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During my high school education, I was one of the best students in mathematics. I found it easier to understand the concept of mathematics better than other subjects like chemistry, physics, and biology. This was the genesis of my interest in engineering.
At first, I wasn't particular about the aspect of engineering to study in the university, but upon reading widely about the aspect of engineering that deals more with figures, I settled on civil.
I remembered the day I told my father about my plan. I had rounded up my high school education and was about to apply to the university for undergraduate study.
"I will study at the university to become a civil engineer. I can't wait to be the one to handle the building of your house," I told him.
"It is my prayer that you will achieve more than you envisage. You have my support to study to any length that you want. I have vowed that my children will get the education that I wasn't privileged to get," he responded to me.
My father was a lover of education. He was very supportive and ready to go to any length to source money for my education. I lost count of how many times he took a loan to finance my school fees.
"I will make you proud, Dad. Thank you for being the father that any child could pray for."
A few days after this conversation, I pick up the University Matriculation Examinations (UME) form. UME, as it was then known, is a central examination conducted for all university undergraduate admissions seekers in Nigeria. I took the examination and passed with flying colors.
The result was celebrated by my dad as usual.
"You are all that I have. A priority ahead of building a house or buying cars," my father assured me of how he valued investment in my education.
"Thank you, dad." I jumped over him for a hug.
A few months later, the admission list to the university that I applied for, Ahmadu Bello University (A.B.U.), Nigeria, was released. I checked the list via the institution's admission portal. Unfortunately, I wasn't offered admission. Upon inquiries, I was made to know that the competition for engineering programs was high. This is in addition to the fact that in Nigeria, you need to know someone who could be of help within the system before you can get your choice course in most cases. I was very sad and disappointed.
My father's words of encouragement served me as support.
"Failing at the first attempt to achieve anything shouldn't be taken as total failure. Pick your books and read again. Register for another UME and aim for success."
Adhering to his advice, I let the disappointment slide. I registered for another UME and prepared like never before. I applied for civil engineering at the same university again.
When the admission list was released, I wasn't offered admission for the second time.
After my third attempt without success, my father invited me for a discussion on a fateful evening.
"It's been three years that you have been trying to get admitted to Ahmadu Bello University without success. It's time you reconsider the university or the course to apply for."
"Dad, my dream university is A.B.U., and I am sure that it's a matter of time; I will get admitted to that institution to study my dream course, civil engineering," I responded to him.
"Time is of the essence. I am not growing younger. I want to have the energy to work and finance your education. You have to get started on time."
"What do you advise me to do, Dad?"
"If you insist on applying to A B.U., then change your course of study to a less competitive course. Or you can apply to civil engineering in a less sought-after university. You need to start your degree this year so that you can graduate when I still have the energy to give you the total needed support."
I spent days thinking about this advice from my father. My love for A.B.U. couldn't let me think of applying to any other university. I discussed my concerns with my dad two more times before I finally succumbed to his advice.
In the following admission cycle, I applied to another university, the University of Jos, Nigeria. I was offered admission in another course entirely. I almost did not register for the program. What I wanted was engineering. My dad pressed it on me again to register for the program.
"Take this first. If you insist on studying civil engineering, you can continue to apply for it. Whenever you get it, you will go and start it."
I heeded his advice and I registered for the program.
My two more attempts to get admitted into civil engineering failed. At this point, I was resuming the 300 level of my degree program. I accepted my fate and stopped any further attempts to change to engineering.
A few months into the session, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, an association of Nigerian university teachers, embarked on an industrial action. Universities across the country were closed down, and every student returned home, including me.
Shortly after my arrival, my father fell sick. In what was believed to be a mild illness initially, we began to take him from one hospital to another.
On the evening of December 16, 2013, my father called me to his sickbed. He spent minutes praying for my siblings and me.
"Be brave if, peradventure, I don't make it out of this sickness. I know life without me won't be easy for your mom and you. However, God will help you to navigate through. Be there for one another."
It was an emotional scene. I shed tears as I was responding to the prayers.
"Dad, please don't talk as if you are leaving us anytime soon. You will live long to celebrate the graduation of my siblings and me."
Later that night, his sickness became critical, and he lost his voice. All the efforts of the medical professionals to save his life proved abortive. He gave up the ghost the following day.
I was dumbfounded. I felt like he saw his death coming. Life after his death was very hard for me. I nearly dropped out of school. It was at that point that I understood his fear by telling me to start my degree as soon as possible after my high school education. If I had not started university before his death, I would have jettisoned the idea of going to the university.
