Sodiq Ayo Afolabi is a Top-notch graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Ilorin. His undergraduate journey integrated scholastic quality with leadership, innovation, volunteering, conferences and entrepreneurship.
In this interview with Edugist, he discusses his choice of Chemical Engineering. These challenges tested his scholastic journey, how he recuperated from a drop in CGPA, and his recommendations to African undergrads seeking excellence.
Inform Us About Yourself.
My name is Sodiq Ayo Afolabi, and I am a First-rate graduate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Ilorin.
My university journey has been a mix of academics, development, leadership, service and personal growth.
I functioned as a General Secretary, Academic Officer and Technical Director in various trainee organisations, and ultimately ended up being the President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), University of Ilorin Chapter.
Beyond leadership, I am enthusiastic about innovation and problem-solving. I take pleasure in asking, “How can we turn what we understand into something beneficial?”
My long-lasting ambition is to construct a business that develops items and technologies efficient in fixing genuine problems in Nigeria, Africa and the world.
For me, education is more than earning a certificate. It has to do with ending up being efficient in creating value, developing individuals and fixing issues that matter.
Why Did You Pick Chemical Engineering?
I selected Chemical Engineering since I was interested by how understanding can be changed into beneficial products and solutions.
I was also drawn in to its versatility. Chemical Engineering offers a structure for understanding and resolving intricate problems throughout various fields, consisting of energy, manufacturing, food, pharmaceuticals, ecological sustainability and products.
More importantly, I have actually constantly imagined developing my own company that produces items capable of fixing real-world problems.
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I saw Chemical Engineering as a discipline that might provide me the technical and analytical foundation to turn ideas into processes, items and eventually organizations.
So, I did not simply select a course. I chose a foundation for the kind of problems I intend to resolve in the future.
What Was It Like Studying Chemical Engineering At The University of Ilorin?
It was challenging, requiring, however extremely rewarding.
Chemical Engineering at the University of Ilorin taught me that intelligence is just one part of quality. I needed to understand myself: when I found out best, how I took in details and which research study methods worked for me.
Beyond academics, I ended up being associated with management, volunteering, conferences, hackathons, research study and different efforts.
Particularly in my last year, I discovered myself moving from one hackathon to another, sometimes returning with earnings, presenting at conferences and offering at various occasions.
It was interesting, however it also made the journey more requiring. I had to discover how to manage my time, priorities and energy successfully.
Recalling, those experiences made my university education richer. I was not just learning from books; I was learning from people, difficulties, competitors, failures and real-world experiences.
When You Got Admission Into The Department, Did You See Yourself Graduating With a Very First Class?
Honestly, yes. I assured myself that I would due to the fact that I believed it was possible.
Nevertheless, the journey evaluated that belief.
As the years progressed, I ended up being involved in more activities and also needed to work to support myself. Throughout 200 Level, this considerably impacted my academics, and my CGPA dropped to 4.23.
At 300 Level, I started the hard process of bringing it back up. It was one of the hardest academic periods for me, but I altered my method to preparation and gradually improved.
Then came my last year, when I was stabilizing academics with leadership, hackathons, conferences, offering and other chances.
I was determined not to allow these responsibilities to eliminate what I had worked for academically.
So when I lastly graduated with a First Class, it meant much more than a grade to me. It was a tip that the stress, sacrifices, changes, prayers and perseverance deserved it.
Did You Ever Seem Like Quiting, What Challenges Did You Face?
Yes, certainly.
Among my hardest minutes came between 200 and 300 Level. After my academic efficiency dropped, I stopped the work I was doing to support myself because I wanted to focus on recuperating academically.
However that produced another difficulty: how would I pay my tuition and other expenditures?
There was a point where I really felt that my education may concern an end. Mentally, I had actually already quit.
But God sent out helpers when I required them most. That experience taught me that in some cases, when you believe the journey is over, aid can come from places you never ever expected.
Later on, the difficulty ended up being stabilizing academics with leadership, offering, conferences, hackathons and other chances.
My last year was particularly demanding, with a number of jobs and duties, however I never ever permitted myself to stop striving.
I understood I needed to keep moving.
In spite of These Obstacles, What Kept You Going?
2 things constantly remained in my mind: where I was coming from and where I wanted to go.
I refused to permit my background to put me on the ground. Rather, I allowed it to remind me that I needed to aim for the top.
My faith, household, mentors, good friends and the people who thought in me offered me strength. But I likewise developed a personal concept: I should aim, despite how tough the journey ends up being.
That mindset carried me through recovering my CGPA, leadership responsibilities, hackathons, competitors, conferences, volunteering and the demands of last year.
I discovered that you may not constantly have best conditions, however you can choose how you react to them.
Sometimes you change. Often you compromise. In some cases you ask for help. But above all, you keep moving.
For me, quiting was never the strategy. I had a future I was identified to satisfy.
What Suggestions Do You Have For African Undergraduates Who Aspire For Academic Excellence?
First, think that excellence is possible, however understand that it needs intentionality.
Know yourself, comprehend how you learn best, manage your time deliberately, ask for help and surround yourself with people who encourage growth. Do not wait up until assessments to take your academics seriously.
But do not make grades your whole identity. Build abilities. Take opportunities. Lead. Network. Volunteer. Produce. Resolve issues.
University must develop not just your intellect but also your capability to contribute to society.
And when you experience setbacks, do not right away conclude that your story is over. A bad semester, monetary difficulty, failure or unexpected challenge can enter into the story that makes your success meaningful.
Most importantly, be a driver in your environment, not one who stresses out, but one who keeps things moving.
You may not change Africa over night, but you can start with your classroom, your department, your neighborhood and individuals around you.
Keep aiming. Keep growing. Keep moving. Your present situations do not have to determine the height of your future.
Sodiq Ayo Afolabi’s journey shows that scholastic excellence can exist together with management, service, innovation and individual obligation.
His course was not without obstacles; a decrease in his CGPA, monetary pressures and the needs of numerous dedications evaluated his willpower.
Yet, instead of allowing those obstacles to specify his result, he adjusted his technique, looked for assistance and stayed committed to his goal.
His story likewise offers a wider lesson for undergraduates: quality is not merely about making excellent grades.
It is about establishing the discipline, resilience, abilities and state of mind needed to produce worth beyond the classroom.
For Sodiq, the First Class represents not completion of his journey, but a structure for a bigger ambition, to build services that attend to real issues and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria, Africa and the world.
We all at Edugist wants Sodiq all the very best and more academic achievements.