Reading time:8 min read

Interview: “It only made sense to strive till the very end” — Lateefat Salami, Former Asst Librarian

In this interview, Lateefat Salami, graduate of Computer Science from the University of Ibadan, product designer with a passion for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and former Assistant Librarian of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, University of Ibadan (MSSNUI), shares her journey into computer science, her involvement in tech communities, her leadership experiences, and the lessons that shaped her time on campus.

Congratulations on your academic excellence! What motivated you to strive for academic excellence throughout your time at the University of Ibadan?

I believed that time and money were being invested, and Allah does not love waste. Besides, our days are numbered, and since I had chosen to dedicate a lengthy period of time to the degree, it only made sense to strive till the very end.

That is really insightful! Take us back to the beginning of your journey, what sparked your interest in pursuing a degree in Computer Science?

Hmm… I still take myself back to the beginning of my journey to connect the dots too. Well, I had the opportunity to interact with computers as a young girl, and I always loved that one could give it some inputs and get something back from it. Fast forward to my last year in junior school, it involved taking an exam that was ICT (Information and Communication Technology) related. I excelled in it. AlhamduliLlah. And that led me to being selected to take a Microsoft Certified Exam. I'll say that was my first "formal" introduction into computing. I joined a technical class in my senior year since it merged subjects that were aligned with the concepts I loved — science and technology. I also got involved in tech communities while in secondary school. Time for university came, and I eventually ended up studying computer science.

Ma’ sha' Allah, that is an amazing journey! How do you think your degree in Computer Science has prepared you for your future career goals?

AlhamduliLlah. It's prepared me in a lot of ways, but I'll focus on the fact that it helps me optimize my processes. I almost always think about how best to save time while maintaining quality in what I do. And it includes how I conceptualize a goal, my strategy, and the tools I use in carrying out my tasks.

Share a particularly memorable experience or achievement from your time at the university that highlights this.

I’ll share a recent one. I was part of a conference team earlier this year, where I led the sponsorship team. That involved creating invoices for our sponsors. When I sent out the invoices to the team for review, they were impressed with how fast I came up with the designs and how professional they looked. But what they didn’t see is how much I had experimented with different design concepts. That practice helped me decide faster what to feature in the invoice and where exactly to get the components, almost like reusing reliable building blocks in programming to optimize both speed and quality.

That is an impressive achievement! How did you handle setbacks and failures during your time at the university?

I think the question should be, "How did Allah help me handle them?" I've had some people tell me that I don't seem like someone who's faced any challenges in life even during phases where I had hurdles. So, I guess one thing is that I tell Allah my problems, then I discuss with people I trust enough to give me the succour and solutions I need. Also, I'm always like if I strive for a plan A that I've set and it doesn't work out, I rearrange, re-strategize, and seek a plan B. There isn't enough time to stay too long sulking over a "could've or should've." So, I get in my feelings, reflect, make du'a, and rearrange.

That’s a beautiful approach! What advice would you give to someone struggling with setbacks in their own journey?

I mentioned that some people say that I don't look like someone who's faced any struggle in life. I don't take it to heart anymore, lightly at most. You need to know that not everyone should be privy to your struggles. Allah is All-Knowing of our affairs. So, whatever makes your heart heavy, first, I ask Allah to rectify your affairs. Then, please, make lots of supplications. Sometimes, setbacks help us grow. We reflect and eventually understand what needs improvement. Other times, we go through struggles that are beyond self-reflection and our intellect. "Is not Allah the most just of judges"? At-Tin:8. Whichever way it comes, remember that Allah is Al-Hakam, the Most Just. Keeping that in mind would help you think the best of Allah. And good thoughts would keep you convinced that His help is near and give you the strength to push through the setback. Bi idhniLlah.

I am curious about your experiences as the Assistant Librarian for the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria at the University of Ibadan. What were some of the challenges you faced, and how did they shape your journey?

It was a learning experience for me. May Allah accept the service from me. Aameen. My first challenge was getting myself to relate with so many people at once. And then, merging it with personal commitments. I thought it through a lot when I got the news of the appointment. And I resolved that Allah never disappoints whoever strives in His cause and trusts in Him. Of course, I had to put more effort into managing my time, and that's also one of the highlights of my experience. There were periods when I struggled to push through and questioned my intentions. But AlhamduliLlah, I made it till the end. A major highlight is that I picked up transferable skills, especially in people and project management.

Aside from MSSN, were you a member of any other organisations?

Yes.

Which organisations were you a part of, and what roles did you take on? How did those experiences shape your perspective or skills?

I'm a member of GDG (Google Developer Groups) Ibadan and was a member of GDSC UI (Now GDG on Campus UI). I was a core team member for GDG on Campus UI in 2021/2022 worked as a content manager to help keep our community members engaged. Then, I volunteer and organize events under GDG Ibadan and WIE Ibadan (Women in Engineering, Ibadan).

Each organization had its own peculiarities, and together they gave me exposure. Not just in terms of professional networks, but in seeing what’s possible to achieve and in learning to make better choices in how I contribute and grow.

With your diverse experiences, what advice would you give to incoming students wanting to make the most of their time at the University of Ibadan?

Seriously — set your priorities right. A priority this week might stop being a priority the following week. But as a UI student, your spiritual growth and academics should always be a priority. Everything else can be thought through before prioritizing.

At each phase of your journey, reflect and focus on what's important. BarakaLlahu feek.

As you transition into the next chapter of your life, what message would you like to share with your fellow graduates and the wider university community?

It's never over until it's over. Everything's going great, don't relent. It's all looking bad? Restrategize, maybe, but keep going. May the end of our life be the best of it. Aameen.