NIGERIAN GENIUS !

Nigerian student breaks world record, scores 4.0 over 4.0 in Turkish varsity Education    Thursday, October 25, 2012 *Tunji receiving diploma from the President, Turkish Republic of North Cyprus   By Dayo Adesulu, Starrys Obazei & Musbaudeen Shekoni A genius could be referred to as an exceptional child who is academically sound. But, how would you describe an individual who never misses a point in his examinations from first year in the university to the final year? If there is any adjective to qualify such a person, that word could best describe Tunji Olu-Taiwo, an Engineering student of Eastern Mediterranean University in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus who obtained 4.0 CGPA out of 4.0 CGPA, the first ever in the department. Encomiums have continued to be showered on Tunji Olu-Taiwo from various quarters, because his impressive performance has placed him in the spotlight. Over the years, Nigeria's human resources have ranked among the best in the world partly due to the profound efforts of critical-minded parents that stimulate the astuteness that hides within every student, begging for whom to push the trigger. Tunji Olu-Taiwo, who hails from Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of Lagos State, emerged the best graduating student from the Faculty of Engineering, obtaining a status of High Honours (first class). Tunji is the first African to have bagged such a status in the Department of Engineering, obtaining a degree in Engineering on a Grade Point Average of 4.00 out of 4.00 (straight A's). Amid great honour and eulogy sang by the students and academic, expressing marvel at the development, Vanguard met with Tunji in an online chat to speak more on his success. Mark Elliot Zuckerberg as Role Model "I am looking up to Mark Zuckerberg, he is a genius I love to emulate," Tunji said. Mark Elliot Zuckerberg (born May 14, 1984) is an American computer programmer and Internet entrepreneur. He is best known as one of the five co-founders of the social networking site, Facebook. Zuckerberg is the chairman and chief executive of Facebook. Inc. Further Study "I plan to further by specializing in the field of software engineering. “Software Engineering is a course I have cherished right from time. I know I owe the society more with this, that is the reason that I wish to go further in that regard for this dream to be fulfilled.” Hopes and challenges in Nigeria Tunji expressed hope in Nigeria when he said; "there is no place like home," adding; "I like the fact that no matter the difficult situations Nigerians find themselves in, they still try to be happy." Advice for the Government Poverty, I believe is the greatest distraction, frustrating process of seeking admission into universities and lack of steady electricity are some dire challenges the people, especially students, usually grapple with, in his honest opinion. Tunji advised the government thus: “Admissions should be done on a per semester basis. I will advise that the Federal Government should try to provide constant electricity. This, to me, will automatically eradicate about 50 per cent of Nigeria's problems. Also, a simple advice for all students is that the road to success is not on a straight path. Patience is a very important virtue that should be put to good use.” His Background “My father, Dr. Mike Olufemi Taiwo is a dental surgeon and a retired army officer. He is from Lagos State. My mother, Mrs. Ajoke Lillian Olu-Taiwo is a business consultant. She hails from Kogi State. My parents modelled my life the way it is today. They took time to instil discipline in me. I was born and raised in the great city of Kano. I grew up in a large Catholic family, with three brothers and four sisters. I started reading at a very young age. My parents made sure I did my assignments and that zeal still remains in me up to this moment.” Tunji's father who spoke with Vanguard about Tunji's up- bringing said; "I brought up all my children in Kano. I noticed that many parents allow their children freedom to wander about after school which I detested so I made it mandatory for my children to remain home-bound. I was part of their lives. I made sure their home works were done and their books studied on daily basis. I was their mentor and at the same time, their friend. “Nevertheless, because all work without play makes Jack a dull boy, so I provided indoor games for my children. When they were big enough to play table tennis, I played the game with them. It was fun. “I also taught them chess and was always beating them, but when Tunji came from Cyprus, he started beating me hands down and I began to marvel. I was not too surprised about the result he made," said Dr Olu Taiwo.

GRASS TO GRACE-LIKE FAIRY TALE !

'I lived under secretariat bridge for nine years until...'

The sleep town of Ibokun, Osun State, was recently set agog with fanfare when the former first lady of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Oluwakemi Alao-Akala visited Emmanuel Fakulujo, a man who lived under the Oyo State secretariat bridge for nine years until he was rehabilitated by her. Rotimi Ige, who was there, brings Emmanuel's proverbial story of rising from grass to grace.

THE proverb, rising from grass to grace, is one that, though may be hard to experience these days, still exists. Not many ordinary people have the opportunity of having a chance meeting with the governor or first lady of a state, not to talk of having them as friends.

But that exactly was what happened to a retiree, Mr Emmanuel Olawole Fakulujo of Fakulujo compound, Ibokun town, Obokun Local Government of Osun State. Before his retirement in 2000, he had worked at the former Oyo State Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, now Ministry of Commerce and Industry, at the state secretariat, Ibadan, for 30 years.

He joined the ministry as a clerk in 1970, after leaving Ibokun town in 1964 in search of the proverbial golden fleece. He left home at the age of 14 to live with his grandmother in Ibadan but after some time, left to seek a white collar job when he was fed up with selling wares. On getting the job, he went ahead to train himself to university level and served at the said ministry until he retired meritoriously in 2000.

Upon retirement, things turned sour for Mr Fakulujo, so bad that he resorted to living under the Oyo state secretariat over-head bridge at Agodi, Ibadan because he couldn't afford to pay his rent. He also could not stand going back to his home town, after he had left for over 30 years. And that was why he lived under the over-head bridge for nine years, until fate decided to smile upon him once again.

One day, (Chief) Mrs Oluwakemi Alao-Akala, then, the first lady of Oyo State, in 2009, noticed that a particular man was always under the bridge anytime she passed by. Upon further enquiry, she found out that he needed rehabilitation as being without proper feeding and care had taken a toll on him physically and mentally. She decided to adopt him, using her Community Link Advancement Programme (CLAP), to rehabilitate and re-integrate him into the society while also relocating him back to his hometown and family.

Mr Fakulujo was first taken to the Neuropsychiatric Home, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he was tested and treated so that he could regain his balance and then he was taken back to Ibokun and reunited with his family.

On 10 October, 2012, Her Excellency, Mrs Alao-Akala, decided to visit Mr Fakulujo again, as she normally did every six months. She, along with her Glorious Destiny group, headed by the wife of the former Deputy Speaker's wife, Mrs Temilorun Adeleke, took a trip to Ibokun town, where they were received by the Owa of Ibokun, Kabiyesi Festus Kayode Awogboro, and his chief-in-council, at the royal court. The oba, in his address, was full of praises to Mrs Alao-Akala for the good deed bestowed upon one of his subjects.

He stressed that despite the fact that Emmanuel Fakulujo was not an indigene of Oyo State and that she was no longer in government, it was commendable that she could still deem it fit to continue to cater for all his needs. He enjoined those in power and everyone who was wealthy enough, to emulate Mrs Akala's gesture of love as there were still so many people in need. In appreciation, he announced that a chieftancy title would be conferred on her, come December 1, 2012.

In response, Mrs Alao-Akala thanked the oba, stressing that she was grateful to God for the opportunity to help someone in dire need. She said that whenever she passed by the secretariat bridge, she was distressed that such an elderly man was there in open weather. After much enquiry, she found out that he was from Ibokun town. She thanked the people of Ibokun for the chieftancy title bestowed on her.

Diran Odeyemi, who was also present, thanked the oba and the people of Ibokun, stating that Mrs Alao-Akala was a worthy person for the title.

The group then proceeded to Mr Fakulujo's abode, where the former governor's wife spent close to an hour, interacting with Emmanuel and members of his extended family, after which she presented gifts items, clothes, food and his yearly stipend.

Fakulujo's sister, Foyeke Adejoorin, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, was full of thanks for Mrs Alao-Akala, describing her as God-sent, as she had completely taken over the upkeep of Emmanuel for over three years. She stressed that the food items, clothes and stipend provided for her brother had gone a long way in helping to keep him alive and well, adding that the entire household of Fakulujo would forever be indebted to the Alao-Akalas. Nigerian Tribune also spoke to the man who had been tasked with keeping Emmanuel's stipend, a Deeper Life Church pastor, Fajemidagba Benjamin, who said that the monies sent to Emmanuel had been regular and were more than adequate for his daily upkeep. He encouraged notable Nigerians to emulate Mrs Alao-Akala's gestures so that more people could be taken off the streets.

Mrs Alao-Akala's CLAP initiative, even after her tenure as the wife of the Oyo State governor, still caters for close to 100 beneficiaries who, till date, receive help and assistance. Indeed, through this, she continues to extend her benevolence to as many as she comes across, changing their lives for the better.

Written by Rotimi Ige
Monday, October 15, 2012

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE