- Says her initial plan was to study Medicine but changed to Law
Aminat Yusuf, a student in the Faculty of Law, Lagos State University (LASU), shocked the academic world last week as she graduated with a First Class and in the process set a record in the 40-year-old institution with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 5.0. But one person that was not really shocked at her performance is her father, Mallam Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, a business correspondent with The Nation newspaper, who recalls her antecedents in this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI.
How did you receive the news of your daughter graduating from LASU’s Faculty of Law with the best result in the institution’s history?
I received the news with great joy and excitement. It was a dream come true for me, because my greatest wish for her has always been that she should come top of her class. So when the news filtered in that she did not only come tops but broke a 40-year-old record, I was really overjoyed and on top of the world. That day, I was so overwhelmed with joy that I skipped my evening meal. It was such an exhilarating feeling for our immediate and extended families.
Were you surprised that she came up with that kind of performance?
I wasn’t exactly surprised, because having followed her academic trajectory right from when she had her Diploma in Law with a CGPA of 4.98/5 in LASU, I just knew that she would make good in academics especially.
Did she have an antecedent of such performance at her lower level of education?
Aminat has always been a very precocious child really. She’s the real Omo idan (wonder child or wizkid) as the Yoruba are wont to say. From early childhood, she had shown a tendency to excel in her studies. When she began her early childhood education, she gave a very good account of herself too. For instance, when she was in Primary Four, the school proprietress encouraged her to seat for the Common Entrance exam for the award of the First School Leaving Certificate. That meant that she was going to jump two classes, i.e. primaries five and six. She sat the exam, passed in flying colours and made it to junior high school quite earlier than expected.
As it was to be expected, her academic prowess did not go unnoticed even in secondary school. When she got to JSS2, her class teacher approached me that I should allow her to sit the Junior WAEC exam. She was then a boarder at Alhikmat College, Agege. I had to engage a personal coach among the teachers to give her private lessons so that she could cover as many topics as possible. At the end of the day, she passed her exams and proceeded to SS1.
When she got to SS2, again she informed me that she would like to sit the SSCE. I was like why? You are still too young now! But she said she would make it because she had covered many topics in the syllabus. Reluctantly, I gave in to her plea and subsequently enrolled her for the exam. Again, she passed. So, quite frankly, Aminat has always excelled in her studies.
Was there any special arrangement you made for her in form of extra lessons as a primary or secondary school pupil?
Surely, personal coaching, summer classes during school periods and holidays all came in handy. Her mother is very numeric and good with figures, so she was her first private Math teacher while yours truly, the father, was her English teacher so to speak. So naturally, we ensured that we monitored her all through her early childhood education and beyond. As a stickler for rules, I personally ensured that her assignments were done on time, and also encouraged her to pay undivided attention to her studies. So a combination of all of these factors helped her a great deal.
Is her brilliance a matter of gene; something that runs in the family?
As the saying goes, a fruit does not fall far from its tree. Aminat’s winning streak in the area of academics is not unexpected really. Without any fear of contradiction, I can tell you most certainly that brilliance runs in the family’s DNA both on the father and mother side. Her paternal grandfather, who happened to be my father, His Royal Highness, Maj. Yusuf Abdulkadri Kanabe (rtd), the ruler of the Ighovha Dynasty in Ekwortso, Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area, Edo State, was a prodigy in his younger days in school. As the legend goes, he won lots of academic laurels in his days.
At the risk of sounding immodest, yours truly, as a young scholar during my undergrad days in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, also won a few laurels, and that is apart from being a multiple award-winning journalist. On the mother’s side, her maternal grandfather, Mallam Ibrahim Gefie of the Danesi Ruling House in South Ibie, Iyapki, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, was not only an Afis Li’ Quran (memorised all the chapters of the Islamic holy book) but was equally versed in many other areas like Dawar, spiritualism, philosophy, and so on.
So you can say for certain that Aminat is in good company as far as her academic prowess is concerned. As the tagline of one of these television viewing commercials brags, “Peak is in us!” Truly, our people sabi book small (laughs)!
Is there any of her siblings you would say could take after her academic brilliance?
The rest of her siblings are also doing well academically. But with the benefit of hindsight, I think Rahmat, who is in junior high school currently, seems to be following right in Aminat’s footsteps because she is one young scholar with insatiable quest for knowledge. She is always coming top of her class. So quite frankly, I won’t be surprised if she matches Aminat’s records or even breaks it!
How much has her feat rubbed off on the family in terms of fame?
Success, as they say, has many fathers while failure is an orphan. So it is not surprising at all that the family has become the subject of positive attention somehow across the board both at home and abroad. Without any fear of contradiction, I can tell you most certainly that her feat has rubbed off on the family more than could ever be imagined.
Normally, our family is a very reserved one. In the neighbourhood where we live, nobody knows me or the mother per se, because we operate on a very low-key. But since she literally hugged the soapbox, a lot of people make friendly gestures at us whenever they see us passing. Besides, a lot of people, including relatives, old acquaintances one had lost touch with for a long time and even people from the Diaspora community who hardly know the family, also reached out to us one way or the other the moment the news of her feat went viral.
In fact, I now believe the truism that a golden fish really has no hiding place. The feeling is really overwhelming. Although as a journalist I could say I have seen a couple of VIPs in the line of my job, but never has the entire family enjoyed the kind of fame and popularity thus far. In the last couple of weeks, we have got invitations to hold court with eminent kings both within Lagos State and outside. Just last Monday, the family was hosted by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt Hon. Philip Shaibu, who bore all the expenses as he flew us to Government House in Benin City where his wife, Mrs Maryn Shaibu, gave us a first class treat in their private residence.
Let me also add here for emphasis that we have received many proposals from media houses, both print and electronics, who want to interview us all at no cost. The deluge of requests got so much that I have had to decline for the most part just as many other bodies, including faith-based organizations, have reached out to the family for a get-together and meet and greet opportunities. It’s so very overwhelming, the kind of fame and fortune we have enjoyed on account of Aminat’s sterling academic performance.
Was it her personal decision to study law or it was a decision influenced by you and her mother?
It was her personal decision all through. Nobody influenced her choice at all. When she got into SS1, I recalled that initially she said she would like to study Medicine because she did all the sciences and excelled. So naturally, I gave my nod. But after the first term, she told me she wanted to opt for the arts with a plan to pursue a Law degree. The rest, as they say, is history.
What advice do you have for parents regarding their children’s education?
To a large extent parents play a major role in the lives of their wards at all levels of their growth and development. So, it is only proper that parents should take the education of their children very seriously. Paired into specifics, parents need to be actively involved in the process right from the outset because it matters most that the children’s education should be made a top priority as a duty of care.
In Aminat’s case, I adopted an open door policy, so to speak, when it came to fending for her education. As such, I took up a lot of role in a manner of speaking. I was her sounding board, her go-to person when it came to matters that concern certain intricate subjects. With that kind of mindset, I was able to guide her in decision-making process, and that helped a great deal. So, my advice is that parents should get really involved, not just paying the fees or buying the textbooks. Of course, there are occasions where parents may not be able to attend PTA meetings and other such retreats by the school due to tight schedules and all. But don’t make it a habit. As a matter of necessity they should be close to the children’s teachers and caregivers and constantly monitor their progress. That way they can get first hand information about the status report from the teachers on how their wards are performing in classes or in their studies.
Lastly, I think applying the stick and carrot approach works wonders too. During all the periods she moved from one class to the other, I celebrated her sterling performance one way or the other by gifting her presents such as additional pocket money, a little raise here and there, giving her some nice treats by taking her out and all. I even entered into some sort of contractual agreement with her that if she passed her exams and made good grades in the university, I was going to buy her a car. In fact, the other day we were having a father-daughter chitchat, I told her that Aminat, you see, you have fulfilled your own part of the contract. Remember I promised you a car? She said she remembered. I told her well, I can’t afford to buy you a car now, but just know that daddy owes you a car, and we both laughed.