Secondary school teacher ignited my interest in Mathematics – UNIBEN First-class graduate
A first-class graduate in Industrial Mathematics, Solomon Irabor, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.57 from the University of Benin, tells EMMANUEL OJO about his campus experience and the strategies that helped him to achieve academic excellence
You had a first class and graduated as the best student in Industrial Mathematics. What does that mean to you?
For me, it wasn’t a surprise because I actually knew that I was capable of it. Although I didn’t do it intentionally, but I just knew that going through the normal process could fetch me an excellent result. So, it didn’t come as a surprise to me.
What were the principles that guided you?
Basically, I didn’t miss class that much. I always went to class when I was supposed to, and I also engaged in extracurricular activities like playing football and so on. I was also regular in the church, but when it was time for me to read, I didn’t compromise my reading time for anything. Also, I was able to balance every activity of my life. The ability to balance my activities was the main thing for me.
The ability to strike a balance in the midst of many activities is a major challenge for many. What was your strategy?
For me, I’m not easily influenced by others and all of that. I am usually the one that influences others. Pressures came from friends; there were times when I wanted to read, they would call and invite me to watch football. I usually went with them because of my love for football. However, my strategy was that anytime I missed a study time, later on that day or the next day, I must make up for that time. Once it was time for me to read, I did it with all my heart. I was not easily influenced by friends, although I engaged in a lot of social activities. I also worked as a hairstylist too in a saloon. I just had to strike a balance in everything.
How large was your friendship circle as a student?
I had a lot of friends, both males and females, but I was just not easily influenced. I always take responsibilities for my actions, and I don’t blame friends for my actions due to their pressures because the choice is up to me. So, every decision I made, I made it myself and I was ready to face the consequences.
At 100 level, you had a GPA of 4.58, you had 4.40 and 4.10 at 200 and 300 level respectively which depicted a decline, but there was a difference at 400 level as you had 5.0, meaning that you got distinction in all your courses, including your thesis. What exactly was it that made the difference at 400 level? Will you say it remains the easiest of all levels?
It wasn’t the easiest because I am a mathematician. In 100 level, I got a GPA of 4.58. I noticed that at 200 and 300 levels, there was a progressive decline. All those things were based on many factors which I won’t be able to say all here because I’m not even at liberty to talk about all of them. There are many factors and like you know; the Nigerian educational system is built in such a way to frustrate students, but I just had to put in my best. When I discovered that I was declining, at 400 level, I made some calculations, what we call the weighted GPA. This is the way it is; 100 level constitutes 10 per cent of the final GPA, 200 and 300 levels constitute 20 and 30 per cent respectively and 400 level is 40 per cent. So, when I did the cumulative calculation, I noticed that the only way I could make a first class was to make a minimum GPA of 4.85 or more in my final year so as to make a first class. However, I thought of it that if I was targeting 4.85, I might drop. So, I had to target the highest, which was 5.0 so that in case it dropped, it would not be less than 4.85.
During my exam period, I had to stop every other thing I was doing; the stylist work I was doing at the saloon and the students I was teaching at a tutorial centre. A week to exam, I dropped football and every other thing I was engaged in and focused on the exams. I had to put in everything. The end, however, justified the means and I got the GPA of 5.0 while I was in 400 level. I thank God for everything.
Mathematics is a subject that is dreaded by many and had also been a challenge to many. Did you also struggle with mathematics at an early stage, or you have always been a guru in it?
For me, right from my secondary school days, Mathematics became something that I love, although I didn’t actually apply for Mathematics. My first choice was Mechanical Engineering, and my second choice was Industrial Physics. After the process, I got Industrial Physics but during the clearance, I was told that because I didn’t do biology in secondary school, I would be transferred to Industrial Mathematics because biology was required for Industrial Physics. In my secondary school, we had four departments: science, technical, arts and commercials. I was in technical class because that’s the class for those aspiring to be engineers. In technical class, we didn’t take biology, we rather did Technical Drawing; so, I was relocated from Industrial Physics to Mathematics because Industrial Physics required biology. I did Industrial Mathematics because mathematics was not something I was scared of. So, it worked for me.
Having graduated from Industrial Mathematics that you didn’t apply for, are you happy about it or you still wish you got your first course?
I am grateful to God that I ended up studying Industrial Mathematics. When we first came to school, students had an impression that there were some courses that were difficult or useless in this country, but after spending about four years, I saw a lot of things; I saw the real-life application of mathematics even though I have not been able to apply them into the working system right now. I saw the light and I am thanking God that I studied Industrial Mathematics.
Seeing the prospects in mathematics, to what extent do you think you can explore the knowledge you have in the Nigeria of today?
Industrial Mathematics is very wide, from science and technology to commerce, business and so on. I can apply the mathematics that I have learnt to mathematical modelling, commerce, banking and many other aspects. Unlike many that have the notion that they have to travel out to be able to apply the knowledge they have acquired, for me, I don’t have to. It’s not like I wouldn’t like to travel out, but I don’t have to travel to apply the knowledge that I have acquired. Industrial Mathematics is applicable in the banking sector, biostatistics, in the medical line, biological modelling and many fields. Mathematics is very wide and cannot just be limited to science and technology.
You’ve loved mathematics from secondary school days. What exactly was it that sparked your interest in mathematics?
Well, it was my senior secondary school teacher, Mr Wasiu. He was the vice principal of Graceland Academy in Coker, Lagos State. He sparked the fire of mathematics in me. We saw him in my secondary school as a genius in mathematics. Mathematics and Further Maths looked like they were easy. So, he was the one that sparked the fire in me. He was like a role model.
In early school days, Maths and English were regarded as the two most important subjects, but many students who were good in mathematics had phobia for English and vice versa. What was your experience with both subjects?
For me, I actually had a great balance. In my junior secondary school days, I actually came out best in English at some point. In my perspective, for you to be good in mathematics, the use of English is important because it (mathematics) is written in English language and when we are dealing with word problems in mathematics, you have to be good in English before you can grasp the understanding in mathematics. In the university too, we did Use of English at 100 level, and I got a distinction.
What was the experience for you on campus at the University of Benin?
It wasn’t easy. It was very stressful and hectic. There is this thing about Nigerian educational system, especially for public schools; there is this norm of frustrating students. It wasn’t easy actually, viewing from the financial stress to academic stress and everything. I just had to come out with a very good grade. I set my mind to making first class and I had to do my best to achieve that. I also thank God for my friends who supported me a lot both financially and in giving advice because at some point, I was depressed. Most people think that first class students don’t fail or don’t have issues. No, that’s not true. I had a missing script; I even failed a course twice. Like I said, there are many factors and there are some that I will not be able to talk about.
Did you get any financial support during your study at the university?
Well, I had support from a distant relative in the aspect of paying my school fees, but I sorted out other aspects.
What was your most challenging moment on campus?
My most challenging moment was in my 300 level. As you can see in my result, 300 level was my worst year with a GPA of 4.10. It was at that level that I failed a course and had a missing script. It was my most challenging moment and I was depressed that period because I was moving from office to office to resolve the issue of my results and missing scripts, writing letters and all that.
How were you able to handle your depression?
To me, coming out of depression is not something easy. I just came out one day and told myself that bothering about those problems was of no use because it wouldn’t resolve them. I just had to drag myself out of it so as to be mentally stable for the exams that was fast approaching then.
Who motivates you the most?
My late dad was my highest motivator. He held the whole family together. He always made reference to education, and he always made a statement that without education, the future in Nigeria was not bright as things might be very difficult for one who didn’t study. It was the motivating factor for me. Also, I was thinking about my mum because things have been very hard. So, I just had to come out top of my class.
How common is first-class grade in University of Benin?
It depends on the faculty, and it varies from one to another. In my own faculty, it is very difficult. A popular economist said that scarcity would bring value. When something is scarce, it is valued. Due to the fact that it is scarce in my faculty and in the Department of Mathematics, it is highly valued, and it differs from faculty to faculty. Everybody knows that it is not an easy task.
Department of Mathematics had three divisions; Industrial Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Mathematics Economics. In Industrial Mathematics, we had just one first class, which was me. In Applied Mathematics, we had one. In Mathematics Economics, we also had one.
Was there a course that was your most dreaded in the university?
Well, every course in the university is difficult. I can’t say I dreaded any course. It all depends on your strategy at the time. There was no such course for me, although some were difficult than the others.
Did the absence of your dad, who was your greatest motivator, make your academic pursuit more difficult for you?
My dad had always been there for me right from my primary to secondary school days, but after my 100 level, he passed on. When I got to 200 level, things became very difficult both financially and emotionally. There were times that I couldn’t travel from school to Lagos to see my mum and some wondered why and what I was doing in school. Things generally became difficult. My mum had to relocate to our state; Edo State, and my other siblings were scattered all over and they were also struggling. So, I was really expecting nothing from them, although they helped me few times. I had to start working and that was what prompted me to get into hairstyling, although I had already acquired the skill while I was in SS1. So, I had to make the skill count because things were very difficult.
How many siblings do you have?
I have five siblings and I am the last child. Most people have the impression that last child always enjoys. It’s not so actually, especially in my case.
How did you feel when you eventually realised that you were going to graduate with first class?
Well, that reality didn’t come until the last minute, the injury time. During the process of writing my final exams, I already knew my scores and grades. After writing each exam, I went back home to calculate all the possible scenarios from the best to the worst. So, even before the results were out, I was 95 per cent certain that I would have a first class and I was happy because I put in the work.
How did your mum receive the news?
She was happy because she knew things were not so easy for me. Even my aunt and a distant relative that gave so much financial support were happy with me and she prayed for me. My mum also prayed for me. My siblings were happy because of my academic feat.
How old were you upon graduation?
I am 23 years old; I graduated in March (this year) and will be 24 years old by May.
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