Master AbdulAzeez Abdulramon, a 200 level medical student at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), was a student of Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu when he competed in the spelling bee competition and at the state level in 2022.
In an interview with THE IMPACT crew comprising of Kunle Adelabu, the Publisher/Reporter – in – Chief and Bolu Orebajo, a SIWES student, he brought out details from his mind on his experience as a day governor on October 28, 2024, where he presided over the state executive council, visited the Head of Service, Commissioner for Basic and Primary Education, Chief Judge of Lagos State, Education District II, Maryland, the Ayangbure Palace, Ikorodu Local Government, his alma mater – Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu and finally retired to his home in Igbogbo, late in the night.
He described the aftermath of the development as interesting as he has become popular in the public eye so to speak.
While stating that he requested that the state government build a CBT/ICT Centre for his alma matter, Abdulazeez, said that he would introduce digital education into the system if he had the power to make the Nigerian educational system to conform
with the trend in the global world. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: Congratulations on your emergence as a Day Governor of the state and just a couple of days back, you were celebrated by the state government based on your emergence as the winner of the 2022 edition of the Spelling Bee Competition. How do you feel being celebrated as one day governor of Lagos State and performing those state functions?
AbdulAzeez: it was an eye -opening experience for me because I oversaw the affairs of the state for a day. I met with the stakeholders in the state. I saw how things are being run and it encouraged my passion for politics and giving back to the society.
THE IMPACT: Let’s take a good look at that day. What are the activities that you are made to engage in and who are the people you met with on that day?
AbdulAzeez: In the morning, I met with the First Lady of Lagos State at the State House in Marina and the governor also. I met with them there. We moved from there to the ministries but, we first visited the Head of Service, who is the number one civil servant In Lagos State. After that, we went to visit the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education. We later moved to the executive council chamber, where I presided over the weekly council meeting. After then, we moved to the judiciary, where I met with the Chief judge and other judges. I met with a lot of judges there.
We moved to the Education District ll office at Maryland. I was later welcome at the Ayangbure’s Palace in Ikorodu and from there I went to the local government secretariat – the Ikorodu Local Government to be precise. I was welcome there also. It was after this official visit that we proceeded all the way to my school, Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu.
THE IMPACT: It was massive and rousing welcome as you and your entourage arrived at the Oriwu Model College premises, late in the night. The students, staff, principal and everybody were on the ground to welcome you. How do you feel seeing the principal, teachers and other students bowing down for you and referring to you as His Excellency? How do you feel with that reception?
AbdulAzeez: It was a very warm reception and I don’t take that for granted. I was very happy and it motivated me apart from the fact that I won the competition. It has also motivated me that learning and school is actually not a scam as it is derided in a popular slang among the youth of today. Education is not scam and it has actually increased my passion for learning and by God’s grace I am going to reach the top.
THE IMPACT: After that day, how has it been walking around and with your friends? What has been the experience after that day?
AbdulAzeez: After that day, it has been interesting actually because I am not the type of person that is well known. I am always indoors most of the times. But after I won that competition, I became popular in my environment and when I am going anywhere, people started addressing as Mr Governor. I just have to caution myself, when I am in the public. I have to know what to do because I am now a public personality. I have to caution myself, know what to do and what not to do in the public. Before now, I have always been a reserved person but I don’t think anything has changed.
Nevertheless as a public personality, I would have to change certain things.
THE IMPACT: If you have the power to change anything, what would it be?
AbdulAzeez: The world is in the digital era now and as such, if I were to change things, I would introduce some digital basics to the education system I think the inclusion of technology into the syllabus, where students get to acquire a lot of programming skills such as cloud computing, web development and app development is important.
The world is evolving and we have to evolve with it. So, if I were to change anything about the system, that is what I would change.
THE IMPACT: Was that what informed your request of the government to provide CBT center in your former school?
AbdulAzeez: That was actually one of the reasons I requested for that. Actually, we have some, but they are not enough. If we are provide with a good facility that fosters digital literacy and all that, I feel that we can actually go places.
THE IMPACT: If you are to make any more demand from the government, what would be your additional demand for them to embark upon in your school?
AbdulAzeez: If I was to ask for anything more from the government for my school, I would ask for hostels and classrooms, even though we have some in place already, but we need more. We need ultra -model classrooms that will foster the digital education. You know when we have classrooms with modern equipment and modern tools like projectors to teach students with then education and learning imorove. We have to move away from the olden days’ way of teaching to the present and modern way. As the world is evolving, everything including transportation, education and other sectors must evolve too. For example, in the 90s, the cars we had were different because now we have electrically powered cars. Why can’t the education sector also evolve with the world? I actually think that if we have a modern classroom, it will foster good education and development, and Lagos State is actually going to go places and Nigeria in general too.
THE IMPACT: What would be your message to students in Oriwu College, Ikorodu?
AbdulAzeez: My advice is always to say every time, ”whatever you pick to do, try to be the best at it.” It is just not enough to be good, you have to be the best, triumph and be unique. In the world of today, everything is evolving; people are having access to material and things to upgrade themselves.
In an environment and system where there is limited opportunity, you have to create opportunity for yourself and be unique. When you are unique, you would blend in any environment and triumph.
