By Wole Balogun
Precious
A student of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Miss. Olatomide Ayomide Precious, of the Department of Accounting, has emerged overall best out of several other candidates who recently sat for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) examinations.
This was coming barely two weeks after a pre-degree student, Fasae Maxwell Oladele, of the upwardly mobile Ivory Tower, had scored a whooping 310 in the recently concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Narrating the journey to her success story to the University media team on Thursday, an excited Precious, who is currently a graduating student, attributed her feat to painstaking personal efforts, constant encouragement from her parent and sound teaching she received from lecturers in FUOYE.
She said: “I started the ICAN programme when I was in 200 Level. First, I was motivated to begin this journey by my father, Mr Olatomide Babatunde Gabriel, when I got admitted into the Federal University Oye-Ekiti. He told me about the institute and encouraged me to give it a trial as an undergraduate.
“Initially, l wasn’t too sure I could do it. Although, I had the passion to give it a try. I told my dad that l wanted to build my CGPA in 100 Level first and that when I get to 200 Level I would make enquires about the programme and begin. My dad agreed. But when we were in second semester in 100 Level, the current departmental President, Comrade ismail lzaaq Opeyemi advised me to join a tutorial centre to begin with my ATS and not wait untill I’m settled because the system only gets harder and that when I keep postponing I may end up not doing it.
“He inspired me by saying procrastination is a thief of time and so right then and there I made up my mind and believed in my self. I told my dad I would like to register for the next diet examination and he was very happy to hear that.
“Furthermore, l began with my ATS 1. I made up my mind and was very focused because I believed that if Comrade lzaaq and others could do it, l can also do it and even do it better!.
“However, l faced the challenge of trying to maintain my CGPA as a student as well as fighting hard not to go below 4.0 so I don’t lose my undergraduate Federal Government scholarship as that was the benchmark and at the same time studying for ICAN exams. The challenge therefore required extra studying, extra sleepless nights, as well as doing away with so many other distracting activities.
“It was really challenging that at a point that I told my daddy I wanted to give up and face my CGPA, but then he told me that for him to have achieved his ANAN, I can achieve ICAN and become an ACA even as an undergraduate. That inspired me the more so I changed my mind and decided to believe in mysel. I did more of group reading with my mates, I learnt from a lot of them, and to the glory of God my hardwork finally paid off.
“Majorly, I read by not deceiving myself!!!…whenever I see I’m reading a particular paragraph for about six to eight times and still not getting it, I close the book and sleep. When I get up and go back to it, it sinks immediately I read it again.
“To the glory of God I’m a fast learner so I understand whatever I’m taught almost immediately…and again, I don’t pile things up. Once I’m taught a particular topic, I go over it immediately I get home and solve pathfinder questions on that topic..and that is my strategy.
“ICAN cannot be underestimated so therefore, every topic in the pack must be read at least twice and then, one must solve all already tested questions on each topic.
“Another motivation I had was my lecturers, they always tell us the earlier we start the journey the best and faster it is to get there and they teach is very soundly. I like to particularly mention a few of them who are Dr Sholanke Festus, the
Faculty Dean—Pastor Afolabi and our Head of Department, Dr Ali-Mohomo among others.
“Dr. Sholanke was my pm tutor in the skills level and tax tutor in the professional level. During one of his lectures, he told me to keep it up that I would pass. I didn’t understand what he meant untill he repeated it in class again and said Ayo will definitely pass audit despite not being my audit tutor. His encouragement inspired me greatly and I had it in mind that I had to pass just so I won’t disappoint everyone who has confidence in me and also not waste my parent’s money.
“My advise to my new colleagues in the journey is to never give up, believe in yourself, utilize your time effectively and efficiently, and do not deceive yourself…you can do anything!!!, you just need to believe in yourself!!!.
“I specially thank my VC, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, for this great opportunity and his admirable leadership and dedication to giving the best to the students. I appreciate this recognition and l appreciate my faculty Dean, Pastor Afolabi, who always treat us as his children, and also my honourable HOD, our very generous mother for her encouragement and support …May God continue to help my great institution, FUOYE, at large as well as faculty of management sciences and Accounting department, ” she said.