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From Passion to Achievement: An Interview with Aisha Amoo

In this interview, Aisha Amoo, the Best Graduating Student (Female) in the Department of Civil Engineering, for the 2023/2024 Academic Session, shares her inspiring story, from discovering her passion for Civil Engineering to achieving academic excellence, and offers valuable insights for students seeking to excel.

How excited were you when you were announced the Best Graduating Student (Female) of the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan?

I'm very excited that Allah made my hard work to show.

What inspired you to study civil engineering? Was it a passion that developed over time, or did you discover it during your academic journey?

Well, back in secondary school, it was Architecture and nothing else. I chose Civil engineering because I thought it was similar to Architecture because I did not know that UI had Architecture as a course at the time I registered for JAMB. But I thank Allah that I did not make the wrong choice because I love Civil engineering more than I can express.

You graduated with a CGPA of 3.65. What was your greatest motivation for achieving academic excellence and how did you remain focused throughout your study years?

My greatest motivation was and still is Prof. Ajagbe, my mentor. Watching him make an impact both in the Islamic world and academic world inspired me to strive more. For him to be highly productive at his age, then what else is stopping me?

What do you think contributed to your success as the Best Female Graduating Student of the Faculty of Technology?

I made dua, I mean lots of it and I also engage in fasting because it is only Allah that can make it possible. I also give my best shot to anything I am doing including doing extra work when given assignments and trusting Allah to handle the rest.

Were you a member of any association when you were on campus?

Yes, I was part of TESA Representative Council (TRC). I was also part of the department mentorship group and when I was in 500L, I was part of the electoral planning committee where I was the chairman.

Walk us through some of the organizations you've been involved with and the volunteering experiences you've had.

I am part of EcoVanguard Club and when I was in 200L, I was part of Hot Club where I volunteered to be the treasurer. I also volunteered to mentor some 100L guys when I was in 300L. For the Hot Club, then I was in 200L and didn't understand how changing of signatory in a bank can be very stressful. The mentorship experience was satisfying and I like the fact that it made me to be more responsible and productive by checking up on my mentees in which we still contact till date

How were you able to combine extracurriculars and academics?

I didn't engage in many extracurriculars because I know myself that I'm not really good at multitasking so I only did the ones that won't affect me much.

What was your reading schedule as an undergraduate like?

I tried to avoid "Till Day Break" (TDB) most of the time. I read till I feel like sleeping and when I wake up, I try to remember what I have read and then read again. Why I avoided doing TDB was that in 400L during structural design II exam, I went blank from lack of sleep for days as my exams were back to back and that was my last paper. Alhamdulillah, Allah came through for me. I did not pass nor did I fail.

What were your most memorable moments as an undergraduate?

The most memorable moment was in 300L first semester when Allah made me have a 4.0 as my gp and then in the second semester when others were not so happy about their result, Allah also came through so that mine was okay and I was very happy. Alhamdulillah.

What challenge did you encounter academically, spiritually, and financially while in school?

For the academic challenges, once I prayed, fasted and went to Asalatu (NASFAT), that I just used to go, Allah always came through for me.

Financially, I lost my dad shortly after I graduated from secondary school before I got admission into University of Ibadan but Allah sent me a very wonderful foundation, Umu Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, a group of women that help widows. This foundation was the one that paid my school fee from 100L to 500L and even when UI increased the school fee, they still paid it. Also my Aunt and her husband, who I call my godmother and godfather, helped me a lot financially. Allah just made everything easy as if I had not lost the breadwinner of my family.

Spiritually, I can not really say that it was a challenge because when I see the Mashallah sisters in a mosque, I would ask myself that if they can be spiritual like this and also a student, then why shouldn’t I? So whenever I felt like my spiritual life was going down, I just went to UI mosque and mingled with my Mashallah sisters.

What are your plans after graduation? Do you have any plans for further education or entering the workforce?

By Allah’s will, I plan to do my Masters and hopefully Allah will make the pursuit of PhD scholarship easy for me. By Allah’s grace, I am going to practice because I am a Civil engineer not just by title but also by doings.

What advice would you give students who also want to finish excellently?

My own advice, because it worked for me, is to pray like you don’t know how to read and read like you don’t know how to pray. Do your best like the best and trust Allah to handle the process.