…. Now I know why UNILORIN is called ‘better by far’ – Mother
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has celebrated Miss Faith Aduragbemi Olabisi, an 18-year-old student from the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, who recently passed the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) examination, qualifying her as a chartered accountant.
Miss Olabisi’s feat was reported in last week’s edition of the UNILORIN Bulletin, a report that has received widespread praise across the country. Her success was also celebrated by the Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq.
During a meeting at his office, to which Miss Olabisi was accompanied by her mother, the Vice Chancellor shared the pride felt by the University of Ilorin community, including its Governing Council, Management, Staff, and students, in her remarkable achievement.
Prof. Egbewole noted that the University takes great pride in Miss Olabisi’s success, especially as it coincides with the Institution’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, scheduled for this year.
While acknowledging the challenges that come with becoming a chartered accountant, especially at the age of 18, the Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law praised Miss Olabisi’s determination to continue her education and pursue her degree despite her professional success. He said that this explained the importance of her passion for continuous learning.
The Vice Chancellor encouraged her to harness her talent and consider mentoring others who may share her aspirations, adding that her expertise as a chartered accountant could be a valuable resource even while she is still a student.
Speaking during the meeting, the youngest chartered accountant and a 300-level student, Miss Faith Aduragbemi Olabisi, dedicated her achievement to all those who supported her dream and aspirations, including her mother, lecturers in her Department, and the Management of the University of Ilorin.
While appreciating her mother for her unwavering support and encouragement, especially during challenging times, Miss Olabisi also thanked her lecturers for their understanding and support, particularly when she missed tests. She praised their generosity in allowing her to retake tests, which was vital to her success in the ICAN examination.
She said, “Every week I was calling her, crying. During the end of the second semester of my 200-level, I didn’t go home for the entire two months. This is where I want to appreciate the management of the University of Ilorin, because while it is a tradition that hostels are locked when the School is on break, I was allowed to stay in the hostel, which assisted me a lot in achieving the feat”.
When speaking about her motivation, Miss Olabisi revealed that her interest in accounting began at a young age. According to her, “I took interest since I was a little girl. I was determined to beat my mummy’s record because she became a chartered accountant at 39, and I was determined to achieve the feat earlier than her. I always told her that I would love to be the youngest chartered accountant in Nigeria. A few years ago, I heard a young person became the youngest. And that discouraged me a little bit. But my mummy motivated me. I failed one paper at my Skill Level, I was discouraged, but I did not let that weigh me down. Here we are today, celebrating my success. This is the beginning of many more professional exams that I plan to write. I wish to achieve more before my graduation”.
To her fellow Unilorites and all who might be inspired by her story, Miss Olabisi urged them to start working towards their goals and stay committed. She observed that if she could do it, they could do it even better. “Just start, read, stay focused, and continue to hope,” she encouraged, sharing her belief that with determination, anyone can achieve their dreams.
On her part, the mother of the youngest Chartered Accountant, Mrs Titilayo Olabisi, appreciated the lecturers of the Department of Accounting at the University of Ilorin for being wonderful people who supported her daughter’s dream. She said, “When some lecturers see their students pursuing something great, instead of encouraging and supporting such students, they make them their enemies. However, the lecturers of the Department of Accounting are very wonderful people. They conducted makeup tests for Faith when she missed them, and they don’t schedule exams when there is an ICAN exam. I am especially grateful to her Level Adviser, Dr Yahya, who gave us the privilege to call him at any time. This is how a university should operate. They made me love Unilorin more, and I am happy that I chose the School for her. It is like home away from home for her. This is a school where you can leave your child and sleep with two eyes closed because you know they are in good hands. Thank you so much for making the peace of parents a priority”.
While affirming that the University of Ilorin is, indeed, “Better by far,” Mrs Olabisi said, “More so, I check her portal from time to time, and I have been encouraging my friends whose children are here to monitor their children’s academic progress through their portals. Now I understand why you are called “Better by far”. You are indeed better by far. I also love the bond among alumni of the University. They celebrate my daughter’s success online as if they all know her somewhere before. This is a spirit that I love to see”.
While appreciating the Vice Chancellor for honouring her and her family, Mrs Olabisi said, “We are so honoured to be invited to this meeting, and we appreciate it very much. If people who engage in immoral acts are being celebrated, I appreciate the fact that the University of Ilorin leadership deemed it fit to initiate this meeting. I believe that when young ones are celebrated, it serves as motivation and encouragement to their colleagues. I call her my succession plan because I didn’t qualify until I was 39 years old. I didn’t have the opportunity. My parents were not educated but were supportive in their own ways”.
Mrs Olabisi said her daughter developed an interest in Accounting while she was a Business Studies teacher. “I would give her some scripts to mark, and from there she became familiar with the field. It hasn’t been easy, but I always encouraged her because there was a point when she got discouraged. Combining schoolwork with ICAN was too much for her, but she scaled through”.
The visibly elated Mrs. Olabisi, however, used the meeting to urge parents to look out for their children, especially when they are young. She said, “Not all mothers have the capacity to do what they need to do. My parents were well-to-do but, not literate. As a mother, look out for the best in your child in every aspect. Always look out for what will benefit the child and make sure that child is aware of it. Even if we don’t have awareness as parents, let us start exploring every opportunity that is out there for these kids and let us instill it in them as early as possible. When they grow with this mentality, they will be programmed to pursue great things. Children need to be encouraged from time to time. Lecturers and teachers are doing their best, but parents have a greater role to play in shaping the careers of their children”.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Department of Accounting, Dr Abogun Segun, described Miss Faith Aduragbemi Olabisi as very industrious, hardworking, and humble, always ready to learn. He said, “As HOD, I have a lot of students who are doing their professional examinations. What stands her out is that she was able to achieve this at the tender age of 18. She is very industrious, hardworking, and humble, always ready to learn”.
Dr Abogun also said that he felt excited that this happened during his time because it has brought the Department into the limelight. He added, “This is a recognition of the work that the lecturers are doing in the Department and the conducive environment provided by the Management of the University, because when someone attains such a height, there is a whole lot involved”.
