The Media and Publicity Committee of FEYDA recognised the achievement of one of Ede daughters, FATIMA AKINOLA. She was just finished her second degree with a stellar performance in far away USA with a PERFECT CGPA of 4.0/4.0 in Mathematics and has earned another fully-funded scholarship for her PhD in the University of Florida, United States.


Fatima Akinola

1.
FEYDA: Can you tell us how you felt, when you were called for honour as the best graduating student recently in Marshall University and not ordinary best graduating student, you had a perfect GP of 4.0/4.0 in Masters Level studying course that deals with numbers many considered dreadful? Tell us, how did you feel in that moment?
FATIMA: I can only thank Almighty Allah for everything. I strived to put in the work, and He blessed my efforts. So, I was grateful and honoured.

2.
FEYDA: That being said, can you please briefly introduce yourself, starting from your full name?
FATIMA: My name is Fatima Abdulwaheed Akinola. I was born and raised in Sokoto state, but my hometown is Ede, Osun. I am a student of mathematics.

3. 
FEYDA: We are aware you had your first degree from Usman Danfodiyo University (UDU) Sokoto, what was your course of study, graduation year and your final CGPA?
FATIMA: I studied Mathematics and graduated in October, 2017 with a final CGPA of 4.73/5.0.

4.
FEYDA: Your final CGPA in UDU made you a record-breaker as you broke a 42-year-old record in a Nigerian University, what were the details of that particular record then?
FATIMA: The mathematics department, as at that time, had 3 units, Math, Stat and Computer science. So, in the history of the mathematics unit of the department, I was the first female to graduate with a first-class honours.

5. 
FEYDA: Why did you choose to read that course because many people hold the belief that Mathematics is dreadful and for men?
FATIMA: I wanted to be a chemical engineer. However, on writing my second JAMB, I was offered mathematics by the University and JAMB. Since I was always good at it anyways, I decided to accept the admission and probably switch to engineering as I furthered my studies. But I fell in love with math, and I decided to see it through to the end.

6. 
FEYDA: Is there any successful woman in the field of Mathematics, whom we might say her success influenced your decision before choosing Mathematics?
FATIMA: As at the time I accepted the admission, the decision was influenced mainly by my personal will. But as time went by, I discovered my love for it and seeing only one female math lecturer in my unit, I resolved to be like her someday.

7. 
FEYDA: Can you please share any difficulty or hurdle you faced while being a student in UDU and how you overcame?
FATIMA: The one thing that stuck through out was the anxiety that came every semester with maintaining my GPA. I entered the first-class range in my second year. So, every semester, the struggle was staying constant or doing better. To overcome the anxiety, I strived to focus on preparing well enough, especially before the start of the semester. I got materials from my seniors and read them to prepare for the semester. That helped me through the rigor of the semester, and I was able to focus my time and energy efficiently.

8. 
FEYDA: Were you not offered job in UDU then as the best graduating student? If yes, why didn’t you grab the opportunity and continue growing there as a lecturer.
FATIMA: To teach, I believed I needed more than just a bachelor’s degree. Teaching and knowing math were two different things. It is the university, I needed more, so I focused on furthering my studies.
9.
FEYDA: Why the choice of Marshall University (MU), and how did you come across the school located in Huntington West Virginia, United States?
FATIMA: It was a referral from my lecturer. I applied and was offered an admission. It wasn’t my only admission at the time though. I had two fully funded admissions to pursue my master’s degree at the ‘African Institute of Mathematical Sciences, South Africa’ and ‘African University of Science and Technology, Abuja’.

10. 
FEYDA: How did you get the admission to study for post graduate in MU?
FATIMA: I applied to the University a year before the start date. My admission letter came in April. For the application, I had to write an English test, TOEFL, submit my post-secondary transcripts and complete the necessary data requested in the application.

11. 
FEYDA: We know it is not easy to study in United States considering the foreign exchange, how did you manage the aspect of funding?
FATIMA: Asides my application to the University, I applied for a ‘Graduate Assistantship’ position offered by my department. It came with a ‘tuition waiver’ and stipends to help with living costs.

12. 
FEYDA: Considering the difference in curriculum and the speed of studying over there compared to Nigeria, did it strike your mind that you would graduate as the overall best student with perfect CGP?
FATIMA: I knew what I wanted from the start of my studies, and with every semester, I worked towards it. The difference in curriculum was a hassle at first, but I managed to understand how things worked and found a way to make the best of the situation.

13. 
FEYDA: How did you manage to weather the storm successfully to achieve this feat?
FATIMA: To be sincere, it took more than my will to achieve it. But there were resources to help make things easier, I had my instructors who were always open to helping me and answering my questions.

14.
FEYDA: We should be ready to celebrate you again in the year 2025 or thereabout by God’s grace, now that you have been offered another scholarship opportunity in the University of Florida, United States for your Doctor of Philosophy degree in the department of Mathematics, which will be fully funded. What influenced your choice of University of Florida or it is the only option that came your way?
FATIMA: It was not my only option. I had another fully funded scholarship from the Louisiana State University. But I chose UF instead. The university had a good combination of my research interest. That was the major factor.

15.
FEYDA: You have been seen as a young lady who is passionate about success, can you tell us what drives you to success?
FATIMA: I would say it is always just striving to do my best at whatever task/challenge I came upon. I always aimed for success against all odds and learned to be focused.
Also, the most underlying reason has always been being a proud daughter of my parents.

16. 
FEYDA: You have been identified as a goal-getter and as we know that both vision and mission are vital in directing goals, what is your personal vision and mission statements?
FATIMA: This is a tricky one. Personally, I love to take things a step at a time. So, for vision, I would say becoming a Professor of Mathematics and for mission, its serving as a role model for women and upcoming girls in the society to bridge the gap and increase the number of women in STEM, especially mathematics.

17.
FEYDA: Apart from factorizing, evaluating, calculating and other Mathematics jargons, what are your hobbies and is there anything you dislike being involved?
FATIMA: My hobbies include cooking, baking, and trying out new adventures (though this one is just a hobby dream for the future, lol).
I really dislike being involved in social vices.

Fatima Akinola

18. 
FEYDA: Were you in a love relationship while in UDU or MU? If yes, how did you combine it with your academics without one affecting the other? If no, why?
FATIMA: Yes, I was involved while in both. Combining it with my studies was mostly about balance. There is life after all outside books. Also, understanding was important. We needed to understand our personal lives and what it demanded from both of us.

19. 
FEYDA: Was there any time you failed or anytime you were not happy with your grades? Can you tell us about the experience and how did you get over it?
FATIMA: In my first year, I had an ‘F’ in a general studies course. At first, it was really saddening. But as time went by, I stopped fighting the pain and retook the course. Luckily, I had an A.

20 
FEYDA: Have you had any challenge with a lecturer in the past, whether in UDU or MU? If yes, how did you manage the situation?
FATIMA: No.

21. 
FEYDA: You recently liked the victory video of MU soccer team winning their first national title in history in LinkedIn. Do you love football or other sport and in which one you take part while in universities?
FATIMA: Lol. Liking the video was me celebrating them.
My loved sport is basketball.

22.
FEYDA: Which football club are you following in Europe and what influenced your choice?
FATIMA: Lol, none.

23.
FEYDA: Would you advise students to combine academics with other activities like sport while on campus?
FATIMA: Always do what is best and works for you. Find a balance and BE YOU!

24. 
FEYDA: As Yoruba would say that “ilé ọlọ́bẹ̀ lọmọ aráyé máa ń kó ẹ̀kọ lọ”, which literally mean that people always bring pap to the house of person that has soup. So, you are expected to have many friends now, but has your choice of friends influenced your success in any way? How?
FATIMA: I had always been one with a lot of friends. Having that much never affected my success in any way. I never chose my friends based on any specific trait. It is just having people to relate with, create fun memories with and grow together.

25.
FEYDA: Would you say you had more friends or lost more friends because of your goals and values? Kindly explain.
FATIMA: Like I said before, my friendships were always independent of my goals. My values, yes. I can’t have friends who contradict my values.

26. 
FEYDA: Have you ever been a recipient of any scholarship and how did you apply for it?
FATIMA: Yes. In my undergraduate days, I had 2 scholarships. I applied for them during the application periods.

27. 
FEYDA: Wow! It has been established that you are a recipient of more than one scholarships, can you briefly name each of them and the outcome you had from each?
FATIMA: I was a recipient of the ‘PTDF Award scholarship’ and the ‘Federal Scholarship Board Award’. For both, it was an award letter and monetary award.

28. 
FEYDA: Did you benefit from these scholarships as an indigene of Sokoto at the expense of Ẹdẹ and Ọsun State, which are your town and state of birth respectively?
FATIMA: I am Sokoto born and raised, so it is home to me. However, I have always and still maintained my state of Origin as Ẹdẹ, Osun state.

29.
FEYDA: Since you are “Ẹdẹ tọkàn tara” as you are from there by birth both maternally and paternally. Can you briefly tell us about your two family backgrounds in Ẹdẹ?
FATIMA: Paternally, I hail from the ‘Ile Gaa’ household and maternally, I hail from the ‘Ile Imole’ household.

30.
FEYDA: Should we be expecting you to give back to Sokoto and Ẹdẹ in the nearest future?
FATIMA: God’s willing.

31.
FEYDA: Is there any habit you are working hard to break and what are the measures you are taking to break it?
FATIMA: Procrastination.
Setting daily goals has always helped me break it. Also, prioritising tasks has also helped a lot.

32.
FEYDA: During your days in UDU and MU, was there a mistake you made and wished you could undo?
FATIMA: In my last year of undergraduate, I had only one ‘C’ grade as the rest of my results were all ‘A’. I could have better on that course, and I realised the mistake I made after writing the exam. If I could go back, I wish I could undo my mistakes at that time.

33. 
FEYDA: What advice would you give people with a poor choice of friends and people who come from unhealthy homes?
FATIMA: I am not one to judge people’s choices. But, if one were to find themselves in such scenarios, my best advice would be to strive to take themselves out as soon as they can. With poor choice of friends, the first step would be acknowledging it to yourself that it is a problem, likewise for unhealthy homes. Identifying the problem is almost always solving half of the problem.

34. 
FEYDA: Can you share a testimony that showed vividly that God has been involved in your success so far?
FATIMA: I had gone to represent Sokoto state at the national stage of the Cowbell Mathematics competition in Lagos. There, the teacher who accompanied the NTIC students from Kano, approached my father and offered that I took the entrance examination of the school and would be considered for a scholarship.
I took the exam and was given a conditional 100% scholarship into SS1, renewable on scoring an average of 85% in all subjects. With Allah’s grace, I finished my last term with a 93%.

36. 
FEYDA: What advice would you give students who wish to be highly successful like yourself?
FATIMA: I am not much of a motivational speaker, lol, but my best advice to students would be to always find your strengths and weaknesses and work on both. Find what works for you, be determined to achieve your goals, be dedicated to whatever tasks you put forward for yourself. Do not forget to put God first. Also, do not be afraid of failures. While I was applying to schools and scholarships, I had at least 5 rejections. It did not deter me from my goal, which was to further my education, possibly with a scholarship! So, failures should not be seen as the end. Put more effort, try different approaches, reach out to people who have achieved what you are striving for, but in all, do what works best for you!

37. 
FEYDA: You must have had several encounters with students with poor performance in their studies, and no doubt you would have served as morale booster for them, any advice to give to students who had failed severally and about to give up?
FATIMA: Like I had mentioned earlier, failures should never be seen as the end! Find the root cause of the failure. If you realise it has to do with your mode of study, change it, if it has to do with not understanding enough, find people to help. No man is an island, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Reach out for help when you need it.

38. 
FEYDA: Would you like to drop your mail and/or phone number just in case anyone wants to ask you further questions?
FATIMA: My email address is ‘fateemahareeke@gmail.com’.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME..