LASPOTECH BEST GRADUATING STUDENT |
Bakare Opeoluwa’s courage to stand strong in the face of
adversity is legendary. Five times, he sat for the West African Senior
Secondary School Certificate Examination and five times his results were
withheld. Not because he was involved in any examination malpractice, but for
reasons best known to the West African Examination Council.
After his sixth attempt, his full result was however released.
He cleared all his papers and applied to the university to read Computer
Engineering, his dream discipline. But this was not to be, as his score was
below the cut-off point. That is why he opted for polytechnic education and
eventually got admission to study Computer Engineering at the Lagos State Polytechnic,
Ikorodu.
But in spite of his challenges, Bakare, who had lost his father,
graduated on Thursday as the best LASPOTECH graduating student during the
institution’s 21st convocation. With a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.97
out of a possible 4.0, Bakare bagged a Higher National Diploma certificate in
Computer Engineering. He also made history by becoming the all-time best
graduate of the polytechnic.
Born 27 years ago in Illisan-Remo, a town in Ikenne Local
Government Area of Ogun State, Bakare attended Expressway Primary School, Ikosi
Ketu, Lagos between 1990 and 1995. He left in Primary Five for Community
Primary School, Shangisha, Magodo, where he completed his primary school
education in 1996. From there, the last child in a family of seven proceeded to
Ikosi High School, Ketu, Lagos, for his secondary school education.
Speaking after he received over 10 awards from the Deputy
Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, who represented Governor
Babatunde Fashola at the convocation, Bakare said his road to academic success
was not an easy one.
“I finished my secondary school education in 2002. When the
WASSCE result was released, WAEC released my English, Mathematics and Physics,
but others were withheld. I thought the others would be released, but at the
end of the day, they were not. With just three credits, I could not proceed to
the university to study computer engineering.
“The following year, I enrolled to retake my papers. I studied
hard, but when the results were released, mine was not. And that was how I
continued sitting for the same exam in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Still
my results were not released. I became disturbed but not discouraged.
“In 2006, I did both the May/June and November/December WASSCE
and, to the glory of God, one was released and I cleared all my papers,” he
says.
But what was he doing during the long wait, apart from preparing
for examinations? Bakare said his love for computer moved him to enrol for a
diploma certificate in Computer Appreciation at Dequeue Software, Sagamu, Ogun
State.
“I was truly troubled during those years, but because I love
computer, I enrolled for a diploma course in computer appreciation at the
institute in Sagamu. I did so well that I came out with distinction.”
So, how did he cope with the frustration of writing
examinations repeatedly? Bakare said it was not easy, but he was determined to
have tertiary education.
“Although it wasn’t easy, I was determined to be educated and
successful in life. I knew I had what it takes to be successful in me and I
knew that even great men always have their ups and downs. But I was encouraged
by God and my brothers, Dr. S.A. Bakare and Barrister Ola Bakare. I will also
say that my zeal to become the greatest engineer that has ever lived helped me
to go through the difficult period,” he says.
He advises youths who are passing through similar situations to
be focused and persistent in following their dreams.
“They should always hope in God for the best and always do what
is right, irrespective of the situation they find themselves. They should also
bear in mind that there is time for everything and that God’s time is the best.
They should never lose hope. If I had lost hope, I would not have been able to
achieve what God has helped me to achieve now,” he explains.
Bakare, who admitted that he set out to be the best when he
resumed his study at LASPOTECH, said the factors that contributed to his feat
include God, hard work, proper time management and persistence.
“The very first day I stepped into LASPOTECH, I wrote down my
CGPA and hung it on the wall. Anytime I woke up in the morning, it was the
first thing I saw and it always reminded me of where I was going and I worked
towards it. I thank God that it paid off,” he says.
But why computer engineering and not another discipline? He
notes, “Studying computer engineering had always been my childhood dream and I
would like to transform Nigeria from being a consumer state to one of the
greatest manufacturers of electronics/computer devices and systems in the
world. I will also like to help in applying information technology to solve
national problems.”
On how he would handle discrimination against polytechnic
graduates in the job market, Bakare says this would not be a problem to him.
“Yes, polytechnic graduates are being discriminated against, but
in my opinion, university graduates are not better off. By discriminating
against HND holders, we are only making nonsense of the already troubled
education system because everyone has a role to play in national development
and if you really want to make a difference, then you will not only rely on
what you are being taught in school. Whether you are a polytechnic graduate or
a degree holder, the onus lies on you to develop yourself,” he adds.
Because he was involved in campus politics, Bakare notes that
the greatest challenge he had while in school was how to maintain a balance
between politicking and academics.
He applauded his mother and brothers for contributing
financially and morally to his academic achievements.
“But I must say that some of my course mates, including Alli
Kazeem, inspired me to be the best I could be through healthy academic
competition. Kazeem, who gave me the toughest challenge, made a distinction.
The only regret I have is that my late father is not here to see his boy making
him proud,” Bakare says.
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