner was about a church event. Looking closer I could see the bold written title, “Anointing to sit down and Read”! Anointing to what?? I stopped right there. In a way, this would have turned out funny to me because it appeared just like any of those awkward papers people upload in their Whatsapp status to amuse contacts. But, this didn’t amuse me; rather it sparked a deep sense of curiosity. I can pray to God to give me the ability to sit down and read?  This was a puzzle. Still puzzled I could recall a verse of the bible from proverbs 13:4 which says “a sluggard appetite is never filled, but the desire of the diligent are fully satisfied” so God supports hard work too, and if one should seek strength from him, surely he will provide. Not ever had I imagined this. More often have we heard of people praying to God that He should reveal to them what to read, or even reveal to them the answers to the questions on the day of the exam but, no one I knew before now ever prayed for this particular point I’m looking at. So I made up my mind, this is the way to go. I need this sort of anointing, I need to sit down and read, and yes I do! I need to be free from all feelings of distraction, I need to read!

From that day onward, everything changed, all of my time had been put in a divine schedule. I became better than before, a better version of myself. I eventually found myself in the circle of those who were having the top results in the class,  and at the end of my fourth year, I was only a few points short of a first class for that singular year, I had found a break. You can find yours too.! All you need to do is to take a closer look at the following:

• Choose your friends wisely.

The first thing that should attract you to choosing a friend is their appearance, afterwards, the words that comes out of their mouth. Because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Mingle with like minds, in all honesty, mingle with people who are better than you that will always challenge you to do better. Friends who want to have good grades,not the ones that will settle for anything. 

• Have a daily schedule.

Yes, this looks strange and outdated but it’s actually not. One has to be organized as effectively as possible, because not everyone will have that turning point, not everyone will experience that magic, the honest truth is, there isn’t any magic to it.  Discipline yourself. 

• Know your Productive time.

While in school I had a problem. It was almost impossible for me to read all night. It was quite easy for a lot of people to do, but for me, it was rocket science! I made up my mind to utilize the day. Used the library during the day, then go night reading between 7pm and 12am, then go to my darling bed. Days I tried reading all night, I will wake to forget everything I read and also have a wasted and restive day. So in order words, stick to the time that works for you. If you cannot read at night, create a time to study effectively during the day or better still during that particular time that works for you.

• Eat well.

Yes, the brain needs food. Eat well, take out time to cook and eat a balanced diet, take fruits at intervals and don’t forget that cooking saves you a lot more money than eating out. “My dear, chop o, food is good o”

• Pray always.

A lot of factors may never allow your hard work to yield good fruit. So you must walk with God. Join a good religious body, stay active. 

Things may be complicated for any student, but one must understand that he is the architect of his own success. If you don’t study as a student, you may never get good grades, no matter what you try. So sit up, do your best , study hard because there is no magic to studying, none at all. It all depends on how disciplined you are, it depends on you! I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

Many times than few, candidates express fear and desperation owing to pressing needs on all sides. This mien takes the toll on them and makes them grind at the mill of unproductivity in cycles without pay. The deadliest part is still that they keep seeing others as responsible for their loss.

This post is two-pronged: a thank you to all those who have directly or indirectly impacted in to me the values that form the me that writes, and a brotherly and loving advice to those who mistakenly or deliberately think that others are responsible for their failures or misfortune.

Sometime ago, I lived in a wonderland. A land where you lived on promises from people that never got fulfilled. I kept on believing thinking it was faith…that wasn’t faith but foolishness. Subsidising my laziness by outsourcing my responsibility of becoming better and value FULL and ABLE, I built transient shock absorbers of small successes that fetched small cash that barely sustained me. As a young unmarried man, I thought that was a better life – making some few thousands and not thinking of how those few thousands could become more thousands and make some more thousands so I can also be a channel for others to make more money, and live a better life. 

It was more recently that I realised the failed promises were never the fault or making of those who made them. It was mine. Fully mine!

As long as we feel anyone owes us anything, we will continue in our irresponsibility. It was after I started taking responsibility for my thoughts, decisions and actions that I started appreciating the lessons all the kind people have always invested their time teaching me.

In life, I have come to realise that to become the best you can be, expect the least from people. Even when you know that something will come from anyone around you, yet prepare for the worst. Why? Each time you prepare for a NO, when you build a mechanism that caters for the otherwise…’The What Ifs’, a yes will never surprise you! That’s why you will hear someone say that a future you prepare for will never surprise you!

If you’re looking forward to having or in need of better opportunities like me, do well to leave your frustrations at home, in fact flush it away in your WC and never look for it again. Take the right attitude because frustration is the only currency that buys you desperation and continuously opens you a spreadsheet of  increasingly negative purchasing power.

Seek until you find the discipline to channel your energy on one focus area at each phase or stage of your career or life. This was a major challenge in my career growth as many or some of you might identify with or perhaps have experienced. This is usually common with individuals who have the tendency of thinking they are multi-talented, multi-passionate like me. Before I call myself multi-talented, I must first have made meaning of one talent so that the other(s) take definition from the meaning of the first. Without this, confusion will surely creep in and not to far from confusion is it’s senior partner, frustration. 

Doing many things at the same time is doing nothing all of those times.

I received one message advice – the same message – from more than one person at different places and times in past which still rings a bell in my head and helps me focus:

‘Taofik, you are a brilliant guy, you have the potential to succeed but you can’t do too many things at the same time. You’ll stretch yourself thin. Decide on what to do, focus on it and give it time.’

I am also offering this advice to every young person thinking many things can be done at the same time and at the same breath of strength and resources. If you think it’s possible, well I agree, but remember, excellence can not be achieved at the same time in many things.

By Samuel Odebode

I have observed a contemptible trend in Nigeria, how politicians, clergymen, the elites and contractors distract Nigerians from the real issues of life. They create loud and catchy news headlines daily to keep these poor masses busy, talking, gossiping, laughing, protesting, these ‘distractions’ are deliberately created just enough to give these poor masses enough ‘mental food’ to take to bed and postponed the real issues that affect their lives and loved ones daily.

I might not be able to speak to all demographics regarding these ‘distractions’, but certainly, I can share my view with fellow engineers like you. How do we keep Nigeria Engineers from ‘distractions’ especially now that we are over 10 weeks after the inauguration of the present government at the federal level and most states of the federation?

For two months now, our ‘distractions’ are RUGA, Sowore, Edo/Bauchi HoA, Ministerial List, Herdsmen, BBNaija, Senate president/HoR speaker, COZA, Obaseki vs. Oshiomole, this week IPOB vs. Ekweremadu, HoS Oyo-Ita etc. Fellow Engineers, more issues will keep coming as it is normal in any advanced ‘animal kingdom’ like Nigeria, but they will fade away naturally just like the schism involving Tinubu vs. Ambode, Wike vs Ameachi, Buhari vs. Atiku, Dino, Fayose, Mama Peace vs DSS, Boko Haram arms purchase, Onnoghen vs. FG etc.

But, the day-to-day real issues affecting the people from basic needs like lack of ; power supply, water supply, wastewater treatment, good healthcare, security, good public schools, employment, operational institutions, etc. to other higher needs like; retirement benefits, childcare’s benefits, advanced medical research for cure, space technology for agriculture etc., will never fade away. The only solution will be a deliberate step to initiate, plan, execute and close the various well-thought-out proposals to remedy these needs.

More ‘distractions’ will keep coming until the next election in 2023, when Buhari, IBB, GEJ, Atiku, Saraki, states governors and other political actors will continue or proceed to their ‘well-deserved’ retired packages for life, running into billions of naira yearly, why the masses keep debating news headlines, praying, hoping for a better future. Yes, a well-deserved because we Engineers refuse to participate in the day to day monitoring, reviewing, tracking and providing updates to the mass on various initiatives.

As Engineers, one of our core mandates is to continue to provide services, design, research, analyze, find solutions, apply technology, transfer information, build for the general good of the public. Every practicing engineers here, registered with NSE/COREN, working for public institutions or private companies doing business with the government, please you need to provide us with information on various initiatives, progress updates taking place without violating the confidentiality of information as permitted in your organization.

Let’s channel our energy, discussion, experience and intellectual prowess; to analyzing these initiatives of the government, budgeted items, contract award sum/conditions, project technical specifications, stakeholders’ benefits, method of project execution, monitoring milestones/updates, quality control/compliances, as it affects each initiative/project for the common man. This should be our ‘distractions’, this should be our topic to debate, let see how these projects moved from a mild abstract idea on paper to a tangible product affecting the lives of millions of Nigeria for the best.

Samuel Odebode, P.Eng. PMP, a passionate Nigeria.