Nigeria can earn more from solid mineral – ATBU first class graduate

How do you feel graduating with a First class in Applied Geology? Glory be to God. I feel so happy, coupled with the fact that it was not just a First Class but a record breaking one in my department because since inception in 1986, there has only been one First Class in year 2000 […]

How do you feel graduating with a First class in Applied Geology?
Glory be to God. I feel so happy, coupled with the fact that it was not just a First Class but a record breaking one in my department because since inception in 1986, there has only been one First Class in year 2000 and I happen to be the second after 15 years.
It wasn’t easy. I had to make a lot of sacrifices, played less, read a lot, prayed a lot and most importantly, be resolute. I made up my mind from the first day I entered the university that I would break this long time record in my department.
All gratitude to my Head of Department; he was very supportive and also very happy but generally the department was happy when the record was broken.

Did you originally apply for Applied Geology during the admission process?
Yes I did, even though that was not the course I wanted to study. I planned to study Petroleum Engineering but a family friend advised me to go for Applied Geology instead, because of its economic advantage. Petroleum Engineering is restricted just to the Petroleum Sector. But as a geologist, you can work in the petroleum sector or any other sector as well. That made me change my mind and I went for Applied Geology instead of Petroleum Engineering which I wanted to study originally.

 What were the awards you received on the graduation day?
I received the award for the best graduating student in my department courtesy of Professor E.F.C Dike and M.A Dan Hassan. I also received the Sunday Awoniyi prize for the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Applied Geology and I was awarded the best student in my department as well.
What is your plan for the future?
I don’t plan to stop here. This is just the beginning. I plan to go further for my M.Sc., Ph.D and one day to become a professor.

You were also given automatic employment, what is your disposition to that?
That should be a starting point, coupled with the fact that one grows easily in the academia. It is easier for one to go for Masters Degree and Ph.D if one is in the academic setting unlike when one is working somewhere else.
In an academic environment there are bound to be distractions here and there, to what extent did these distractions affect you?
Actually, I am not a bookworm. I took part in campus politics and other social activities. From my 100 level, I was Secretary General of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Students. I was their Financial Secretary, Director of Logistics and I became the President of National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) in 300 Level. So, personally, I had distractions but the most important thing is that I did not allow any distraction to shift me off my main aim. When it was time for me to study, I would leave every other thing. I am not a bookworm, I don’t read all day, but whenever I read, I don’t lose comprehension. I also teach my colleagues.

What is your take on the Nigerian mining sector?
The Nigerian mining sector is being under-utilized because Nigeria is endowed with a lot of solid minerals. Nigeria can stop relying on oil to survive; we have more than enough mineral resources which if adequately utilized, can run the economy of this country. In fact, research has shown that the solid mineral deposits in Nigeria are much more than the oil reserves but we don’t have mining rules and laws.
That is what is affecting mining efforts, coupled with the fact that the government has seriously neglected that sector.