Hi there, wonderful readers! Our guest today is a multifaceted individual who has shown excellence in both academic and entrepreneurial endeavors. He’s a part 4 student from the Department of English at OAU, a fashion brand owner, a stylist, a creative director, and a virtual assistant with a knack for tech. He’s also a proud ambassador of the notion that one can excel in multiple fields without being limited by conventional boundaries.
Let's dive in!
NCB: I’m Moyinoluwa, and I will be anchoring the interview. Please, introduce yourself to our audience.
FYB: Okay. Hmm... My name is Olagbaju Ayomide Emmanuel, a part 4 student of the Department of English.
NCB: Nice to meet you, Ayomide. Can you share more about yourself, your childhood, and your family background—anything about yourself? Your hobbies, what you're into, and much more?
FYB: Okay... My childhood is quite the usual one. I was born into a family of 5, and both of my parents are from Ile-Ife, Osun State. By implication, I was born and bred in Ife, at least for the first 9 years of my life before moving to another state.
NCB: Wow, you are an original Ife indigene, grew up in Ife, and moved to another state. What state, Ayomide?
FYB: I attended Faith Standard School in Ile-Ife for my primary education, St. Michael’s College in Ogun State for junior secondary, and Ambassadors College in Ile-Ife for my senior secondary education before gaining admission into OAU for my tertiary education.
Things about me: I'm an ambivert, but I lean more toward the introverted side. Breaking this jinx made me fall in love with fashion because I found expression in it. It became a tool for me to express myself and connect with people. By God's grace, I own a fashion brand today called XAMERDHOL™️, and we offer services like clothing, styling, fashion consulting, and many more. Aside from fashion, my hobbies are teaching and talking. Aside from these, I don't think I have anything else I do—I'm not really a social person.
NCB: A fashionista! An ambivert that leans more to the introverted side but loves talking? Nice! A family of 5! What was it like growing up in a large family?
FYB: Omo, it was fun, and quite a merry-go-round. I've got the best parents in the world, and they are very supportive. So, my mum is the hot-tempered one, and my dad is gentler but strict. I had a lot of time to bond with my dad; he would tell me stories, and wehade discussions about several topics ranging from the sciences, and tech, to mystics. As a family, we made fun of each other a lot, and I would say my family isn't the typical Yoruba family that dwells much on or emphasizes the extremist perspective of Yoruba people on respect because we broke those boundaries. Okay, basically, hmm... I'm an ambivert and PhlegChol (phlegmatic and choleric by nature). So, yeah, in as much as I have social anxieties, I enjoy having serious conversations with people, especially those that make me disseminate knowledge. So, I talk a lot, especially when I have to teach, prove my intelligence, or talk about things I deeply love, like fashion and literature.
NCB: I take the last sentence as that you're a Lit major?
FYB: Yes, I am.
NCB: How was it like moving from one state to another? And seeing that you had your primary education and senior secondary education in Ile-Ife, you should have gotten tired of Ile-Ife, but here you are, in OAU. Is there any reason for that?
FYB: It was a bittersweet experience, especially when I came back to Ife for secondary school education. I had the opportunity of connecting with my extended family because I lived with my aunt’s family. However, my stay with them made me quite independent at an early stage because I wasn’t running around to anyone for emotional support or to get my assignments done. I had to do things myself and man up (I wasn’t maltreated, but they were retirees with married grown-up kids, so the age difference didn’t give us room to bond, and this resultantly fueled my introvertism). On my reason for coming to OAU, I would say it’s God’s plan. For students who schooled in Ife, OAU just seems like the divinely endorsed university for them to go to because of the proximity to their home, the glorious stories about OAU’s academic prowess, the weight the name carries, the camaraderie among the alumni, etc. I can keep going on and on, but for me, it was some of the things I mentioned and the fact that my friends chose OAU too.
NCB: Do you think OAU has lived up to the glorious stories told about it to you?
FYB: Well, in some aspects, OAU has lived up to expectations when it comes to student relationships and building networks. In other areas like the maintenance culture of structures and facilities and the quality of education, OAU has underperformed. Meanwhile, I wouldn’t say it’s an OAU problem but a national issue caused by the governing bodies.
NCB: Exactly. It's a Nigerian issue.
Let’s talk about the department. On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your journey so far in the department?
FYB: 4. I guess the nostalgia that comes with me being in part 4 would make me rate it that high.
NCB: Hmm. By the way, what was the reason behind you studying English literature at university?
FYB: Well, I’ve always liked literature from secondary school. Likewise, I’ve always been enamored with teaching or lecturing at a very young age. So, it was just right for me to pick literature in uni.
NCB: Oh, wow. How’s it going for you?
FYB: Not bad, at least I'm almost done, just a few months away. Also, while at it, I delved into other things like fashion and tech.
NCB: Yhh, fashion and tech! That’s some cool stuff, and I’m interested in knowing more.
By the way, do you still see yourself pursuing a career as a lecturer?
FYB: Omo, not right now... the government has bastardized the profession, and the financial compensation is not sustainable anymore.
NCB: That’s so true. Before I proceed further, I want to know your opinion about something. Are you in?
FYB: Yeah, proceed.
NCB: Would you choose to chase your passion even if the income from it is not that great?
FYB: Hmm, well, I will be quite diplomatic with my answer. There was a time when one could have easily chosen passion over wealth in Nigeria, but I doubt if the time is now. You know, in as much as you love doing something or have a passion for something, that very thing must be quite lucrative and sustainable because as humans, you must survive, and one of the major needs for human survival is the legal tender. And in Nigeria right now, with the present state of the economy, one must have or earn in abundance to be able to survive. In summation, as much as one would love to pursue a passion that may or may not provide great income, one should have a side hustle or gig that can pay the bills.
NCB: What you’ve said is absolutely accurate. I must say, the way you express and present your opinion is really commendable. Very straightforward, very well-articulated, very demure 😂😂. Moving on, you mentioned earlier that you’ve delved into fashion and tech. And in today’s world, those two industries are giants. What areas of fashion and tech are you into?
FYB: Awwn, I’m flattered. 🙏 In fashion, I own a fashion brand. I am a stylist, creative director, and fashion consultant. For tech, I’m a product manager and a virtual assistant.
NCB: Amazing! That’s a lot of things to juggle alongside being a student. How well have you been able to balance it all?
FYB: It hasn’t been easy, ooo, but I try my best to strike a balance. My strategy has always been to shuffle between my side gigs and academic work for the first 10 weeks of resumption and then concentrate on academics fully once it’s 2 weeks to exams.
NCB: Wow, nice strategy. Personally, I love fashion too. What does your brand specialize in?
FYB: We’re into streetwear fashion right now.
NCB: Okay. Do you make your wears yourself?
FYB: I do the designs, that is, the illustrations and graphics, and then I send them down to my manufacturers.
NCB: Oh, that’s the creative director part, I guess.
FYB: Yeah, but the creative direction is more than that too. It’s all-encompassing.
NCB: In a few months, you’ll be a university graduate. What after-school plans do you have? Do you plan to further your education?
FYB: Omo, that’s a very tough one... Life after school is really scary, but I think I’ve been able to come up with ways to navigate through the storm. I would love to take up a master’s degree, upscale my fashion brand, and get more tech jobs here and there.
NCB: You seem like an all-rounder to me. You’ve literally got plans for everything. That’s admirable.
I assume your current tech jobs are remote because of school. Do you see yourself working a 9-5? Whether in tech or not?
FYB: No. I don’t see myself working a 9-5 right now. I don’t know what the future holds though. I might do something related to tech, but definitely not 9-5.
NCB: Understood. One last question before we round off. What advice would you give to students like you who want to try their hands at multiple things but are afraid to do so?
FYB: My advice would be: If you have a skill or passion, even if it's unconventional, try to explore it. Don't shy away from taking the bold step because, at the end of the day, life is a risk. It’s important to have multiple skills. For those who think school is all there is, don’t fool yourselves; the world doesn’t run on what you’re learning in school.
NCB: Wow! So deep. Honestly, thank you so much for this time, Ayomide. This interview has been an eye-opener.
FYB: Thanks so much, Moyin. I really appreciate this.
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