Published 30th Jun, 2023

By Opeyemi Lawal

Ahmed Adebowale, a final-year student at the University of Ilorin, is taking the part of patience, honesty and hard work, unbothered by the get-rich-quick thinking popular among young Nigerians today. This was clear last December, when he returned N500,000 erroneously sent to his account by one Oladejo David Damola.

Born in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, on February 21, 1997, Adebowale is a student of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, where he studies mathematics education. His parents, Wahab and Fausat Adebowale, are Muslims, and they raised Adebowale

and his siblings with beliefs firmly rooted in the Islamic faith. They could provide for their family through the father’s carpentry business and the mother’s trading business. Though not rich, Adebowale’s parents taught contentment to their children.

“My parents instilled integrity in me,” Adebowale

told FIJ. “They taught me to uphold its tenets, and those teachings instilled in me currently help me through life.”

“Another thing that helped me is that I have both parents present in my life. They were very disciplined, and it paid off.”

The 26-year-old said one of the things that shaped his life was seeing how much his parents sacrificed to see him educated. He said this prompted the decision to live as a worthy ambassador of the values instilled in him.

“I saw my parents do so much to give me sound education, and this formed the firm decision to be a good representative of their name wherever I go,” said Adebowale. “I am a product of collaboration. I was raised in a nuclear family; both parents were actively involved in my life. They did all they could to give me the most quality education ever.

“Being successful is my topmost life ambition, while being honest and having a quality of integrity are rudiments to achieving success. I have always believed in delayed gratification.”

EDUCATION FOR THE MARGINALISED

Adebowale runs a nonprofit giving education access to marginalised communities. His nonprofit organisation, Literacy Assured Initiative (LIA), was founded on February 1, 2023, to promote and improve access to quality education and all-round literacy in marginalised communities.

On May 27, LIA gave foundational literacy access to over 500 children with little or no access to formal education in Ile-Apa community, Kwara State. The NGO also served as an agent of voter education ahead of the 2023 general elections in rural communities in Kwara State, motivating the older population to take active civic responsibilities.

Despite the demands of study, Adebowale is a serial volunteer who actively contributes to societal causes.

“I am a serial volunteer. I have been since my early days in the university. I am so deep-rooted and passionate about what I am doing. So, I find it seamless to switch between both endeavors,” he told FIJ.

MODELS

Adebowale is inspired to become a person of value by the lifestyles of Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, Nigeria’s immediate past vice president, and Mr. Olasupo Abideen, his mentor. He said both men changed his life in remarkable ways and their contributions to the society shaped his being.

“Although I admire Prof. Osibanjo from afar and learn from his exemplary leadership, I have worked closely with Abideen. His guiding light and support changed my life forever,” he said.

“My growth, personality and development have evolved since I met him.”

THE JOURNEY AHEAD

Ahmed Adebowale hopes to continue to represent Nigerian marginalised communities, especially at the global level. He also hopes to challenge the negative image of Nigerian youth at the global stage.

“I want to continue to be a good ambassador of Nigeria and change the narrative about greed and dishonesty. I want to have access to international platforms where my voice can be amplified,” he said.

“I just want to fight my way through and be a good person. My university education resulted from my resilience. My father was initially pissed at me for wanting to be a graduate, but the journey has been worth it.”

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