Mrs. Orefuwa Elizabeth emerged as the
best graduate of Lagos State University in the 2015/2016 academic
session. She made 4.74 CGPA from the Department of Accounting Education.
It became a moment of joy for her as she was delivered of her baby a
day after the convocation. In this interview with TUNDE AJAJA, she talks
about how she combined her academics with being married.
We learnt you took UTME seven times, what would you attribute that delay to?
‘All things work together for good to
them that trust in the Lord’. Actually, it wasn’t what I wanted for
myself but it just happened like that. Taking same exam seven times
consecutively was killing, de-motivating and annoying, coupled with the
fact that I met the required cut off mark each time I took the exam. It
might have been destiny but I later found out that my West African
Examination Council certificate was carrying my initials instead of my
full name. This was brought to light after the last Post-UTME I took at
Ekiti State University. Although I scored a very good grade, I was
denied the admission because of the initial on my WAEC certificate
instead of my full name, so I just felt this might have been the cause
of the delay or maybe God’s plan.
them that trust in the Lord’. Actually, it wasn’t what I wanted for
myself but it just happened like that. Taking same exam seven times
consecutively was killing, de-motivating and annoying, coupled with the
fact that I met the required cut off mark each time I took the exam. It
might have been destiny but I later found out that my West African
Examination Council certificate was carrying my initials instead of my
full name. This was brought to light after the last Post-UTME I took at
Ekiti State University. Although I scored a very good grade, I was
denied the admission because of the initial on my WAEC certificate
instead of my full name, so I just felt this might have been the cause
of the delay or maybe God’s plan.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up while taking same exam year in year out?
Yes, after the sixth attempt, I told
myself that I wasn’t going to purchase any of UTME or Direct Entry forms
again, but I thank God for my elder sister, Esther, who took it upon
herself to purchase both forms for me and even bought the Post-UTME form
that actually turned my life around for good. I learnt never to give up
again.
myself that I wasn’t going to purchase any of UTME or Direct Entry forms
again, but I thank God for my elder sister, Esther, who took it upon
herself to purchase both forms for me and even bought the Post-UTME form
that actually turned my life around for good. I learnt never to give up
again.
What kept you going at that time?
Well, I would say my father’s passion
for education (old soldier never die), self-belief, determination, moral
support from my family and above all God because He gave me the
strength to carry on.
for education (old soldier never die), self-belief, determination, moral
support from my family and above all God because He gave me the
strength to carry on.
Between 2005 and 2012 when you were home taking UTME, did you venture into other things?
No one advised me to look for
alternatives but I sourced for an alternative myself by starting my
professional career of becoming a chartered accountant. It was my dream
to be a chartered accountant, so I took up the challenge in 2007 to
register with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)
instead of just sitting at home waiting for admission. All thanks to my
elder brother, Dr. Samuel Orefuwa. I became a qualified chartered
accountant, an associate member, in 2010 before gaining admission in
2012.
alternatives but I sourced for an alternative myself by starting my
professional career of becoming a chartered accountant. It was my dream
to be a chartered accountant, so I took up the challenge in 2007 to
register with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)
instead of just sitting at home waiting for admission. All thanks to my
elder brother, Dr. Samuel Orefuwa. I became a qualified chartered
accountant, an associate member, in 2010 before gaining admission in
2012.
So the delay you encountered prompted you to make a decision to work towards leading your set?
Initially, it wasn’t. Mine was just to
do the very best I could and come out with a good grade but my first
semester result in my first year made me realise the real me and what
I’m capable of. That was when I started having first class. It gave me
the self motivation needed to forge ahead with the strong determination
of coming out as the best in my faculty. It never crossed my mind that I
wouldn’t make first class.
do the very best I could and come out with a good grade but my first
semester result in my first year made me realise the real me and what
I’m capable of. That was when I started having first class. It gave me
the self motivation needed to forge ahead with the strong determination
of coming out as the best in my faculty. It never crossed my mind that I
wouldn’t make first class.
Was Accounting Education the same course you had always wanted or you changed your mind along the way?
I have always wanted to study Accounting
major but during that time, there wasn’t accounting major in my school
so I applied for Accounting Education. And I have no regret because I
have always had passion for accounting and I love teaching.
major but during that time, there wasn’t accounting major in my school
so I applied for Accounting Education. And I have no regret because I
have always had passion for accounting and I love teaching.
Some people still look down on students in education faculty, how did that make you feel, or you never experienced such?
Exactly, even the so-called learned
persons think studying education is a waste of time. Without teachers,
what will the society look like? If the teacher that would teach their
children to become doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers and other
prestigious disciplines are not well equipped, then what would the
future of the country be? I have experienced it several times, even from
a pastor who said ‘why education?’ The truth is that I’m proud to be an
educationist, no regret. Faculty of Education is the mother of all
faculties and a nation without education is doomed.
persons think studying education is a waste of time. Without teachers,
what will the society look like? If the teacher that would teach their
children to become doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers and other
prestigious disciplines are not well equipped, then what would the
future of the country be? I have experienced it several times, even from
a pastor who said ‘why education?’ The truth is that I’m proud to be an
educationist, no regret. Faculty of Education is the mother of all
faculties and a nation without education is doomed.
How easy was it to have first class, especially as a married woman?
I didn’t get married before or
immediately after gaining admission, I got married while in the first
semester of my fourth year. Even at that, it wasn’t easy because I
needed to adjust to a new life which almost affected my reading schedule
but for the understanding husband God gave me. He understood and also
wanted the best for me, so he gave me the support I needed and my CGPA
improved from 4.72 to 4.73. After all, marriage didn’t make my CGPA to
drop (laughs). Of course, being a student and performing my duties as a
wife wasn’t very easy but I thank God for the grace He bestowed on me.
immediately after gaining admission, I got married while in the first
semester of my fourth year. Even at that, it wasn’t easy because I
needed to adjust to a new life which almost affected my reading schedule
but for the understanding husband God gave me. He understood and also
wanted the best for me, so he gave me the support I needed and my CGPA
improved from 4.72 to 4.73. After all, marriage didn’t make my CGPA to
drop (laughs). Of course, being a student and performing my duties as a
wife wasn’t very easy but I thank God for the grace He bestowed on me.
Did you ever know you could lead your class?
Well, I would say I didn’t see it coming
at first but my course mates used to tell me that I had the highest
CGPA, even though I wasn’t sure. So I didn’t raise my hope. I was just
studying hard and maintaining my CGPA each semester. I believe students
should avoid side distractions, they should be focused, be determined,
self motivated, prepare well for their exam and above all, put God
first. That formula worked for me.
at first but my course mates used to tell me that I had the highest
CGPA, even though I wasn’t sure. So I didn’t raise my hope. I was just
studying hard and maintaining my CGPA each semester. I believe students
should avoid side distractions, they should be focused, be determined,
self motivated, prepare well for their exam and above all, put God
first. That formula worked for me.
Some people would think you
must have spent all your free time reading for you to emerge as the best
graduate in your set. How many hours did you read in a day?
must have spent all your free time reading for you to emerge as the best
graduate in your set. How many hours did you read in a day?
I didn’t have specific number of hours
for reading but I made sure that I always went through my notes every
day after school. So I read every evening till late in the night and
very early in the morning. I wasn’t the type to wake up to read in the
middle of the night because such didn’t work for me.
for reading but I made sure that I always went through my notes every
day after school. So I read every evening till late in the night and
very early in the morning. I wasn’t the type to wake up to read in the
middle of the night because such didn’t work for me.
Were you given to using the library or you always read at home?
I didn’t really like using the library.
My dad had strong passion for education, so he made sure that we were
always provided with all the textbooks we needed. I also made good use
of the internet. I prefer reading in the comfort of my room.
My dad had strong passion for education, so he made sure that we were
always provided with all the textbooks we needed. I also made good use
of the internet. I prefer reading in the comfort of my room.
Were there times you had to
live on the school campus, maybe during exam period, or you lived at
home with your husband throughout?
live on the school campus, maybe during exam period, or you lived at
home with your husband throughout?
Before I got married and after I got
married, I never lived on campus. My parents, especially my mum,
preferred it if I was going to school from home.
married, I never lived on campus. My parents, especially my mum,
preferred it if I was going to school from home.
Understandably, most of your mates would have graduated before you even got admission, how did you feel about that?
Initially I used to feel bad but I later
realised that it is not how far but how well and God’s time is always
the best time. My parents, my siblings and my husband were positive
about it and that encouraged me. “God’s mills grind slowly but
sure.”This quote kept me going.
realised that it is not how far but how well and God’s time is always
the best time. My parents, my siblings and my husband were positive
about it and that encouraged me. “God’s mills grind slowly but
sure.”This quote kept me going.
That could have made you to be one of the oldest in your class, how did it feel?
It didn’t make me feel different from them but rather made me humble, focused and more committed.
How many of you had first class in your set?
About 29 of us had first class in my set
but just two of us from my faculty (my best friend, Oluwatimilehin, and
myself). I remember that sometimes we read together.
but just two of us from my faculty (my best friend, Oluwatimilehin, and
myself). I remember that sometimes we read together.
What was your happiest moment?
My happiest moment was the day I gave birth to my little princess.
You once said your dad
insisted on your academic excellence. How did he react when he heard you
were the best graduating student?
insisted on your academic excellence. How did he react when he heard you
were the best graduating student?
I didn’t show him my results until I
took my final exam. So, he didn’t know how well I had been performing in
school. When I called and told him that I would be graduating as the
best in my set, it was the greatest surprise ever.
took my final exam. So, he didn’t know how well I had been performing in
school. When I called and told him that I would be graduating as the
best in my set, it was the greatest surprise ever.
Do you recall your most embarrassing moment?
Embarrassing moment! I would say the day
I met some students that I was lecturing at an ICAN centre in the
school and they were asking me if I was in LASU for my Master’s. Thank
God it all turned out to be a huge testimony today.
I met some students that I was lecturing at an ICAN centre in the
school and they were asking me if I was in LASU for my Master’s. Thank
God it all turned out to be a huge testimony today.
What was your performance like in your previous schools?
I would say my performance was average
in primary school and above average in secondary school. And in my
Senior School Certificate Examinations, I had good grades too. Maybe
that delay was the way God wanted it.
in primary school and above average in secondary school. And in my
Senior School Certificate Examinations, I had good grades too. Maybe
that delay was the way God wanted it.
We learnt you were delivered of your baby a day after the convocation, how would you describe the timing?
It was God’s timing because I was having
contraction the night before the convocation and my husband and I kept
begging our baby to wait and come after the convocation, and indeed the
baby heard us.
contraction the night before the convocation and my husband and I kept
begging our baby to wait and come after the convocation, and indeed the
baby heard us.
Looking at the closeness, were you scared of having your baby that day, coupled with the contraction?
Yes, I was very scared. I told my mum
that she should be prepared because it was going to be from convocation
to the hospital (laughs). But I thank God.
that she should be prepared because it was going to be from convocation
to the hospital (laughs). But I thank God.
What name did you give the child?
Mercy, but some people prefer to call her LASU BABY (laughs).
Would you want to go into teaching, as an education graduate, or you have interest in other things?
I would love to teach and practise. That
I studied Accounting Education doesn’t mean that I should restrict
myself because that is the thought of many people out there. Presently,
I’m serving in an accounting firm and at the same time lecturing in
different ICAN tuition centres preparing students for ICAN examination
and I’m enjoying both. Also, I want to own a school so that I can give
back to the system what it has given to me.
I studied Accounting Education doesn’t mean that I should restrict
myself because that is the thought of many people out there. Presently,
I’m serving in an accounting firm and at the same time lecturing in
different ICAN tuition centres preparing students for ICAN examination
and I’m enjoying both. Also, I want to own a school so that I can give
back to the system what it has given to me.
Would you say having first class has opened doors of opportunities for you?
I wish education would be given its
deserved place in our country. I think we need to acknowledge
outstanding students in our schools and in the society. While in LASU,
our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adigun Fagbohun, appreciated all the first
class students with cash awards and this went a long way in motivating
and improving our performances and those of others. If our leaders and
other concerned Nigerian citizens can just value education and recognise
hard work and academic excellence, then things would be different and I
think it’s something we need to pay attention to.
deserved place in our country. I think we need to acknowledge
outstanding students in our schools and in the society. While in LASU,
our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adigun Fagbohun, appreciated all the first
class students with cash awards and this went a long way in motivating
and improving our performances and those of others. If our leaders and
other concerned Nigerian citizens can just value education and recognise
hard work and academic excellence, then things would be different and I
think it’s something we need to pay attention to.