First Naija Woman Professor Dey Gist Her Journey Una Go Like This

My people, gather here make I tell you beta story about our own national treasure, Professor Adetowun Ogunsheye, the first female professor wey don carry the banner for education for Nigeria and beyond.

She dey share her waka from childhood all the way to when she become the first woman wey go hold professor title for this country. No be small thing o! She sabi yarn say her pappy and mami be education lovers. Dem bi old school, but dem dey very current for education matter. E no surprise say she turn out to shine like diamond.

Everybody know Queen’s College for Lagos, na where she kpai for school like correct student. Her teachers na expatriates wey dey show ogbonge passion for wetin dem dey do. Those days, she fit even joke with dem; she dey remember Miss Baker wey dey talk say ‘you scrub along the grain.’ Na wetin make their class dey sweet like better jollof rice.

Now, she no just sabi book; she choose geography and library science as her course of study because she dey sure say dem be the backbone of knowledge. Even though her papa wan make she be lawyer or doctor, na geography and map she carry use follow road, and no be small road oo!

When she finally become first female professor, she no gree contain her joy. She talk say na God and hard work carry her go that peak. Challenges dey, but she no let am confirm her shine; she just dey ride am like person wey dey on top better bicycle.

As e be, she talk say the reading culture don dey decline because of all the wahala wey social media dey bring. But she dey shout say digital or paper, reading no fit waka without una hand. Parents, make una start to dey read to una pikin from small, otherwise una go turn dem to drummers rather than readers.

Professor Ogunsheye still get sweet memories wey she hold dear during her school days. She sabi say learning dey importanter than anything else. No be say mentorship dey easy for her time, but life and experience dey teach dem like dem dey attend class without teacher. Na so she dey get knowledge wey e no fit cost money!

Then make we talk about her husband, na divine packaging o! Na friend connect dem, and four months after dem meet, wahala no dey at all. I dey feel say na love at first sight, and the two of dem dey shine together as educationists. E be like say dem dey use knowledge as love language.

Fast forward to today, at 99, she still dey look fine, the old mama dey listen to news and dey chop life with smile even as she dey wish Naija go dey better. E no be small thing for this age, but na her belief for God and strong reading culture wey keep am alive strong.

This woman no fit be overemphasized as she be role model wey dey teach us say knowledge no get end. As we dey enjoy her life story, make we learn say determination and support from family fit make you break boundaries. Naija, make we shine our eyes and follow the footsteps of great minds like Professor Ogunsheye.