..Motivates the to pursue ambition to become great in future
By Gbenga Sodeinde
The Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Hakeem Jamiu has urged secondary school students in his constituency to be ready to defy the odds to reach the pinnacle of success in life despite their humble background.
Rt. Hon. Jamiu who achieving success is not an easy task motivated the students to take their studies serious, remain focused in pursuing their legitimate dreams to become somebody in life and refrain from joining bad gangs and involving in vices that could terminate their lives untimely.
The Deputy Speaker made the remarks in his hometown, Igbemo Ekiti, during a Constituency Engagement/Career Talk he had with students from secondary schools in his Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 2 as part of activities to mark the flag-off of his re-election campaign.
The event which was initiated by a humanitarian organisation, Foluke Akosile Foundation (FAF) was supported by the Deputy Speaker was attended by secondary school students and their teachers from towns like Awo, Iropora, Eyio, Esure, Ilomu, Iworoko, Are, Afao, Araromi Obbo, Orun and Igbemo.
The students, who were all excited to be at the interactive forum which was also attended by many dignitaries, received gifts like schoolbags, exercise books and financial lifeline listened to a lecture delivered by Rt. Hon. Jamiu whose children were also present to hear their father’s true life story.
Although the Deputy Speaker had procured JAMB forms for students in the constituency and facilitated employment of many youths into teaching and civil service appointments in the last three years, he said the students outreach was a means to give back to the communities he represents at the state parliament and to imbue the students with determination to succeed in their studies and achieve greater things in life.
The legislator during the lecture entitled: “With Determination and Discipline, You can become that great person you wanted to be,” told the story of his life on the suffering and inconveniences he endured as a boy growing up in a village who was determined to succeed despite the odds.
Rt. Hon. Jamiu, used the forum to warn the students and other youths of Ekiti State against involvement in criminal activities like drug abuse and Internet fraud otherwise known as “yahoo-yahoo” which he described as an erosion of values of hard work, perseverance, dignity of human person and ethos of “Omoluabi” in Yoruba land.
He decried a situation in which the cherished values of decorum, modesty and decency which were in abundance in those days, are gradually being relegated as the society now has teenage students without means of legitimate income coming home with exotic cars and the formation of ‘Association of Yahoo Boys’ Mothers encouraging their children to commit internet fraud and organizing prayer sessions and spiritual fortification for them.
While decrying involvement of youths including students in internet fraud otherwise known as “yahoo-yahoo” in a bid to get rich by inordinate means, Jamiu warned that such a “dangerous path” could lead to sudden loss of lives of young ones who are seen as leaders of tomorrow.
He emphasized that while money made legitimately would last and be enjoyed, “sudden money realized through dubious and dishonest means brings sudden death adding that being born into poverty is not an excuse to resort to fraudulent and devilish means to become rich said he endured a lot of suffering and doing odd jobs while growing up to survive before he attained the enviable position he occupies today.
According to him, he helped his parents to hawk goods after school hours as a pupils, served as a bus conductor and a driver, worked as a labourer, among other menial jobs before securing admission into the University of Lagos where he bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He told the students that he also bagged a Master’s degree in Political Science and is now a PhD student at the Ekiti State University.
The Deputy Speaker revealed that himself and Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who was his schoolmate at Awo Comprehensive High School, Awo Ekiti had parents who were teachers but rose from humble beginning to be where they are today urging the students to draw inspiration from their story and follow the path to greatness to make history in their generation.
He said: “You can connect well with me, I grew up here, I am the son of teachers, I was like you in terms of humble beginning, I am not a silver spoon kid, I am an “atapata dide” (somebody from a humble beginning) like you. I want you to know you can become great and a VIP like the Deputy Speaker and the Governor of our State if you’re determined, disciplined, focused, steadfast and prayerful.
“I grew up here in Igbemo. I was born and bred in Igbemo Ekiti about 57 years ago. My family house is the long one storey building at Oke Oja called Ile Jimoh Agiigi directly behind the market. My father is Alhaji R. A Jamiu and my mother is Alhaja S. B Jamiu and both of them are still alive.
“I attended AUD primary school Igbemo Ekiti between 1971 and 1974 and continued at AUD primary school Oke Ila Ado Ekiti from 1974 to 1976 where I was sitting on the same row with Tajudeen Olabode now Rtd. Brigadier General and Prof. Rasak Ojo Bakare, immediate past Honourable Commissioner for Arts Culture and tourism. You also can be great!
“I and my siblings, Mojeed Jamiu, former Special Adviser to Governir Fayemi and ex Director General BSES and my other 3 siblings used to fetch water at Omi Moran went to farm in Igbo origi and Uta Usae and played around “omi eti efo.” We moved to Ado Ado Ekiti in 1974 when my father was transferred there.”
“I gained admission into Awo Community High School in 1976 as one of the pioneer students. Coincidentally, our present Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji also gained admission into the same school in 1978. We fetched water together at a stream called Omifufun in Awo community. Today He is the Governor of Ekiti State and I am Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly. You can also be great!
“I left Awo Community high school in 1979 to continue at OlaOluwa Muslim Grammar School, Ado- Ekiti while Governor Oyebanji left the school in 1981 to continue at C. A. C Efon-Alaaye. I hawked provisions after school hours between 1979 and 1983 when I gained admission to Ondo State College of Arts and Science, Ikare Akoko for my Advanced Levels education.
“I attended University of Lagos between 1984 and 1987, did my youth Corp in 1987/1988. I went back to the University of Lagos for my Masters in 2002 which I obtained in 2004. I am presently a PhD student at Ekiti State University. After I graduated in 1987 and finished my youth service in 1988 I started work at a private secondary school near our house in Ado Ekiti on a weekly salary of N75 making N300 per month.
“I taught 3 subjects at an average of 5hours daily at at the rate of N5 per hour and earn N75 weekly between 1988 and 1989. I was also on N50 unemployment allowance from the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). I left for Abuja in search of a regular job with Customs, Immigrations and Prisons but I didn’t not succeed and had to return to Ekiti after one year of shuttling from Minna and Abuja.
“I was staying with a northerner friend of mine with whom I served from where shuttled to Gwagwalada office of Customs ,Immigration and Prisons. It is pertinent to mention that I once trekked for 35 kms inside a heavy rain from Gwagwalada to Abuja when I ran out of money.
“I returned to Ado Ekiti in early 1990 after securing a teaching appointment on grade level 8 with N750 as my salary and was posted to Aisegba community Grammar school where I taught Government for 10months before I resigned in 1991 September. I immediately joined General Shehu Musa Ya’rAdua Presidential Campaign Organisation as Research and Planning Officer with Ondo State Office at Fagunwa Crescent, Ijapo, Akure on a monthly salary of N1,000 from 1991 to September 1992 when General Babangida cancelled the Presidential primaries of the then SDP and NRC and banned General Yar’ Adua and some politicians from further contesting elections.
“I left for Lagos late 1992 to join a cleaning, fumigation and pest control services company and worked there from 1992 to 1998 on a salary of N2,000 per month which was increased to N3,000 per month 3 years after in 1995 as a manager. I established my own company in August 1998 called Kimoo International Nigeria Ltd for Pest control, fumigation and cleaning services. It also deals with reputation management and other consultancy services, aluminium fabrication and other ancillary services.
“It was tough for about 3 years but I stabilised as time went on. It is pertinent to know that during my tough period, there were days I went to bed hungry when there was no food to eat. There was a particular January 1 in 1995 when my brother, Mojeed Jamiu who was living with me and I did not eat until 6pm that day because there was nothing to eat.
“Thank God my younger brother is a successful man today. I told you earlier in he was a Special Adviser to former Governor Fayemi and he is a journalist and successful businessman. He is a regular face on a popular programme, Journalists’ Hangout” while I am now Deputy Speaker. During my dark and tough periods, I was never discouraged but I kept saying to myself I will make it, I will be great. You too can be great”
“Why am I telling you all these about myself? I want you to know that I was once like you and I did not just become Deputy Speaker in a day, I have gone through a lot of difficult times but with determination, discipline, perseverance and prayers, I came out tops and overcame those difficulties and challenges. Problems will always come as we go on in life the only difference is that the nature of problems vary with different stages in our lives. The most important thing is we should always brace up for challenges.
“Dear students, the crux of my story is that anything without a small beginning cannot last. What this means is that you must start from somewhere to be successful. Look around you and tell any successful man or woman who did not start small and go through the vicissitudes of life. There are many examples. Late business mogul, MKO Abiola was very poor that he sold firewood and sang before he could go to school and feed, Chief Obafemi Awolowo also sold firewood before he could go to school.
“Coming nearer home, our former Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi drove taxi in London to be able to go to school, our present Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji also had a humble beginning he is the son of a teacher, Chief Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University had a very poor beginning as a child and yours truly, the Deputy speaker once worked in a construction site as a labourer, (birisope),
“I hawked with my siblings for my mum to make ends meet. There are many other examples but what is common to the people I have mentioned is that they overcome poverty and hardship because they were determined to succeed and they remained focused so you must be determined.
On the need to reclaim moral rectitude among the youths, Rt Hon. Jamiu said: “It is clear that that we have a lot of jobs on our hands and perhaps if we had paid attention to our students who are youths by mentoring them and bringing out the best in them in their adolescence stage in accordance with the principles of Positive Youth Development, we would not today have yahoo yahoo youths, yahoo plus youths and youths who engage in other fraudulent practices all in a bid to make quick money.
“In order to appreciate the enormity of our present situation with our youths especially their moral bankruptcy, lack of empathy, adherence to the ruthless Machiavellian dictum of the end justifies the means which accounted for the mad craze for instant riches and the total loss of the omoluabi ethos without which prosperous future will be near impossible, we must go a little bit back to history and ask questions about how we got to where we are.”
Rt. Hon. Jamiu also advised the youth to be guided in the choice of careers urging them to go for careers they are passionate about and make responsible figures in society your mentors. He noted that knowledge Economy which was one of the pillars of the last Fayemi Administration and the present administration is a good innovation aimed at preparing students for the future.
He added that the resuscitation of Technical and Vocational education by the state government was to enable the youths to be armed with skilled education to compete in the future against the backdrop of dwindling white collar jobs.
The Deputy Speaker disclosed that technical colleges in Ekiti State have been renovated to best standard found anywhere in the world adding that “it is also erroneous to think that Technical Education is meant for dull students and it is good to have skilled education in our present economic situation.”
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