How I broke record with my family's customs by earning a first-class degree - Bricklayer

Toyinbo Hezekiah, a thirty-year-old bricklayer and commercial motorcyclist, graduated as the department's top student from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta's Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics. He tells ABDULLATEEF FOWEWE why he pursued education at his age and how he was able to read to earn a first-class degree.

When you began your university degree program, did you anticipate earning a perfect cumulative grade point average?

I'm thirty years old and my name is Toyinbo Hezekiah. My hometown is Igude, which is a village located in Ogun State's Ipokia Local Government Area. I received a first-class degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where I was the best student in the 2020–2021 academic year.

Since I worked as a bricklayer and commercial motorcycle rider to pay for my schooling when I was in school, a lot of people are familiar with me in both capacities. But all I really wanted was to graduate. Owing to my educational background and budgetary constraints, I never intended to receive a first-class honors diploma. 

But my lowest GPA was when I first started, which was 3.8, second-class upper division. When I reached a GPA of 5.0 in my first semester of my third year, I realized I may perhaps graduate with honors. I started spending more time studying after that. My senior year's second semester saw my CGPA rise to the first-class category with a a 4.55 rating.

Yes, my intense intellectual interest has always inspired me to conquer challenges. In elementary school, I routinely placed first, which helped me form strong bonds with numerous teachers. I put a lot of work into going to a secondary school that was distant from my village for this reason, among others. There was also an instance where an instructor asked me if I was studying using magic.

During your time in college, did you go through any difficult times?

Yes, there were a lot of difficult moments. Exam periods and their aftermath are two instances. I had to take out a loan and pay it back after the exam, but my classmates were able to rely on exam packages and help from friends and family. Unlike my peers, who rested, I would get to work right away in order to pay off my obligations and put money aside for the next semester. 

The main issue was that there was almost no time for relaxation. It was also difficult not to think of myself as just another bricklayer or okada rider when I was working with my other course participants.

Have you ever been a very good student when you were in elementary school?How did you spend your early years?

My upbringing was in a village where farming was the main occupation; schooling was not prioritized. I never gave university attendance much thought when I was younger; it was a personal choice. Nevertheless, as I advanced through each level, my resolve to succeed academically grew.

What effects did your upbringing have on your schooling?

My surprising academic journey has been shaped by both heavenly guidance and happenstance. My social circle lacks a solid academic background, and my parents do not pursue academic endeavors. But I'm genetically inclined to be intelligent, especially because of my mother. my understanding inspires me to look for settings that best support and highlight my natural talent.

What was your parent's response when they learned? that you would receive a first-class degree upon graduation?

As previously stated, my parents have little interest in formal education, so I'm not sure whether they understand what it means to be first-class. It'll take a lot of work to explain the significance of a first-class degree. I am aware, though, that when I phone them and tell them I'm at school, they always seem thrilled. They may not completely appreciate the significance of such an accomplishment because they are the first members of our family to pursue higher education, but if they do, they will undoubtedly come together for a celebration.

How did you balance your studies with your job as a bricklayer and okada rider?

I never stop thanking God for the strength He has given me and the ways in which I feel ready for whatever lies ahead thanks to him. Nonetheless, given the nature of my profession, reading every day is beneficial. I don't really read during exams or continuous assessment tests; all I do is revise. On the other hand, I usually put in more effort during breaks and strikes, and once classes started again, I worked weekends. I gave up studying for tests.

If you hadn't received a first-class honor, would you have been disappointed?

No. As long as I graduate, I won't regret getting a second-class degree. Getting my degree was the major objective. Because of my socioeconomic situation and intellectual background in high school, I even dreaded being expelled.

What is the one school moment that you remember the most?

For me, the most noteworthy instance was during my third year, when I earned a 5.00 GPA.

What have you been doing since receiving your degree?

I'm working on a farm right now. I raise several kinds of chickens and provide free advice to people who are interested in farming but don't know where to start. I'm also picking up insightful knowledge from seasoned farmers who have been involved in agriculture for a long time. Real-world experience is more valuable than abstract concepts.


Did your academic performance get you any honors?

No, not at all. It was merely the customary professorial handshake. throughout the convocation. But I wasn't content with the acknowledgment. This is an additional factor contributing to the low level of academic dedication among many freshmen. People frequently judge themselves by the accomplishments of those they know, comparing themselves to others. This belief causes many young individuals to become lazy. Regretfully, the same people who accuse us of being lazy are also the ones who taught us this behavior.

When someone says that there are no work opportunities, what do you think?

This is not a novel idea, and I don't want to be psychologically burdened or discouraged to the point of melancholy by it. All I want is to be happy doing whatever it is that I do to support myself. I detest the thought of feeling guilty about being a graduate with distinction. Working with them makes it difficult for me to see myself as just another okada rider or bricklayer. But since I think that everything has its time and season, and this one will pass, I no longer see it as a challenge. When these okada men try to demand money from us, it gets annoying.

Sometimes, after paying for the daily ticket, I have nothing left over. It is also difficult for me to perceive myself as an okada rider because of the widespread belief that they are careless. Individuals often assume that we are all the same. Furthermore, trying to alter some of them presents difficulties because it appears that I am attempting to isolate myself as a learner.

When I think back on my early years, I remember having a lot of freedom to hang out with my pals and do things like set traps to capture wild animals like huge rats, rabbits, and grasscutters. The river was a great place to swim every time. I came to realize that these events had toughened me down more than individuals who grew up in unrelated environments. There were a lot of natural surrounds during my upbringing.

After you received your first-year exam grade, what motivated you to continue?

At first, I had no idea if I could get the grade, therefore that was my main driving force. There were other explanations. I was constantly curious to learn from other people, and I didn't want my hard work to be in vain if my grades suffered. In addition, I tried not to provide justifications for subpar 

performance because of budgetary constraints. Even though I was exhausted, I forced myself to study.

How did you approach your studies?

I started reading every day as a habit. Since I don't pick things up quickly, I tried to start learning as soon as I could. I realized that was not a good plan for me, so I stopped waiting until the last minute to start studying for examinations. Since I do well in classes that require computation, I spend more time learning the theoretical components. When a subject proved to be especially difficult, I would turn to online instruction, frequently supplementing my knowledge with YouTube videos. This resulted from the fact that some lecturers, unlike secondary school instructors, did not offer thorough instruction.

Have you ever thought that you wouldn't pass? performance required for the course? How did you get over this?

During my first and second years in college, I experienced feelings of overload on many occasions. In particular, I found it difficult to succeed in classes that required computations as opposed to just writing. Instead of utilizing a pen and paper, you had to compute the answers for these subjects. The university's computer-based assessments and exams were made for students who could think fast on their feet in addition to those who were brilliant. They would frequently have fifteen to twenty minutes to respond to one hundred questions. Regretfully, my proficiency with computers was lacking.

In order to prevent distractions, how did you handle relationships with the other sex?

To tell the truth, I stayed laser-focused on to keep yourself from becoming distracted. I discovered that women would respect my boundaries and not disturb me needlessly if they knew the kind of person I was. I don't have anything that would entice women to distract me in today's world. "Who wants a guy like me who rides a bike and builds bricks?" they ask. Some bike riders have a tendency to become quickly distracted because they lack motivation and a future-focused mindset.


What are your future plans after this?

I still hope to pursue higher education. When I was younger and living in a village, my first objective was to finish elementary school. But I want to go beyond this point in my schooling. I went from primary to secondary school since I wanted to continue my studies after that. and ultimately went on to get a degree. I still have a strong desire to learn things today, but I try to strike a balance between my academic endeavors and other responsibilities. Animal science is my area of special interest, especially genetics and breeding. My goal is to start my own farm and eventually work as a professor specializing in research and animal science.

What guidance would you give to those from disadvantaged backgrounds who want to pursue higher education but don't have the resources?

They should begin pursuing their educational objectives without waiting for others to give them resources. In the same way that one does not require shoes to walk or run, they should take the initiative and start their journey towards education. They ought to go barefoot at first. Helpers observe them sprinting or strolling barefoot. will manifest. Some individuals were surprised to learn that I was still a student and handed me money, about N200, instead of N100. They shouldn't think that everything will happen right away. 

It is a methodical process. They must to be reliable as well, as some individuals have become social problems as a result of their circumstances. 

They ought to give up evaluating themselves against others. They ought to work with what they already have and modify their narrative with it. I have paid some, if not all, of my school tuition since I enrolled in the village's primary school. I've never made comparisons between myself and those whose families foot the bill.