•Nigerian varsities must jettison courses that are no longer relevant to society
By Kehinde Aderemi
Twenty-three-year-old Oyindamola Heba Hamzat is a first class graduate of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ilorin. She emerged the best student in that department in the 2023/2024 session.
The Ibadan, Oyo State-born lady, who attended Ronk New Age Primary School, Akobo, Ibadan, and Federal Girls College Oyo, is currently an intern with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Abuja.
In this chat with Saturday Sun, Oyindamola urged Nigerian universities to jettison out-dated courses and focus more on teaching students courses that are relevant to their field of study right from their first year so as to boost the students’ interest in various areas of that field.
You seem to love Mathematics a lot. How was it like growing up?
While growing up, I found my love for mathematics and complex calculations. From my primary school, I noticed that compared to other subjects, I excelled better in Mathematics and Arithmetic in general. And it went like that until I got into my secondary school.
In my junior class, I did well in Mathematics and calculations. It even got better in the senior class, as I got recognised as the best in mathematics in my SS1. And also for further mathematics too, I was also the best student in further mathematics for my SS3, from SS1 to SS3 in my class.
So, mathematics became something like just a way of life or part of life for me. I try to bring Mathematics into everything I do. Whatever I do, I do some calculations.
How did it feel emerging the best student with a first class in the Biomedical Engineering Department in the 2023/2024 academic session?
It still feels really incredible to be recognised as the best graduating student in my department. But it’s something I never planned for from the outset. Although I knew I wanted to graduate with a first class from the first day I got into the university, I didn’t even think that I’d be the best student in my class. It was when I got into my 300 levels that I saw the possibility.
Why did you study Biomedical Engineering?
From the outset, my parents wanted me to study Medicine because they felt I was getting good grades. I was doing well and performing well academically. But I knew I didn’t want to study Medicine. I knew Medicine was not an option for me because of my love for Mathematics.
I checked around and looked into areas or fields where I could apply my knowledge in Mathematics. And I just saw that engineering is a viable option. Although at the initial stage, I didn’t know the exact field of engineering I wanted to dive into.
I just knew I wanted to study engineering. Then a family friend of mine was the one that told me about Biomedical Engineering.
What are the challenges you faced studying the course?
I wouldn’t really call it challenges because they were things that helped to shape the kind of person I am today. Another thing that particularly appealed to me was its unique position as an emerging discipline. One motivation was the personal challenge I set for myself, which is to surpass my previous semester’s academic performance. I also viewed challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles.
And in my final year, I had to combine a lot of activities together. I held various leadership positions. I volunteered for various societies and I represented my department. I was the Vice President of the Nigerian Engineering Students Association, University of Ilorin Chapter. I was the Key College Initiative Coordinator for National Society of Black Engineers, University of Ilorin Chapter.
I volunteered for various organisations as one of the team members for the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ilorin. That was the first step for me at the University of Ilorin.
I also volunteered for the second Faculty of Engineering and Technology International Conference, amongst others. I participated in competitions like the Committee of Deans of Engineering and Technology in Nigerian universities. The engineering student competition that is done annually, I participated in the competition where my team emerged third position in the group.
How were you able to cope with the distractions in school?
One thing that worked for me was that every Sunday, I would plan my entire week.
I would allocate specific time for academic work, personal activities and other engagements that I might have. I was also selective about the events I attended, places I went. I was determined that anywhere I went should contribute to my personal or professional work. It did not mean that I isolated myself. I was strategic about my time and energy.
So what do you do now?
I am currently an intern at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Abuja, where I am gaining relevant skills for artificial intelligence. Considering my academic background, I plan to apply artificial intelligence into healthcare, particularly rehabilitation engineering. That is my area of specialisation.
What are your plans for the future?
I intend to pursue postgraduate studies in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology. That is what I am passionate about.
In what ways do you think you can contribute to the development of this society via biomedical engineering?
I can contribute by developing and designing affordable healthcare solutions for people living in the rural areas. Especially in Nigeria, which is still a developing country. And also in knowledge sharing. I can contribute by establishing an organisation or society that aims to enlighten the people living in the rural areas.
Many of them don’t know how most of these things work, so I can contribute my quota by bridging the gap between the knowledgeable and those that are not knowledgeable. And with my knowledge and skills, I will be able to build local technologies that will improve the well-being of people living in the rural areas. Also, in areas of research, because for Biomedical Engineering, we do a lot of research. And currently in Nigeria, there is little or no research on various biomedical engineering fields.
What do you think can be done to improve the learning condition of Nigerian students in our universities?
I think the university curriculum has to be worked on. There are some courses that are completely outdated. They are not really necessary and they don’t align. There are some courses that are not relevant to different fields. But the school usually offer these courses. For example, in my second year, I did courses related to civil engineering and I have not seen anywhere I can apply this knowledge in biomedical engineering.
It is also important that you start offering courses that are relevant to your field as early as possible to build your interest in that field.
Also, provision of basic and important amenities to university students is important. For example, the laptop is a basic tool that all university students are supposed to have. We see students still struggling to get that.
Your project on mobility aid with collision prevention mechanism for people living with mobility disability was recognised by the Committee of Deans of Engineering and Technology of Nigeria Universities. How has that feat shaped your thinking?
The feat has shaped my thinking for the future in many positive ways because I think it is the first time I saw myself at a national level. It is something I wasn’t really expecting. When I went for the competition, I was able to network with older engineering students from different universities. I saw what people are actually doing.
There was one project that was also similar to ours. I was able to learn more from industry experts as they invited people from various sectors of the industry. We had people from different sectors. We had artisans and other people like that that came to give their inputs and judge our project.
That particular project was my final year undergraduate project that I presented at the competition.
Also, since the project was something done in relation to my research interest, my lecturer and I were looking for ways to improve on the project. We were looking to expand our horizons. We want to make it better.
I want to add artificial intelligence to it to make it better. As regards the project, almost every day I engaged in thinking on ways to make it better. I felt very good and happy because it is not just a mere award, but something huge and personal to me.
Who is your role model?
I don’t have one specific role model that I look up to exclusively. Instead, I find myself drawn to different qualities in various people I have encountered throughout my life and career.
My parents, particularly my father, played an interesting role in my academic journey. He strongly advised that I study medicine. While I respected his wishes, I knew my passion lay more in engineering and innovation. When I got to know about Biomedical Engineering, I saw it as a perfect bridge between his aspirations and my interest. Looking back, his persistence about healthcare actually guided me to discover biomedical engineering, though not in the way he initially intended.
How would you advise young students aiming to be first-class graduates like you?
Believe in your potential even when others doubt you. Don’t let societal stereotype or anything discourage you. Stick to your passion. Be determined and always reach out to mentors. Build a supportive network, and don’t apologise for being ambitious.
You should stay committed to continuous learning because the world is constantly evolving. Be open to new technologies and be passionate about expanding your knowledge.
It is very good to believe in yourself. Everyone has unique experiences and talents and they are valuable. Your potential is limitless. You have the power to shape the future.