He Spent 10 Years Studying a 4-year Course yet Never felt Hopeless

In this interview with Adedayo OlaOluwa fondly called Ogbeni La, I had the opportunity to share from his experience whilst in school. Ogbeni La had spent 10 years for a 4-year course at Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo State, Nigeria and eventually the school had to create a unit for him in a department. Isn’t that just amazing? Please read the full story below and you can thank me later.

Abigail Ibikunle of Edugist: Please share with us a little about your background.

Adedayo OlaOluwa: My name is Adedayo OlaOluwa Fisayo. I’m from Akure South Local Government in Ondo state. I had my early education in Akure and Lagos respectively. I’m the first child of my parents.

AI: How were you able to turn around your situation to something inspiring?

AO: I had no choice, did I? I went through a period of isolation where I rediscovered myself and evolved a purpose for living.

AI: What motivated you despite the circumstances surrounding your delay?

AO: I have an unrelenting belief in myself so the determination to become how I’ve always seen myself kept me going. I remember reading so many biographies and assuring myself the people I admired most in history never had it smooth in the beginning. That was a whole lot of motivation for me. Practically seeing some people that have gone through similar or even worse circumstances coming out of it to do good for themselves. Nothing could beat that.

AI: How does it feel to be a pioneer staff in a unit created purposely for you?

AO: I wear the badge of honor with pride. I remember listening to Olusola Amusan on radio back then. I think after a delay and not so flattering result, an office within the Dean Student Affairs office of his alma mater was created for him too. I remember vividly desiring same and it came to pass.

AI: What was the transition process to your current job? 

AO: Not easy. I abruptly resigned in June after I started experiencing boredom and redundancy on the job for a while. But I was equipped with more qualifications by then. I’d done a Creative Writing course at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria as well as a certificate in Integrated Brand Experience was also in the pipeline. I think both gave me confidence I could survive without the job. As fate would have it, two months after, I was called to resume work as a talk show host and creative writer for a cable station, KAFTAN TV. It was a dream job having grown under a father that spent thirty-five years in broadcasting.

AI: On a playful note, how come you know so many things that are not taught in school? 

AO: While growing up, I was considered book smart. I ended up spending years in school with all my book smartness. It was the period I realized intelligence is beyond being book smart. I was more interested in people than in my lecture books. I gained useful insight into other form of intelligence through this and anytime I have to share from this kind of intelligence I usually famously add that “they won’t teach you these things in school.”

AI: What advice or suggestions would you give to those experiencing your kind of situation?

AO: I have them plenty. Presently I’m housing one from my alma mater and he has been devouring all the books in my library. It is the same advice I give him I give others who have reached out to me via social media. This is the most important time in your life. Whatever you do at this time will go a long way to affect how you’d turn out. There won’t be another chance like this. My near regret is, I didn’t have anyone to tell me this. I went back to writing because my confidence took a slope during my time of stagnation. If I knew creating content was my future, I’d perhaps have been more deliberate about it. Finally, Jesus spent thirty-three and a half years on earth. The major focus was the three and a half years. But he had to spend thirty years preparing for that three and a half, history is yet to exhaust. So, see this period as your time to prepare for what the world is about to talk about. They won’t teach you these things in school.

AI: Many thanks for your time!