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It is not easy to succeed but the fruit of success is fantastically sweet. When a struggler is in the course of struggling to succeed, only few—if any—pays attention to their miserable condition. However, after success, everyone talks about it. I am joining others to talk about, and celebrate, Aminat’s success. She told us her success story and we, in return, shall discuss it because we are amazed by it.
Aminat, of course, needs no introduction. She is, at present, the cynosure if all eyes. She broke a forty year record in the Lagos State University (LASU). Though, she is not the first person to graduate with first class, her first class, however, the first of its kind, deserves celebration. From her graduation speech and her other interviews, one readily concludes that her first class is indeed a golden one; not a padded one. Due to the rate at which universities produce first class, in recent time, only few people are thrilled by such news. So, why are we celebrating Aminat? We are celebrating her and we must celebrate her because she proved many gender related assumptions wrong. People are so assertive in their assumptions as if assumptions are facts.
Some of the common assumptions are; women are dull. Aminat proved it wrong. It is even said when women are intelligent, there must be some limits—they could not be as intelligent and as knowledgeable as men.
Aminat proved it wrong. Some opine that hijab-wearing females have limits because the hijabs they don is a symbol of retrogression. It is a stumbling block to success, retards progress and brings shame. Aminat proved it wrong. Hijab brings dignity and it is, itself, a symbol of dignity. It is also said that participating in religious activities on campus affects academic performance. Aminat (a mosqite—one who frequents the mosque) proved it wrong. It is generally held that academic excellence is hampered by financial constraints. Aminat, again, proved it wrong.
To Aminat, despite financial challenge, getting “B” as a grade is “haram” (unlawful). Because she reads Law and understands law, the only lawful grade to her is “A” and she continued to get “A’s” untainted with any other grades through out her program. This is an exceptional feat which deserves celebration. Her Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, proudly pronounced Aminat as “LASU’s best-graduating student in history.”
While many female students starved themselves, saved enough money from the little they had to by lipsticks and assorted makeup, Aminat saved virtually all what she got from her parents to buy a browsing phone to read and read and read. While many ladies on campus worked tirelessly on reshaping their hips, enlarging their breasts and butts—with fake silicone hips and padded butts—to impress their lecturers and other gazers, Aminat worked on her heart, learned by it, and trained it to learn continuously with the help of her Creator. While many female students counted on the number of clothes they have in their wardrobes—in dozens—and walked catwalklike like say tomorrow no dey in their beautiful regalia to impress amorous men, Aminat managed to fix up her few clothes and hijabs which she struggled to iron only to later impress the whole world. Aminat, despite her regular consumption of garri and ẹpa (groundnuts) which many of her friends find absurd, she left behind and surpassed those who regularly eat full chicken and drink expensive beverages to break unbreakable record in four decades.
Aminat is fortunate to have good lecturers who are not enemies of progress. They would have frustrated her efforts. Some lecturers are pained to see that their students progress. Some will insist “A” is for God. Somel work against diligent students. To them, it is like; “We (your lecturers) did not graduate with first class, why dare you?” Some team up to ensure that worthless but compliant students (you know what I mean) succeed while wretched but dedicated students—who have nothing to offer—fail. Some naturally dislike you for being hardworking. Aminat, in this regard, was fortunate to have lecturers who helped her achieve this height.
For the first time, as far as I know, a student in Nigerian university made an academic breakthrough and instantly became a millionaire without being gainfully employed. This is wonderful. Though Governor Obaseki has promised her job in Edo State. But the question is: will it be wise for her to be a civil servant with hopeless future? But let’s assume it will be a better job offer. Kudos to Obaseki for giving Aminat that stately recognition.
We are used to seeing politicians who ruled over us gifting millions of naira to BBNaija celebrities, artists, and beauty pageant champions. Aminat is different. Her feat is academic which is hardly celebrated; yet Aminat is widely celebrated. Notable among those who celebrated Aminat with gift of money in millions is Governor Sanwo Olu. Many thanks to him. I have seen many politicians and influential people celebrating the useless, over-rated, and inconsequential cook-a-thon embarked by one female Nigerian. I am still struggling to fathom the relevance or significance of that cook-a-thon. But I have not seen some of these people celebrating Aminat. Let’s assume she will soon be celebrated by them.
Aminat’s choice of Lagos State University (LASU) must have facilitated her success. LASU is obviously a university where discrimination—based on religion and ethnicity—is not a policy. All the way from Edo State, she broke an academic record in Lagos. She is not even from any of the South-western states; she is from the South-south. In an era that host communities to universities are claiming entitlement to vice chancellorship, how would it have been if LASU management had denied her that perfect CGPA because she is not originally from Lagos? It is not that she faked her identity. It is very obvious from her convocation speech that she is an open (not secret) Edolite. Towards the end of her speech, she switched to Edo Language and addressed the Edolites. Though I don’t understand Edo, but from the way she spoke it, she doesn’t seem to be struggling with the language. I can perceive her fluency. I feel like….
Some parents are very sad when they see their children speak in their local languages. In fact, in some homes, children are strictly monitored not to speak any language but English.
Children are forced to unlearn any language they have learnt but English. Oyinbo yi na ni (na so so Oyinbo). They only want them to speak Oyinbo (English Language) as if speaking English is the definition or manifestation of intelligence. These parents are the worst hit by colonialism and could not wean themselves. While many are undergoing decolonizing process, they are completely awed by the colonialists and their predatory civilization. That is why they will not allow their daughters and wives to use the hijab. They are thoroughly brainwashed and “brain-emptied” and, thus, suffer from serious inferiority complex. They need our pity and prayers anyway; not our censure.
I have been observing this ugly trend especially among the Yoruba people who claim to be elites or ape the elites. Here is Aminat, she is not lost despite her bookishness, she still belongs to her natal home and publicly speaks her language even on camera. What an illustrious lady from Edo State! We all know what Edo ladies are known for (don’t ask me what), Aminat still proved that stereotype wrong. If you choose to name your daughter Aminat because of Aminat Yusuf, I think you have made a good choice.
I pray Aminat will continue to record success upon success. This is just the beginning. She will be starting a YouTube channel tagged “Learning Law with Aminat” (LLA). This is her humble way of giving back to the society. May Allah help her. Don’t hesitate to benefit from her wealth of knowledge. Aminat’s parents had been in a jubilant mood since their daughter’s success news broke out. They stand out to be different. They trained their daughter to be religious in a world where parents frown at their children’s inclination to religion. May Almighty continue to bless them. Please accept my heartiest congratulations.
Abdulkadir Salaudeen
salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com
