• Graduates with CGPA of 4.32 at 70
From Gyang Bere and Jude Dangwam, Jos
Mr. Ben-Lutnaan Duamlong is a graduate of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), class of 2021. He was celebrated at the just concluded 33rd and 34th combined convocation of UNIJOS as the best graduating student of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts.
Duamlong set an academic record for graduating as the best student with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.32 at 70 years old, as announced by the vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Tanko Ishaya.
The artist is a native of Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State and has spent his whole life in the sports industry; he would clock 70 years old in July 2023. Baba Duamlong was one-time coach Nigeria’s senior football team, Super Eagles. In this interview with The Education Report at his Rantiya residence in Jos, while painting some artworks, he gave insights into his switch to the world of art, colour and painting, the secret of his academic record of 4.32 CGPA and his conferment with a first degree at 70 years old.
You were the star attraction at the UNIJOS convocation, but how did this journey start?
Where I am today is by hard work and passion. When hard work and passion jam, this is the result.
I was surprised by the media boost I got this day. To me, I was doing what I loved doing, but the media boost is another way of encouraging me to do more. When I was in school, I was always the last to leave the studio in the evening by 5pm. Whenever I leave this house by 8am, I don’t come back until 7pm because of traffic on the road, which often took me like one hour before I arrived, whenever I left the studio by 5pm and I think it paid off. Let me tell you a story. I have been into pencil drawing all my life. I never painted till I got to the university in 2018. When I got to UNIJOS in 2018, my first painting class, what I produced, my painting lecturer almost fainted. he said, What is this!? Did I think I was in a primary school? He was so upset. So, I got back to the house and could not sleep till 4:00am, it was a challenge. And did you know when I slept was when I finally arrived at a decision that I would not leave the university the way I came in? Then I finally slept for two hours, I woke up and went back to school. And what helped me also was that I started moving around meeting anybody that had knowledge of art and I asked him or her to show me the way, let us do some work together. So, while he was doing his own beautiful work, I was busy watching him and learning how he laid his paint and colours, and here we are today. I can lay paint, I can do everything.
How did you feel when the VC announced that you graduated with a CGPA of 4.32, the best student of your department?
I already know my CGPA because we were shown our results before now. But the ovation that followed the VC’s announcement in the hall that day was unbelievable for me. I was thinking the CGPA was nothing because I do not see it as something new; I have been living with it since. You know this graduation should have been done since 2 years ago because we finished 2021 but because of strikes and the COVID it was delayed till 2023. So, I already know my CGPA but what I didn’t expect was the reception I got during the convocation.
How did you get to this point?
All my life I never worked in any other industry than sports, until I retired in 2014. By 2016, I was agitated by doing nothing. So, my friend and mentor by name Onje Gye-Wado, who is a professor of law and specialized in jurisprudence, we were discussing what I could do; we initially zeroed in on philosophy but, gradually, you know the mind is very flexible, I said, instead of doing this (philosophy), why not this thing I’m passionate about? So, I decided to make a switch and here we are today.
You have been emphasizing passion, but has this brought you fortune or do you just draw and paint and keep them?
It will bring me fortune one day, but it has not yet. Most of the pictures I paint, I pay for everything and send to the person or persons, but I hope with time I will benefit from it because I am committed to it. And you know whatever positive thing you’re committed to will surely pay. When I settled for this, it became an obsession for me and the only time I don’t do it is in the night because I made up my mind right from the word go that I would not paint in the night.
What was your experience like in the lecture class, since some of your coursemates would see you as grandfather and some as their father?
I never felt I was 70 until I started reading about it. I was pursuing my passion with all my energy and what have you. I never felt I was 70; it was when I started reading it in the papers and on social media that it dawned on me that I was already far gone! It’s like the adage that says, you’re as old as you think, but I never thought I was that old.
Has the university said anything to you, to lecture or be the ambassador of the institution?
The university has not said anything to me, and I do not expect anything. We all have our beliefs and principles. I believe very strongly that the university is a world of it’s own that should grow whatever it needs. That is why at the convocation that day, the VC said that it is a pity that he is unable to bring in all those that graduated with good grades back into the system because of the new policy by the Federal Government. I believe very strongly that if the university cannot bring someone that will come and spend two to three years then they should look at 10-20 years. And do you see me doing that? So, I’m convinced that I won’t have that energy to withstand the regrows of lecturing. Yes, I am not doing any job, is not a bad idea for me to be getting a salary every month, but at the same time it will be unpatriotic of me to block the opportunities of younger ones. If the university chooses me to be its ambassador I’m fine with that.
Is there anything you will love to share with us on your world of art?
I want to paint until I cannot paint anymore. I’m committed to work of arts. I had my first exhibition last year and tagged it ‘The Switch’, this is because I switched from football, which is also a form of art of painting.