Mother of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) First Class graduate, Alhaja Mufuliat Module Ismaila, last night thanked God for turning her sadness over her son to joy.
Alhaja Ismaila said her son’s success did not come as a surprise.
Her son, Mansur Akolade Ismaila, who emerged Best Graduating Student from Mass Communication Department, dropped out of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) medical school after 10 years.
Ismaila enrolled for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam and was admitted in Unilag.
Alhaja Ismaila, who retired as a Chief Nursing Officer with the Oyo State Hospitals Management Board two years ago, said: “My joy knows no bounds. Today, Allah has turned my sadness to joy. Though his decision to quit Medicine after 10 years shocked us all, and initially made me sad, I am very grateful to God for Mansur’s achievement today.
“He always read newspapers and mimicked newscasters, even as a kid, and he loved English more than any other subject. In both primary and secondary schools, he was never beaten to the English prize. Reading, writing, news and current affairs were his areas of interest.”
Asked as to why he was then forced into Medicine by his father, Dr Babatunde Razaq Ismaila, Alhaja Ismaila responded, “honestly, I cannot blame his father. Mansur took after his father in brilliance, and we all thought he would have a smooth ride through medical school. He was also an all rounder, although he was doing best in English. None of us saw his failures in medical school coming. It was a shock to all of us when he started repeating, class after class.
“It really hurt me to see my only son repeating class then. Mansur became a shadow of himself, and his usual active, vocal and extrovert self gave way to a withdrawn, taciturn and distant person. I knew he needed support, and I was ready to sacrifice all I could to have my son back”.
According to her, “Ismaila’s father always wanted him to become a doctor, and I honestly felt he could too, until the failures started. Naturally, his father was initially resistant to the idea of Mansur’s voluntary exit from medical school. But when the First Class grades, scholarships and awards started trooping in from Mass Communication, we all knew Mansur was right after all”.
She thanked her husband for his unwavering financial commitment to Mansur’s education, both in the years of medicine and the mass communication days.
“Mansur’s dad is indeed his pillar of support, and I remain grateful and indebted to him. Alhaji, like we fondly call him, paid Mansur through 10 years of Medical School, but when he insisted on withdrawing voluntarily, we all feared Alhaji would withdraw Mansur’s funding in anger. Instead, he surprised us all by continuing to pay my son’s school fees and his monthly stipend, until he graduated with a First Class”.
Ismaila said her mum is a big reason he kept up the struggle towards a First Class. “Her incessant prayers, concern and support for me ensured I kept up the fight, just to keep her happy. Maami, like I fondly call her, would dance jubilantly anytime I inform her of yet another First Class Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).
“I appreciate my dad for his patience, and for his eventual decision to support me towards my dreams. My dad has always been bullish towards academic excellence, and I am happy I have been able to justify my decision to leave Medicine eventually”.
My sadness has turned to joy, says Unilag First Class’ mum
