A teacher in the Department of European Languages and Integration Studies at the University of Lagos, Dr Adewale Tiamiyu, shared that he had 18 girlfriends during his time in secondary school.
Tiamiyu, who achieved a first class at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, after failing his O'level exams, spoke about this during an interview with Saturday PUNCH.
He mentioned that aside from his involvement in break dancing in secondary school, which affected his academic performance, he also had a reputation for being a notable philanderer.
“No. That was not the only issue. Then, I was too social and had about 18 girlfriends in almost all Ibadan schools. In those days, we always went to different schools for inter-house sports and I would want to have at least one girlfriend in any school we visited. I am talking of the 80s now.
“So, I think it was my social life. It was later in life that I understood that I was not a dullard since I had a First Class in OAU years later,” he stated.
He also revealed that he managed to overcome the initial setback after he left education and became a meat seller in Cote’D’Ivoire.
However, he was able to recover, passing his GCE in 1996 and gaining admission in 1997.
“Between 1990 and 1995, I was in Cote d’Ivoire as a meat seller. So I traveled out of the country. However, I returned in 1995 to Lagos and registered for GCE lessons. At the same time, I worked as a primary school teacher in Surulere.
“So, I prepared to go back to school between 1995 and 1997. I made my GCE in 1996 and got admitted into Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in 1997,” he revealed.
He noted that he was fortunate to achieve success, as some of his classmates who failed their O’level exams were unable to progress further.
“None were able to overcome that setback of poor O’level results. There is even one at the University of Lagos where I work currently. He is a bricklayer. He never furthered his education after that experience. He is doing the bricklaying job at the university. In my set at the secondary school, we were about 600. Three of us from the same secondary school and class currently work in UNILAG. One is an Associate Professor. I am a lecturer and the third man is a bricklayer
“The first man is my senior because I couldn’t catch up with those who had gone ahead of me. But the third person is still a bricklayer as we speak here in UNILAG. Though we still talk, he is not always comfortable around me, because he is not happy seeing me as a Dr, while he is a bricklayer. But I wanted to encourage him because I don’t believe anything is impossible. I believe that if he can dream it, it is possible.
“I could remember that when I was doing my master’s programme at UNILAG. I used to walk from Ikotun to the university. I walked more than 20 times to go for my studies that year. So I am the type that doesn’t give up on something”, he added.
Read the full interview here
