Abdullah Sulaimon recently graduated with a first class degree in Geophysics from the University of Lagos (UNILAG). In this interview with USMAN OYEBAMIJI of The Muslim Voice, Nigeria, the former Amir of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), University of Lagos branch speaks on how he makes first class, his involvement in Islamic propagation (Dawah) and other educational issues.
MV: Who is Abdullah Sulaimon?
Abdullah: Abdullah Sulaimon is a first class Geophysics graduate from the University of Lagos. He’s a budding exploration geophysicist seeking to specialize in oil and gas exploration.
MV: How did you arrive at Geophysics as your choice of a course of study? Was it your idea or was it based on consultation and advice from your parents?
Abdullah: I actually chose Chemical Engineering during my JAMB registration, but after writing my POST UTME Exam, my cumulative mark wasn’t up to the cut off mark for Chemical Engineering so I was given Geophysics. I knew a bit about the course before, then after little more research, I decided it’s a nice course and I will pursue the best out of the course.
MV: At what level did you realise that you were a potential first class graduate?
Abdullah: At my 100 level, I started on a very good note, 4.80. Though I don’t think I was very keen to have a first class CGPA then. I just wanted to have a CGPA that will make me qualify for most scholarships. This is because of what I’ve heard from my seniors on different scholarships for outstanding students.
MV: How easy was it to graduate with a first class?
Abdullah: Not so easy, after my 300l second semester results, I dropped a little below a first class, it was quite disappointing. I decided I will go harder in my 400l first semester, which I did but I still wasn’t able to regain my feat. My semester GP was same as my CGPA, 4.47. But with my second semester results, I did my IT, I had 5.0, came back to first class.
When I got to 500level, I had the struggle to ensure that I maintain and increase my CGPA, coupled with the fact that I had to handle MSSN leadership responsibilities. Alhamdulilah, I was able to do all that well and increased my CGPA.
MV: Would you say you were a genius or was it just hard work?
Abdullah: I would say neither. Just Allah’s grace and maybe a little hard work sha.
MV: You are the President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, UNILAG Branch between December 2019 – October 2021, can you tell us your experience?
Abdullah: Really eventful and momentous for me. The experience affords me the reality of how arduous is it to manage people and how leadership is really a daunting task at any level.
Most times it’s easy to plan programs and events but implementation is usually the difficult part especially fund raising for programs and also mobilizing manpower to drive some parts of the work.
From my experience, I observed that the Muslim youth needs to show more concern about Islamic propagation (dawah) in campuses. The vices are much in our undergraduate campuses but we need much concerted efforts to make changes in our environment.
One notable thing for me was being able to fully resuscitate our Ramadan feeding program on campus. This helped students ease their fasting in the month of Ramadan.
UNILAG Award Misturah Olaleye First Class Honours Degree in Chemistry
MV: How did you combine both religion and academic activities?
Abdullah: I believe that as undergraduates, we do have enough time to engage in some other things while we still excel with our academics, you’ll see that most undergraduate do engage several other things and they’ll do well in them either learning new skills, participating in religious or professional societies and all.
It all boils that to proper time planning and prioritizing important things. In my 100l, I was able to maximize every time I have. In fact, anytime we are awaiting a lecturer to come in, I spend the free time revising some portions of the Qur’an I have memorized before.
MV: What was your best and lowest moment while in school?
Abdullah: I really can’t remember one, maybe when I slightly slipped away from first class.
My best moments are usually when I am in the company of my Muslim brothers on campus especially anytime we spend time together during our Dawah camp.
MV: How did your parents react when they saw your final results?
Abdullah: They were very happy and grateful of my achievement.
MV: What are the things other students should do to make First Class?
Abdullah: They should be studious and take their academics seriously, maximize their free time well. They should always take their CAs seriously and prepare for them like they do for their exams.
They should know that preparing for first class every semester starts from the first day of resumption. They should not delay preparing till some weeks to test or exams.
MV: Most students from Nigeria perform wonderfully well abroad, what are the factor responsible that?
Abdullah: I think the system here is a bit rigorous and violent so it makes us stronger and makes us prepared for similar difficulty when we go abroad.
MV: What next after your first degree?
Abdullah: Seek for internship/jobs related to my course of study temporarily while I prepare for my postgraduate studies abroad.
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