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• Akhator, YABATECH’s overall best graduate
By Gabriel Dike
Treasure Akhator of the Department of Food Technology is the overall best graduate, Yaba College of Technology of (YABATECH), Yaba, Lagos. In this interview, she said she dropped out of secondary school and wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) thrice.
L-R: Adesua Akhator, Treasure Akhator, Helen Akhator and Omoafe Akhator
Excerpts:
Can we know your background?
My name is Akhator, Treasure Isibhakome. I am from Esan North East, Edo State. I hold the sixth position in a family of six. My dad, Engr. Felix Akhator, is based in Abuja, while my mom late Victoria Akhator left us in the year 2002. She was a teacher.
Tell us your educational history…
I was born in Kano, so I started schooling in Kano. When I arrived in Lagos, I started all over from nursery school at Hon Bethel Nursery and Primary School where I finished my primary school. Sincerely, my primary school days were not easy. In fact, I thought I was a dullard.
I lost my mom at the time. Nobody was looking after me because my dad was busy working. My big brother Ehizebue, was the only person concerned about my education. He put me through in subjects I was struggling with during my primary school. I appreciate his effort.
My common entrance to JSS class gave me a hint that I had something in me. I had an impressive score so I kept learning but it took turns in 2009. I dropped out of secondary school not because I was rebellious but because life showed its tough side to my family and me. My dad lost his job and struggled with paying my school fees. I remained idle in an uncompleted building with my family, which we called a home back then.
How then did you write WAEC and UTME?
While my family struggled and I barely had a roof over my head, my schoolmates were writing WAEC and JAMB. Yes, I was left behind.
Fast-forward to 2013, things slightly improved for my family. My dad managed to raise enough money for my GCE. I was excited and scared at the same time.
I believed that I had lost my spark and would not do well in the exams. I also quickly realised that that was an opportunity that God had miraculously given me to proceed with my education. So I studied very hard and wrote the examination. Well, I did not have seven A’s. In fact, I did not have a single A, but I got enough credits to proceed to the next stage, JAMB!
JAMB “jambed” me three times. Somehow, in my three attempts, I just couldn’t reach the cut-off marks. After the third time, I dropped my pen and picked up labouring tools. Yes, I started working as a brand ambassador in the marketing field. I also ventured into my passion, which is radio presenting, and ushered at events.
During the course of these activities, there were three sets of people I came across that made me seriously reconsider furthering my education. They were executives and professionals at the events I ushered. I always admired how they shared ideas that contributed to the development of society.
Corps members, I always wished I had that uniform on and curious people who always asked me for the qualification I held. Perhaps, they were impressed by my work ethics and networking skills.
How did you find yourself in YABATECH?
My encounters with these people propelled me to buy an entry form into Yaba College of Technology. Fortunately, I was offered admission. I was admitted to study Food Technology, not by choice but due to certain circumstances, which I now realise was God’s design.
I started classes with determination and excitement. I remember that I smiled throughout my first lecture. I was so grateful for the opportunity to experience learning in a higher institution such as the reputable Yaba College of Technology.
My National Diploma days were draining. But I made great friends, which helped me catch up on the things I had missed out when I dropped out of secondary school. My goal was simple: to have the right CGPA to return for a full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) programme.
I was determined to succeed. I was quick to learn and take corrections not from my lecturers alone but also from my course-mates at the time. I also carried out personal studies at the school library and used the mobile library.
Let me use this opportunity to point out that our smartphones are powerful tools for learning. Till date, YouTube is the top social media platform I use. I always go to YouTube to find additional explanation of difficult concepts and this helped me significantly.
My CGPA of 3.48 at the end of my National Diploma programme gave me reason to address myself as “beauty with brains.” I believed that I had done very well for an individual that had missed out on her education for years. Nevertheless, I told myself that I could do better.
In October 2021, when I saw my name top on the admission list of the Department of Food Technology, my heart swelled with pride, joy and immense gratitude to God. Not only was I considered good enough for the great Yaba College of Technology full time HND programme at the Department of Food Technology, I was top on the list!
It was during the HND programme I truly fell in love with the course Food Technology. People might think Food Technology is all about cooking and baking. I’m sorry to burst your bubbles, but we go well beyond that. Food technologists are not just cooks or chefs, we save lives by ensuring that food is made available all year round.
During food processing, we apply quality control and assurance, assuring the consumers that the food being processed is safe and wholesome for consumption. Food technologists study food sources and find innovative ways to create nutritious processed food. I could go on and on.
My HND days were amazing. I couldn’t believe the fact that I taught my course mates complex topics in food engineering, unit operation, operation research and many more. I managed to work part time while schooling
I was working with MasterCard as their brand ambassador, modelled in a few music video productions and TV commercials. I hardly partied, it was either I worked or studied. I skipped some job opportunities just to study. I did my best in preventing distractions.
Are you a bookworm?
My favourite locations at school were the class, library and laboratory. I was not in competition with anyone but myself. I tried my best to surpass my previous GPA and kept it going.
I am so grateful to God for life. I remember in HND 11 first semester I fell sick and underwent a surgery for umbilical hernia. Allow me to express immense gratitude to the management, particularly for clearing most of my hospital bills through my NHIS.
Describe your social life on campus, any male friend?
My social life wasn’t so eventful during school. I was only focused on my studies. I had a supportive male friend. We were just friends and nothing more.
How did ASUP strike affect your studies?
Surprisingly, ASUP didn’t affect me in any way. I took advantage of ASUP strike to cover up on areas I wasn’t satisfied with. While people complained, I was excited. It shouldn’t be that way. But when life gives you a lemon you make a lemonade out of it.
Was emerging overall best student your dream?
I remember telling my course mate at the time that I was focused on graduating with a distinction because I could not achieve that during ND. So, emerging as the best overall graduating student came as a shock to me and an eye opener. Don’t ever underestimate yourself, you have so much in you than you can imagine.
Tell us about your reading pattern
My reading pattern was simple, repetition. At the end of each class, I would go over the notes or hand-outs. I did that continuously until I understood the lecture. I would carry out research, and also make use of YouTube.
Would you like to lecture in the poly?
I would love to lecture at Yaba Tech. It would be an honour.
How many awards did you collect at the convocation?
I got four awards; best overall HND student in the School of Technology, WITED award for best overall graduating female student in Science, Technology, Engineering (STEM), best overall HND graduating female student and college award for best overall at HND level.
