Yusuf AbdulBaki from Okelele area of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State will be 25 in November. He made history by becoming the pioneer first-class graduate in the Mechanical Engineering department at Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University (UDUS) Sokoto, with a 4.79 CGPA. He spoke to Daily Trust Saturday on how he achieved the feat despite the daunting challenges, his triumphs and aspirations, among other issues of interest. Excerpt
When you learnt about your feat, how did you feel?
I gave thanks to Almighty Allah, my parents and family, and told myself that ‘alhamdulillahi, you have done it’. My passion to study engineering began in JSS 3 when I was introduced to further mathematics for the first time in my life.
How did you develop and nurture the interest?
I got inspired to study mechanical engineering the day my mum’s car, a Ford, had a fault and she called a mechanic who came and opened the bonnet and I wondered about those behind the car manufacturing after I saw how everything was incorporated. Then, I did my research and discovered they were automobile engineers (mechanical). That was it for me. Though other things actually came into play, but that was the first impression.
How was the journey for you becoming a mechanical engineer?
From my primary and secondary school days, I have always put in effort in my study. If I am not the top student, I will be among the best. At the university, it was not different. I had the intention and passion of graduating with a first class irrespective of my course of study. But on getting to Usman Dan Fodio University (UDUS) Sokoto, I almost lost the passion. It was very difficult for me initially. Although it was not my first tertiary institution having attended Kwara State College of Education, Lafiagi, but the course content and Sokoto weather were very difficult to handle and I kept asking myself if I could make it.
A friend, AbdulRahman, from Ilọrin who also graduated with a first class in civil engineering, heard me saying this then in our 100 Level and told me that though things might look very hard, it was not impossible. That was the first person that put me back on track and rekindled the aspiration.
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You just made history as the pioneer first class graduate of the department, was there any time you had doubts about this achievement?
Yes, a lot of times. UDUS started mechanical engineering in 2017 with just five of us as the first set of students. It was indeed very tough because there was no guide, no one to go to or talk to. We had to make do with only what we were taught in class and some personal research on Youtube. However, the toughest time was during my final year. As an engineering student, we had to go for six months Industrial Training (IT) after the first semester at our 400 level. I did mine at Kam Wire here in Ilọrin which exposed me to the real-life situation. After we finished, while planning to return to school, we were confronted with a strike that lasted for over a year and had to stay at home without reading. In the interim, I started a POS business to keep me going. So, when I returned to school, it was very tough to fit into the system.
What was your most difficult period in school?
As an engineering student, you at first belong to the faculty of science where we had most of our courses except about two or thereabouts that we did from the faculty of engineering. So, we have students from the faculty of science who we can run to for help when the need arises. But on getting to 200 Level for engineering proper, sometimes, we had lectures from 8am to 6pm including Saturdays before we go back to the hostel. The time table was so congested.
Immediately after my Ishai prayer, I return to the school and read till around 12am. But during exams, I extend my reading to about 14 hours daily for the four weeks.
What would you describe as the day you regretted most?
During my final year, there were times I wanted to give up because it was difficult. In the faculty of engineering, we did the highest number of courses, 227 units. Still, we borrowed some courses from civil and electrical engineering departments.
While in 300 Level, there was a time we had to borrow a course – structural analysis 1 and 2. However, we joined them for 2 only because we didn’t borrow 1. While having the class, they taught us like they are continuing with us. It was very strange. Even the lecturers, out of pity for us, said we should meet our colleagues and that they hope we will pass. I almost cried that day because I knew absolutely nothing about the course. But I turned to prayer which is the culture I adopted back home from Ilọrin, got up for Tahajud (midnight supererogatory prayer), put in more effort and believe in what God will do because there was no other way out.
When we wrote the test, it would interest you to know that I got an A and the highest mark during the exam. It was surprising to me. Even the lecturers in the civil engineering department were surprised that a student from another faculty got the highest mark in the test, about 29 over 30. The second highest mark was also from somebody in mechanical engineering. From that day, I believed there is nothing I cannot do or any university in the world that I cannot go and pass if I could excel in structural analysis 2 with an A.
Although everybody believes his university is tough, but UDUS is not a simple university and not for the weak. From the weather to the way the questions are set, especially for us that don’t have seniors or anyone to guide us, I consider this achievement a privilege, not a right and I believe God has actually rewarded my hard work.
How did you deal with the temptation from female students?
I kept reminding myself of the number of bridges I crossed before getting to Sokoto. Anytime my dad calls, he always reminded me of who I am and my mother always called to pray for me. That parental support was key at the end of the day. On my own, I kept reminding myself of where I came from and how I wanted to make my home proud. I was very conscious of that.
Going forward, what is the plan for you?
To get my masters but I really want to study abroad for exposure after my Sokoto experience before I relocate back home. To achieve that, I got my international passport before I left the university as it is cheaper in Sokoto than Kwara. I had to save some of the money my parents sent me to buy foodstuff. It would be an icing on the cake to get scholarships from bodies like UNICEF, UN and Chevening. I want to be a professor of mechanical engineering though I might not fully participate in the academics because of the situation of the country. These days, it might be difficult for a professor to survive on his own let alone feed his family. There was a day I told one of my lecturers about it and he said there is no money except if I have the passion. But irrespective of what I do, whether working in the ministry, manufacturing company or parastatals, I still love to be an academia.
What incident still sticks to your memory while in school?
There were many but the day I got confirmed as a student was one to remember. Also, there was this lecturer from Katsina, Mallam Manir Ibrahim Tardmo, presently in Malaysia doing his PhD who I can never forget. Before I got to the university, I had never done technical drawing in my life. My first class in technical drawing at the university didn’t make any sense, I was just 18 then and everything was just strange. During the lecture, they were making jest of me in the class when I was asking some very stupid questions about the course. But Mallam Munir came to me that day and said AbdulBaki, you can do it, there is nothing special in this. I was taught and that is why I am teaching you. He was the first lecturer that gave me that ‘can do spirit’ and subsequently tracked my progress, letting me know how I need to push further. I got an A in that course at the end of the day. I can never forget him in my life.
Also, the first time I travelled to Sokoto for school, I thought I had been kidnapped at a point after spending several hours on the road in 2018.
