The event featured talks from personalities such as John Durodola, Akinwande Durojaiye, Charles Isidi, Michael Akinrogunde.
The event began with a performance by the MC, Mesoblow himself, with tales from his earlier years in Covenant University.
After a short charge from one of the organizers, Setemi (Don’t fail saying you won’t use the degree, pass and then have your options), the Citations of the speakers were given.
Each speaker gave anectdotes from their past, connecting the engineering struggle in university and how, even without using their degrees, things they picked up along the way helped.
Guest Speakers
Akinwande Durojaiye
He’s the founder of JustBrandit which is a printing, branding and advertising company. What intrigued me about him was the story of how he made his 1st million in 100 level at Covenant University. “It was Papa’s birthday, so I went to the shopping mall to get a birthday card. During a little misadventure, I met a woman who after seeing the card asked if I could make a particular journal style. I said yes. The gag is I had no idea how to do it. I made some inquiries and found someone who could do it for a thousand naira. I went back and told her it would cost two thousand naira. She gave a contract to make a thousand copies and on the spot wrote me a cheque. And that my friends is how I made my first million”.
His key points were:
- Look for opportunities in every situation.
- Network is essential, don’t lose track of your friends.
- Reach out to people who are in the same niche as you are.
After the meeting in a one on one, he had this to say;
John Durodola
He is an accomplished photographer and a well known creative. As a creative, he places emphasis on exposure and networking. Start from the little jobs and when doing them, do it well because that’s your ticket to the big jobs. Going the extra mile to protect work relationships. Attitude and personality matter a lot in the industry. Your clients are your sales card so treating them well would be your strong point. Plan, plan, plan (can’t stress this enough). Be ready to make sacrifices in following your passion. Your engineering degree would take you places, so don’t trivialize it.
Charles Isidi
He is a digital storyteller and marketer. He placed emphasis on knowing your market. The concept of big data analytics is key because that’s where the breakthrough information comes from. He spoke of how he advocated for the *737# strategy, saying he knew an average Nigerian would be more drawn to a banking code than a banking app because of research and big data. He also added that this is the easiest time of our lives. Make mistakes, fail, move on. That’s how you grow. Anywhere you are, remember to add value. Never be satisfied with being a local champion. Your biggest competition is yourself. So make sure, you keep challenging yourself to grow. Surround yourself with people relevant in your field. He later went on to say, “Instead of only trying to create on platforms, why not create the architecture that these run on.”
Michael Akinrogunde
Popularly known as Ama Psalmist, he is a filmmaker with an AMVCA in the bag, as well as other awards. As a student of engineering, he highlights what the course would do for you even in pursuing your passion:
- Engineering would teach you how to manage stressful situations.
- You can stretch more than you think.
- It is important to know what is important. ‘Word!’
- Find your tribe, your niche.
- Don’t push your engineering mates away. It’s your colleagues that would still be around.
- Engineering would teach you how to handle intimidation.
- Your degree will only open the door, it’s what you know that will keep you in the room.
- Strategy is important, plan and plan.
- Be ready to make sacrifices.
After the event, Adebayo got to speak with each of them personally and these were some of the things they said;
Wande: “Money is like a cat, the more you run after it the more it runs away from you. But when you have what it wants, it will come to you.”
John: “I realize that a lot I do works when I plan. When I don’t plan, I find it doesn’t work out. For me, being deliberate in whatever you do is best.”
Charles: “Nothing is beneath you. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work, this is the easiest part of your life; learn, fail and fail on other people’s budgets, fail fast and keep it moving. Find what matters and go after it blindly.”
Michael: Michael especially said a lot, including that “It is important to know what is important.” “Don’t push away your close guys, the tight friends you make in university. “Look at all of the elements that surround engineering, not just the fact that it’s hard.” And, “The degree will only open the door, it’s what you know that’ll keep you in the run.”
All in all, day one of the COE college week was a huge success, thanks to the efforts of the organizers. Stay tuned for day two and coverage of other colleges.
CU Press 