By Yinka Fabowale

Naomi Afueva Olokor never saw the four walls of a secondary school, having been withdrawn from the formal schooling system in Primary 4 by her parents, who coached her by themselves at home to protect her and her brother from alleged persecution.

But, it was no disadvantage. Indeed, it turned out a plus as the 21- year old young woman went on to pull feats, sitting for and passing the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with five credits at barely age 12, bagging a polytechnic National Diploma with Grade Point Average of 3.5 (Upper Credit) and capping them all up with a Second Class Upper Degree in Food Science at the recent graduation of the University of Ilorin.

In this interview, the Delta State born graduate currently undergoing national youth service at National Institute for Freshwater Fishes Research (NIFFRE) in Kainji, Niger State tells her story.

You made a Second Class Degree Upper Class in the discipline, how did you achieve that feat?

Well, first of all, I thank God for it, because it was not easy at all. My parents were also supportive during my stay at school. Then, you also have to read a lot. You read, you focus on your education and be wary of the kind of friends you mix with. If you mix with friends that are rough and wayward, your Grade Point too will be affected. So you have to be careful of who you make your friends.

So, what’s your study regime, your routine like?

The one important thing I took serious note of during my stay in school was my diet and my health. I do not starve myself, because many students when they are reading for exams hardly eat, I cannot do this. When you do that, it affects your brain. So, I make sure I eat my breakfast, after which I plan my time, like, today I want to achieve this. I set goals. And I work towards meeting those goals. Sometimes, I may not be able to achieve them all, but I can evaluate that out of five I am able to take three or four.

So did you read at night?

I did. That was during my 200 and 300 levels. I did overnight reading from around five in the evening till five the next day non-stop. But, I had to stop, because it was not good. My GP then was not stable. I reprogrammed myself because at the 400 Level, 500 Level I found out that my health was not very stable because of that. So I had to be reading during the day and most times I played music. I read with music, that way I would be able to concentrate very well.

What kind of music?

Mostly with all those heavy music beats

Really?

Yes, because I have a way of tunning out noise. When the music is loud in my head, I tune out noise and I will be able to concentrate on what I am doing. It may not work for others, it does work for me. So I read during the day, then at night, I read in the evening till around 10pm. From 10pm till 5am, I make sure that I sleep, because no matter how much you read if you do not sleep, the next day when you are writing exam, you will easily forget things. It is normal, you will forget things. So you have to sleep and rest the brain. Even though it was little you read, you will be able to recollect it during the exam. So that is it.

I understand you never went to a secondary school and had your secondary education all at home. Hoow did you make your WASCE and even secure admission into the university?

Starting from the beginning, my parents had this thing about school because the school I attended was a Catholic school in my primary days.

What is the name of the school?

Regina Caeli.

Where?

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That was in New Bussa. So it was okay but later on things started happening. The teachers were somehow mean towards me.

Mean how?

They kept bullying me.

What issue did you have with them?

I do not know the background, but I knew that the sisters then were threatening. It was always a situation where they singled out a child among other children. Any little thing you do, they will pick on you.

Had it to do with religion?

They just singled me out. My brother and I. Up till now, I have not even asked my parents why they singled us out. So they kept on pestering us, but my brother was able to finish. When I was supposed to finish the primary, I could not. I think I stopped in Primary Four. So my dad withdrew me from the school and began teaching us at home.

All the subjects?

Yes, all the subjects, including the sciences. So, he taught us science subjects then later on, I think when I was around nine, he got us a lesson teacher that coached us in Chemistry, Maths and Physics. Then, Geography, Agricultural Science and other subjects my father taught us. After, I completed my primary six in another school. But when I did  my primary six in that other school, I was already in Secondary School class at home. I was in SS2 then. Secondary school subjects were what I was doing, so when I finished primary school. So I did not do Common Entrance, but the secondary school I was supposed to attend, my dad did not like the school. He said I should just finish SS3 and try and see if I would be able to get my WAEC papers. That was how I started reading for WAEC. I did external WAEC at 12 years. I had five credits, but I did not have Maths. So, my dad said that I should go and do a polytechnic course that is Food Tech in a polytechnic in Kainji. That is Federal College of Freshwater fishes and Technology, FCFTECH. I started with ND, because I did not have Maths and graduated in Upper Credit grade.

Then, I did WAEC again because of my Maths. I did Maths, Chemistry, Physics and others subjects. From there, I got direct entry to the University of Ilorin in 2013.

What is the duration of the Unilorin programme?

It was actually five years, but because I came through direct entry, I started at the 200 Level and completed in four years.

Didn’t you not studying in a formal school system affect you?

No, I do not think so. Even when I compare my knowledge with my other colleagues I found out that my foundation from the teaching by my parents at home was more solid, because they had my time. Every morning, Saturdays and even on Sundays, they take me through classes. So it was a solid foundation.

Did your mum also take you on some subjects?

Yes, she taught us Home Economics and Food Science.

Now, how was the school –at- home setting like, you know, the curriculum?

Okay, my time-table. My dad was the one that formed everything. I did not know how he did it. It was just so amazing, but we just followed what he said that we should be doing and we came out very well. That is myself and my other brother he taught at home.