I suffered hunger, carried cement bags to have first-class – 21-year-old LAUTECH graduate, Agbalaya

I suffered hunger, carried cement bags to have first-class – 21-year-old LAUTECH graduate, Agbalaya

How does it feel to be the second-best graduate from your school and the best in your department?

Wow! It feels great to be the second-best overall in my school, the best in the faculty, and the top performer at the departmental level. It feels good and rewarding to look back at where I came from and the things I had to endure to attend school. It feels really good. My parents are proud of me, and I am proud of myself as well for achieving this feat. The success is worth the effort and the denials that came with the journey.

You seem very excited by your performance. Could you tell us more about this radiating excitement?

Yes, many people may not understand when I say it feels good. I suffered to earn this degree. To start with, I suffered while I was in school, and I have seen poverty face-to-face. I carried bags of cement in a cement company to go to school, even when my parents didn’t believe in me. I worked at a food canteen to raise money for my schooling. I fed myself, clothed myself, and paid for educational materials without any initial help.

Initially, I went on an apprenticeship in 2018, but when there was no funding available for me to further my education, I quit the apprenticeship and started loading and offloading cement in 2019 to earn a living. Despite all this, I didn’t just graduate; I graduated as the second-best overall and the best in my faculty and department. You see why I feel excited.

Could you walk us through your self-sponsored education?

I am from Oyo State, and I come from a humble background. My parents do not have the money to sponsor my education. When I decided to go to school, I told them, but they said they could not afford it. Already, my two elder brothers did not finish secondary school. Even with that, my parents didn’t believe I could do it, but I assured them that I was going to change our family situation.

Initially, I went into apprenticeship work, and at a point, it dawned on me that I wasn’t making enough money, so I quit and started carrying cement to survive.

It was from the proceeds of that job that I was able to finish my secondary school, write my WAEC, NECO, GCE, and JAMB. When I gained admission to the university, I sponsored myself from 100 level to graduation. On campus, I worked at a food canteen to meet my daily expenses. After each semester, I travelled to Ibadan to work at the cement company to pay my bills. I loaded cement to earn money, and that was how I survived.

How did all these motivate you to succeed academically?

Working and starving were not enough on their own to guarantee success if I didn’t study and focus on my academics. I laboured for my success. I was intentional and focused while on campus because I knew why I had to endure hunger to succeed. I can say I studied consistently for an average of 90 hours per week during my undergraduate days.

I had no extracurricular activities or social life in school. It was just me and my studies. I attended night classes to the point that, in a whole semester, I slept in my hostel only about five times. It was in my final year that I began interacting and attending conferences, and I had the chance to lead my department as president. I put in the effort, and even if I am named the best graduating student, it would be worth it because I worked for it.

What inspired your self-driven studies?

I challenged myself to go to school. I was inspired by the need to change my family’s situation. I saw a pattern in my family: two of my elder brothers did not finish secondary school. Both my parents are alive, and neither of them went to school. I needed to break that cycle.

I told myself that if I didn’t go to school, those after me might not go either. So, I took it upon myself to liberate my family from that trend, even in the face of poverty. I needed to change the story of my family.

What was your most trying moment in school?

Hunger was my major challenge. In my 100 level, I worked at the school canteen, and I was paid, but at a point, I didn’t have enough time for my studies, so I quit to focus.

After each semester, I would go home, work in the cement company, and gather some money, but within a few days, it would finish, and I would be hungry again.

In 200 level, first semester, there was a long period when I was very hungry and could barely eat. I reached out to friends, and my roommate helped me with food and manuals. In 300 and 400 levels, I also approached lecturers who supported me with manuals for free. I am grateful for the people who stood by me.

Could you remember your most trying moment as a cement worker?

Yes. One of my toughest moments was in 2024 when our truck broke down on the way to Oyo. We started offloading cement from 7 pm., and I got home the next day. We even slept outside overnight. It was very difficult. We had to offload and reload the cement after the vehicle was fixed. I did not eat. It was a very challenging experience.

Did you ever think of quitting?

Never. Despite everything I went through, I never thought of quitting. I was intentional. I made friends with nursing and medical students and other serious-minded people, and I developed the habit of reading with them. They inspired me.

Did ladies approach you for relationships during this period?

I did not have a girlfriend. My focus was on my academics. I am 21 years old. I didn’t approach anyone, and no one approached me because they knew my goal was education. I had no emotional distractions.

How do your parents feel about you today?

They are very happy and proud of me. They began feeling proud when I was in 300-level, as they started getting feedback about my performance. They even started sending foodstuffs to me. When they came for my convocation, they were very happy.

What’s next on your academic plan?

Next is the National Youth Service Corps. I am currently working, but I want to quit to complete my NYSC clearance. My dream is to become a development economist. I want to go for my master’s and later a PhD in development economics.

I got an offer from Oxford University. I borrowed over N120,000 to apply, and I was selected. I currently work as a research intelligence analyst, but I plan to quit to focus on NYSC and later work with organisations like NESG to build my skills.

How do you intend to finance your Master’s at Oxford?