Butcher’s son now Nigeria’s best medical graduate

The newly inducted doctor who is believed to be the Nigerian best Medical graduating student this year, spoke with Vanguard extensively on his achievements, ambition and challenges. 

Excerpts… 

Who is Saheed Alabi ? I am Dr. Alabi Olugbenga Saheed, a medical graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. I attended Ritlad Nursery and Primary School, Meiran, Lagos as well as Salawu Abiola Comprehensive High School, Osiele Abeokuta, for my secondary education. I was born in Lagos to parents who are traders. My mum sells herbs and dad, a butcher. I hail from the gateway state (Ogun State).

What made you choose medicine? I chose medicine because it has always been my passion to be a doctor of repute right from the early days.

What was the experience like in secondary school and what was your result in WAEC? Secondary school was fun. From having good teachers who mentored me both spiritually and academically to going for competition… I enjoyed those days. I wrote my WAEC in Salaat Abiola Comprehensive High School and passed with eight distinctions and a credit.

Who asked you to go for medicine? I chose medicine myself. Most of my teachers thought I will be better with engineering but for me, medicine is what I want.

What informed the choice of OOU? Wow, it’s a long story. My secondary school principal then said I should choose OOU but I declined. After attending about two higher institutions, though leaving with good grades, I wrote another JAMB and chose OOU, a choice I’m glad I made. The name of that principal is Mr. Adegboyega Adepegba.

Experience of your admission? Of course, I chose OAU for my first JAMB, but I think I was offered Biochemistry, 2nd JAMB, UI gave me Zoology (I started, but left after 100 level) and the third, I chose the best state university, OOU.

What was your experience at OOUTH? My experience at the teaching hospital has been awesome. From the teaching and the non-teaching staff. Our consultants do not only teach medicine, they teach morals and discipline which are attributes of the noble profession.

How did you fund the course? Funding is a major hindrance to success especially a course like medicine. Textbooks and online presence are important in the academic journey. My parents are a major foundation when it comes to funding. Also, in 200 level, I got MTN foundation scholarships once. I also got the Federal Government Scholarship as a scholar for five years, an award I got after passing my Part 1 MBChB professional exams.

Your reading culture? Strike iron when it is hottest. It’s best to read when you assimilate best. So one has to devise own timetable. I don’t read at night, after I have observed that I assimilate and read faster during the day.

Do you socialize? Socialize? Yes. No holds barred except in haram (unlawful act)

What was your ambition when you were going for medicine and now with your sterling result, what is your ambition? Ambition. It is to be at the peak in both academic and clinical specialty I choose

In how many courses did you score distinction? I graduated with MBChB with Honours. That is the first in the history of the university’s medical school. I made distinctions in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology and surgery.

How do you handle female fans? I am a Muslim and there are guidelines when it comes to relating with the opposite sex. All I need is just to adhere to it. But it’s been Allah’s grace.

Your expectation from government? The government can assist me most importantly in my postgraduate studies and research.

What is your next step? House job is next and then post graduate studies both academic and clinical speciality. I wish for the favour of God will thou deny? It is all for His RAMAH (grace)

If you did not study medicine what would you have studied? If not medicine, I would have studied law or mass communication/journalism. I love the men of the Press.

Ex-UNILAG Beggar Becomes Lawyer

A former street beggar, Mr. Abdulsalam Idowu, heaved a sigh of fulfilment of a life ambition as he was called to the bar to start practising as a lawyer in Nigeria on Wednesday.

Idowu, who defied all odds, to bag his law degree from the University of Lagos in 2015, had proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, where he emerged successful in the August/September 2016 final bar examinations conducted at the end of the one-year programme.

The new wig, who engaged in street begging to fund his primary and secondary education,  was among the 4,225 graduates of the Nigerian Law School called to the bar in Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Having lost his mother at about age three, crippled by a disease that befell him thereafter and left with a father and relatives who had no interest in his future, Idowu started begging at age eight in Erin Ile, Kwara State, to see himself through his primary and secondary school education.

Against all odds, the 37-year-old had earlier in 2011 obtained a degree in Political Science from the same University of Lagos.

Not satisfied without a Law degree, he struggled to secure admission to study Law while in the final year of the first degree programme.

Idowu spoke with our correspondent on Wednesday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, venue of the two-day call-to-bar ceremony.

He said, “I was not satisfied when they gave me admission to study Political Science because I have always wanted to be a lawyer.

“So, I struggled to get admission to study Law. I got the admission when I was in my final year, writing my final project for the Political Science degree.”

He narrated how he began to beg for alms to enable him to get education, a sojourn which he said landed him in Lagos, where he was able to raise money to complete secondary school and later got admission to the University of Lagos.

He said, “It was sometimes in 1987, I was about eight years old in the public kindergarten school. All my mates were promoted to primary one but I was not promoted.

“I asked why because I attended classes and sat for exams. I was then told that I was not a registered pupil but they only allowed me to attend classes and take exams.

“That day I felt very sad and on getting home I called everybody, including my father and aged paternal grandmother, whom I was staying with, because I was very angry.

“I told them that I wanted to be registered in school but they said there was no money and that there was no way I could cope in school because of my condition. But I insisted that they must register me and that they should not bother about paying my fees.

“They registered me and as soon as they did, I took to the street begging for alms to meet some financial demands that came up.

“When I gained admission in 1993, I could not afford N520 school fees but I had been hearing the story of Lagos State that one could make money in Lagos State. So, one day I was begging in Offa, Kwara State, then I said why shouldn’t I join a train to Lagos and perhaps I could make money to pay for the fees, buy a uniform and get my locker. So, I joined the train to Ido terminus in Lagos. I started begging. I stayed with some people under the bridge and I was begging in some areas including Idumota.”

He said he was travelling to and fro Lagos to raise money which he used to settle his fees till he got to the final class when he was supposed to write his O’Level West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations which he could not raise money for.

He later relocated to Lagos fully where he was able to raise enough money through his begging business to sit for the WASSCE as a beggar and passed after two attempts.

He subsequently gained admission to UNILAG with the intention of continuing his alms begging business to raise money to continue his education.

He had just N39,000 as savings from  his begging business when he got admission.

But he exhausted the money after completing his first semester registration.

He was however lucky that  some compassionate Nigerians and organisations decided to sponsor him after reading his story in The PUNCH.

Speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday, he attributed the inspiration which drove him to bagging two degrees as “God’s miracle”.

“I thank God because if not for Him and those He used to come to my aid, I can be nowhere now,” he added.

He said his immediate plan was to get a job in a law firm.

“I wish to set up my law firm later and in the nearest future I want to become a judge,” Idowu said.

He thanked The PUNCH and other Nigerians, such as a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Alhaja Osonaike, Alhaja Fowosere, Alhaja S.O Yusuf, Mrs. Comfort Obi and wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Bukola- Saraki, for helping him to achieve his life ambition.

He also thanked those he referred to as “responsible fathers” such as Mr. Peace Emokaro, Pastor Adewuyi, Alhaji Olajobi, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, Prof. Tolu Odugbemi and  the late Prof. Tokunbo Sofoluwe for the supports he received from them.