At Ovation Media Group, we have had a long tradition of celebrating excellence especially young Africans who were doing remarkable things, so Ayodele Dada’s Story was compelling enough to interest us.
After days of combing his Psychology Department and the University’s Administration Department, speaking to a couple of friends and course mates, we eventually hit the jackpot!
We found this rare gem of a student and not only that, he agreed to come all the way to our office for this no-holds-barred interview.
At the session, he was so cool, calm and collected, and there was no shadow of doubt in everyone in the room that he worked hard for his 5.0 GPA! Enjoy his inspirational story.
Could you please give a brief information about yourself
My name is Ayodele Daniel Dada. I am from Ekiti State from a family of four. My mum is a teacher while my dad is a Retired Accountant. The story broke that I made the highest grade and best result in Unilag, and from the Department of Psychology, and people have been asking me why Psychology, and why I did not take up more challenging courses.
They are also asking whether the feat was something I had been working on. Personally, I would say studying Philosophy was just something I believed in, something I wanted to use to help and impact people’s life through changing their way of thinking.
Can you describe your growing up days
I have always been a quiet and reserved person, not the very vocal or expressive type. I grew up in Lagos with my dad and mum. My dad is a Pastor at the moment. He retired as an Accountant. I attended Hopebay College, Alaba Oro, close to Ajegunle in Lagos. My school certificate result is not that spectacular. I got just a few As and Cs here and there. There was nothing dramatic about my childhood.
At what stage did you discover the genius in you
It took me a bit of time because my family, friends everyone around me were on me to do the regular courses like Medicine, Engineering and the rest, and wouldn’t let me concentrate on the one I wish. You know how families can put pressure on someone, and when you don’t agree, they think one is stubborn, and because I am not the violently stubborn type, I took my time. I am the kind of person who takes his time and think out what is best for me. It took me a bit of time to get that independence, and when I was able to get it. I made the best use of it.
How old are you now?
I am 29 years old
What were you doing between the time you left secondary school and when you got into the university
At first, I was at a crossroad, asking myself what I can actually do in the interim I was Teacher at a point, taking some students in private lessons, I sold computer accessories like flash drives and others. At a time someone even suggested to me to take up French, that I can become an Interpreter in the Foreign Service, so I went to learn French. I was doing all these various endeavours to save up enough money to realize my true ambition, which was study Psychology and generally help people. I made my move when I knew I could fend for myself to an extent, in terms of buying a few things I needed like forms, books and many others stuff.
Would you say going to school at a more mature age positively affected your performance
I will say yes, because I observed that most of my colleagues who got into school just immediately after school were highly distracted. The same would have happened to me maybe if I had not encountered some of these things before, they would have become stumbling blocks. There were things I have seen and experienced that I had not, and that helped me to concentrate.
However, there is another side to it too, when one is older, there is a tendency to become too reflective, you may actually become rigid and secluded. I tried not to become a recluse though and broke out of such attitude.
So for four years in the university, you didn’t fail any course
Yes, I got straight As in all the exams I wrote
You mean every time you sat for an exam, you scored straight As. How is that possible
Well, I will say on a personal basis, I had a very good plan, and again God helped me. Because I know that plans can only go so far, but if God does not help the person, it won’t come through. I also decided to get serious and plan. I laid out a plan to take this opportunity with both hands. More so, there were a few of us who were already talking about being the best on convocation day,that became an extra motivation. So from the get go every exam taken, every assignment, every test, I took seriously.
Has anyone offered you scholarship to further your studies
There is none at the moment, but I have a feeling that some people might show some interest in supporting me.
So there is nothing yet
Yes, some people have indicated interest but nothing concrete.
Companies or individuals
They are more of companies than individuals
And what is your next immediate line of action
I wish to further my education like get a Masters for a start because that will be the only way I can have a better voice.
Here in Nigeria or…
I actually intend to do it in one of those Ivy League universities in Europe. This is because my mentor, Robert Stanberg of Yale University happens to operate from there. Though I have not made much survey of the university I intend to do that soon.I would want to go to any of the Ivy League Universities, but Yale is where I really want to go.
So obviously, Europe or America will be your choice for a Masters Degree
Yes.
What if you are not able to go, and you have to fund yourself. How would you feel if the government of Nigeria says you have to buy foreign exchange at so high a price to fulfil this ambition of yours
That will be a considerable complication. It will be a huge disappointment if government policy will deny one an opportunity to explore academic growth abroad. I think that people should be encouraged to make a difference and acquire the knowledge they need to be who they want to be. For example, somebody like me, I don’t have to waste what I have because I just have to go and get the knowledge, and come back and use it here. We need to go out and get the necessary expertise, compete with the best, learn from the best and come back to make a difference. So if there is anything that attempts to derail or complicate that; I will really be disappointed.
Do you dream of coming back to Nigeria to teach, assuming you go Yale and they want to retain you, how will you deal with such a delimma
Definitely it will be an attraction to saty because the environment is very encouraging and conducive. But even at that, opportunities abound in Nigeria. There are just few structures we need to put in place and promote policies that will be transformative even from the base level. I think that there is a greater impact we will making in Nigeria than holding out there.
Psychology is not a popular subject in Africa, especially in Nigeria, how does that make you feel? What would you do if come back to discover that Psychology which you love so much can’t pay your bills
I believe that most of these things are attached to change. Part of this change is what is happening now. Somebody will ask ‘what did you study?’ and I say Psychology. Now the subject is beginning to get a name and is being recognized. I just need to have a voice, and explain what Psychology can do and more people will key into it. Obviously, Psychologists have not really promoted what they know because if something works for you, you are in a better position to say there is something in good for you and that will make you develop interest in it and spread the word to others. And that’s where change can come.
Are you married
No I am not
Any girlfriend… or now you have more girlfriends
Well (laughs heartily) okay, yes. Right now, I am getting more female attention, but there is always this person I have had my heart attached to.
In your previous comments, you made mention that prior to your graduation, you kept away from women. So this person you are talking about, is she someone you found in the space of these few weeks
No there was always someone around but there was nothing concrete, but now I feel I can actually take our friendship forward. I can actually say it is now time to do the needful
So you made the highest grade in the university
Yes
The closest person after you in your department made 4.80. At what time and level did you leave her behind
That was in 200 level because we both made five points in our 100 level days. In successive semesters, I maintained my scores, and she couldn’t catch with me again. It was an interesting battle.
Do you see yourself as the proverbial triangular student, that is, from lecture room to the library and to the hostel
No, I wouldn’t say I was like that. I was not versed in library usage. I created my own library through online research. My library was on my laptop and I even shared my own library with my friends. I believe because we all worked so hard ensured my class made the best result so far in the department, I had time to unwind. I headed social committees in my class, we invited Lanre Olushola for a symposium once, I had my fair bit of socializing and even visited nite clubs, but night outing was not always my thing because because I like to sleep (laughs heartily)
But most of your friends said they hardly saw you at school- organized social gatherings? How do you react to that
Most times it is because I just come and stay unnoticed, and wouldn’t say much. For me, everywhere I go is an opportunity to learn; from anybody. I am tall, but I can just seat down so quietly that they may not know. We need not deprive ourselves of the opportunity to learn.
How do you relax?
I read books, I do long distance running as part of my exercise routine just to prove what the Romans rightly said that ‘a sound mind is a sound body’, and I also play chess.
Has your school, Hopebay College, tried to reach you ever since this news broke
Yes, they have a reception for me tomorrow (The day after the interview)
Have you been invited by President Muhammadu Buhari
No
Do you work at the moment, and where
Yes, I work with Proctor and Gamble (P&G). They came to the university and conducted a series of test, and that was how I got in
What about National Service
I wish to travel first and go for my Masters, moreover I am close to being exempted from the scheme because of age. Travelling abroad would actually be fun for me.
Where have you travelled to before
I have not travelled anywhere by air before.
Are you serious, that is hard to believe
Yes. I am very serious. I have not been on a plane before. It is the truth, I have not had cause to travel by air.
What is your favorite food
Pounded yam and vegetable (Efo riro)
QUOTE
I was Teacher at a point, taking some students in private lessons, I sold computer accessories like flash drives and others. At a time someone even suggested to me to take up French, that I can become an Interpreter in the Foreign Service, so I went to learn French. I was doing all these various endeavours to save up enough money to realize my true ambition, which was study Psychology
It will be a huge disappointment if government policy will deny one an opportunity to explore academic growth abroad. I think that people should be encouraged to make a difference and acquire the knowledge they need to be who they want to be.
Yes. I am very serious. I have not been on a plane before. It is the truth, I have not had cause to travel by air.
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