I stayed up-to-date with my timetables – First Class graduate
Rufai Aliyu Omeiza, a 25-year-old student, obtained a First Class degree in Mass Communication from Bayero University Kano (BUK), in 2017. In this interview he speaks about his experiences at BUK and the secret behind his success.
How did your educational journey start?
I am from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State and I lost my father at childhood. I believe the key to success is hardwork. I was not smart during my early primary school days until my mother changed my school. I became a gifted leaner after the death of my father while I was in secondary school.
I decided to study Mass Communication because I was inspired by Cyril Stober and Fatima Abbas, newscasters working with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). I was impressed with the way they read news and dressed. I remember my mother used to say even these beautiful clothes they wear, are free of charge.
I initially applied for Mass Communication at University of Ilorin (Unilorin) but I was rejected so I decided to seek admission at BUK and I was successful. One of my tutors who finished from BUK told me that mass communication was really tough there, so I prepared to study hard.
Pressure is high at universities during admissions. How did you feel when you were denied admission by Unilorin?
At first, I was sad because I had 66 points in my post UTME exams, above the 40 points set aside as pass mark. Some of my friends had 40 points, but they were given admission. However, I later found out that mass communication there, is more competitive than any other course and that they needed about 70 points or so. I felt sad but I decided that there is need for me to continue, I couldn’t just say that is the end, I need to forge ahead. I completely lost interest in Unilorin and went to BUK.
How do you harmonise your experience with the stories you must have heard about BUK before you finally moved in?
In fact what I experienced was at least what I heard about BUK. Initially, the pass mark for BUK was 40 but it was increased to 45. That was really challenging because some of the courses are really tough and it takes a lot of hard work to earn that 45 per cent.
Having obtained a first class degree, have you achieved your dream?
I couldn’t describe how I felt when I was granted a first class degree. However, I know journalism is a very competitive field that entails much more than the results. It is what you can offer in the field, your personal ability, I think I am qualified to be a journalist.
What difference do you hope to make in the field of journalism?
There are a lot of problems that journalists face like struggling to report issues in a proper manner and violation of ethics of journalism, I think I will not follow those steps.
What support would you say you had towards this success?
Let me start from my parents; my mother was very supportive. And I just told you I lost my dad at a very tender age. My mother has been the only person that has been supporting me financially and with a lot of advice about how I should go about my school and how to live with others in school. My classmates were also supportive though we sometimes agree to disagree. They made me realize how to live with people in good terms, know how to relate with people. My lecturers too, including my supervisor were friendly. The dean of the faculty, Professor Umaru Pate, was not only a lecturer to us but a father. Whenever, you had any problem he was always willing to help.
I think I owe my achievement to hard work. Before I entered BUK, I had it in mind that I want to be the best in my field of study and I kept praying to God to make me the best. I had a reading timetable and I followed it. I seldom read in the afternoon because of some activities but I studied a lot in the evening and around midnight. My dad also encouraged us before he died by giving us gifts for good performance.
What advice do you have for those still in university?
Hard work is the key to success; you can’t just sit idle and say you want the best; you definitely have to be productive. I advise students out there to take whatever they are doing very serious and be hard working and those that are industrious will have every cause to rejoice.