Rachael Adebunmi Adediran is the overall best-graduating student of Adeleke University, Osun State, for the 2022/2023 academic session. She graduated from the Department of Languages and Literary Studies with a CGPA of 4.95. In this interview by Kingsley AlumOna, she speaks about her academic journey, the language challenges of Nigeria, among others.
Was it originally your intention to study at Adeleke University?
It was never my intention to attend a private university. My mind was on the University of Ibadan (UI) and I sat for the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), but couldn’t meet the cut-off mark of the course I applied for. My parents did not want me to retake another JAMB examination the next year and opted for Adeleke University after hearing that admission was still in progress at the university. I refused and insisted I must go to the University of Ibadan, but I had no choice but to oblige. I guess God had plans for me at Adeleke University and I’m happy that it came to fulfillment.
What inspired you to study Languages and Literary Studies? Did you know anything about the course before applying for it?
I didn’t know anything about Languages and Literary Studies before applying for it. I was an average student who crossed from a science class to an art class just a few months to the WAEC and NECO examinations because I believed that I should be there. I have a great passion for writing to inspire people. I also love reading novels as well. I guess these situations inspired me to apply for the course.
At what point did you discover you would be the best graduating student in your faculty, then university?
To be honest, I never thought about it. I was just putting my best into my studies because I wanted to bring out the best version of myself. When people told me that I might be the best graduating student in my faculty, talk less of in the entire school, I didn’t believe them. I believed that there were people far better than me out there. I was just putting my best into my studies and I guess my hard work paid off.
What prizes and awards were you given by your department, faculty, and university?
I was awarded cash prizes, plaques, and most all of, I was awarded with better opportunities in the world.
Apart from academics, what special/unique things did you take away from the university?
Apart from academics, I was able to go into the outside world with leadership skills, moral values, a more disciplined life — and, above all, a well-bred Adeleke University graduate.
What is special about the course you studied?
English is the language of science, aviation, computers, diplomacy, and tourism. Studying Languages and Literary Studies increases one’s chance of getting a good job in a multinational company within the home country or abroad. Languages and Literary Studies exposes one to the sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, phonetics, pragmatics, and so on, aspects of language and widens one’s knowledge of the complexities and dynamism of the English language. English is a language which plays an integral role in the lives of non-native speakers of the language. It is necessary for communication, interaction, business, etc.
Nigeria has over 200 ethnic groups and languages. Do you think it is feasible to teach schoolchildren in their mother tongues without some sort of confusion or discrimination?
Mother tongue is the first language of every child. Schoolchildren should be taught in their mother tongues. It will boost their knowledge and even speed up their understanding of their school subjects.
If Nigeria should adopt an official language from one of the major languages in the country, which one do you think would be easily acceptable and simple to learn?
We have three major languages in Nigeria (Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba), and each one of them is equally important as the others. Not to be seen as being tribalistic, I believe that Yoruba language would be easily acceptable and simple to learn. This is not necessarily because Yoruba dominate the population, which is not even so. But, as far as I know, a larger part of the Nigerian population still knows the basics of the Yoruba language even if it’s just the greetings and response part. This will therefore make it easy for it to be adopted as the official language in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, if it’s left for me to decide on the official language, I would have advised that Nigerian pidgin English (NPE) be standardised and adopted to serve as the official language in Nigeria reason being that the NPE comprises languages from the three major languages in the country and it’s also an open-ended language whereby other minor languages can also input their words into it.
For instance, ‘I’m fine jare’ is a combination of English and the Yoruba language. Adopting one of the major languages will lead to an act of tribalism, which can even make people speaking the minor languages feel inferior. Adopting one of the major languages might also lead to the deaths of other languages as it might not be spoken anymore.
There is this notion that most Nigerian private universities are glorified secondary schools and are not up to the standards of public universities. Given your experience at Adeleke University, what is your take on this?
Judging by my four years in the university, I wouldn’t agree with the majority’s notion of Nigerian private universities being glorified secondary schools.
Adeleke University is a home away from home, where both parents and lecturers are enjoined to combine efforts to bequest to students the pursuit of utmost truth, the transmission of knowledge, and the dedication to service God and humanity in general. The school is a God-centred institution that emphasises holistic training of the mental, physical, spiritual and social aspects of students.
From the academic aspect as well, the university provides students with qualified lecturers and professors who are accommodating, approachable, and display both motherly and fatherly love to students. The university teaches us to be the best version of ourselves with no discrimination whatsoever, which I can attest to. To sum it up, Adeleke University has principles which are already planned out (for instance, wake up, go to your classes, eat, go to the library or read, then sleep). All these were there just to instil the act of discipline, dedication, timeliness and principle into the lives of students.
To be honest, all the teachings and principles from Adeleke University are still helping me through life even though they seemed like torture or punishment at the outset. Now, I’m grateful to the school for those trainings.
What were the challenges you faced in school and how did you manage them?
Zig Ziglar once said, “Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” I was first faced with challenges from my coursemates, roommates, and even finances. I was also betrayed by a female friend whom I trusted so much and that almost distracted me from my academics. But I knew that I had to do better since life is all about learning and unlearning. Most of the challenges I faced in school were overcome on my knees, with tears to God, and I’m grateful that He came through for me throughout my stay in school.
Apart from classroom activities, what extracurricular activities did you engage in at school? Were there boyfriends, partying?
There was neither a boyfriend nor partying throughout my stay at the university. I was mostly in the library all of the time.
Do you have plans for postgraduate studies? And where do you see yourself in five years?
Yes. I have plans to further my studies and acquire another course entirely to widen my knowledge.
In five years, I see myself becoming a better version of myself. I picture myself becoming an accomplished lady walking in God’s purpose. I see myself training great minds and becoming inexorable in the world.
What is your advice to students aspiring to achieve the feat you achieved?
To the students aspiring for this kind of achievement, I want you to have it at the back of your mind that nobody can do it as well as you. Be yourself — don’t try to compete with anybody or rely on your own understanding. Remain focused and determined. Put all your trust in God and believe that He will crown all your efforts with success.
Nevertheless, whether it is a first class or a third class, I want you to know that you’re the best and you can do much better. I’m rooting for you all.
Credit: Tribune
