First Class in Computer Science " My dream is to be a farmer!"

I want to be a farmer, says girl with First Class in Computer Science

Miss Faith Onyekachukwu Ojumah, the Overall Best Graduating Student, who finished with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.84, from McPherson University (McU) in Seriki-Sotayo, Ogun State became emotional after she stepped out to receive her prizes. Being the first born in the family of three, the 19-year-old had promised her mother she would make her proud whenever she completes her university degree.

The things that interest you seem to be in contrast with the course you studied in school. What other interests do you have?

I enjoy sewing and writing. Currently, I’m working on my first book, which is set to be released in May 2018. And then I love farming the love for farming.

What informed that?

Pear leaves influenced the interest. When I discovered that pear leaves could reduce high blood pressure, it got me thinking that the solution to health problem that had killed many people was right there in my compound. I found that interesting. I will like to be a crop farmer.

How do you plan to go about it?

I like to grow oil palm and avocado and I am currently working on a seven-year plan where the first three years will be used for acquiring knowledge and raising funds. If possible, I will have a laboratory, although; I am more interested in the processing stage. I plan to go for training in business management, data analysis and perform researches on the crops I am interested in growing.

Your dad is a poultry farmer; did that in any way influence your passion for farming?

It influenced my passion for farming greatly. My dad cannot do without having animals around him or having plants in his compound. While my brother developed a love for animals, plants caught my interest.

Some parents prefer their children to work in offices rather than to engage in vocations. How did your dad react when he heard about your interest?

My decision to become a farmer does not mean I plan to go to my backyard with a hoe and a cutlass. Rather, I am more concerned with what I can do to change the old system of farming in a way that food and unemployment will no longer be a problem in Nigeria as it is in most developed countries. So, my family fully supports me. Right now, agriculture holds the biggest opportunity that will transform Nigeria and take it out of poverty, starvation and unemployment. That is why I’m really interested in the sector.

With your love for agriculture, why did you still decide to study Computer Science?

I did not go for an agric-related course because I felt I would be taught the same thing they taught my father 30 years ago. I needed something different; a new way of doing an old thing (agriculture). With computer science cutting across all sectors, it was my best option.

How do you plan to deploy your knowledge of computer into the farming project?

There are various aspects of computer science that can be applied to agriculture, such as data mining. Another area is software development to develop a web system where farmers can network; queuing system in handling my workers, operation research in dealing with maximum profit and minimum cost, and so on. These applications will be deployed at the point of need, and that would be very helpful. Farming is an interest that I would not want to throw away. However, my certificate should give me an immediate placement since the aspect of farming I am interested in involves permanent crops that would take years to plan and execute.

Since it is a sector you believe in, what immediate changes do you advocate?

First, we need to change our orientation as Nigerians because agriculture has moved from hoes and cutlasses to a business discussed in conference rooms. It is big enough to accommodate millions of unemployed youths, not only in Nigeria, but in Africa. We have to package what we have and sell to the world. One of the issues we have is our high level of importation of frozen foods, dairy products, clothes and medicine, all of which frustrate local production. I believe Nigeria has what it takes to be an exporter of these items, but we like to import because it is easier than improving our raw materials. I also think we have a rich collection of research works done by students. We can make something of them. I suggest that soft copies of those reports should be sent to research institutions where their feasibility could be checked and the ones with high feasibility are harnessed while the rest are kept for future purposes. We also need to fund our research institutions and take their results seriously. There is also a need for what I call “boardroom farming” where data generated from farming activities are collected, analysed, and where problems and solutions are identified. It is also where decisions are taken and information is disseminated to farmers. We also need to develop our herbal medicines and present them in modern forms. We cannot be complaining that we are hungry while we have a large expanse of unused land. For example, the land from Lagos to Ibadan is much. Who knows, maybe a tree there holds the cure to cancer. Finally, we have to stop being selfish. For Nigeria to move forward, people need to shelve the idea of frustrating a system that does not favour them, even if it favours the nation. The face of agriculture cannot change in one day but we can start from today.

Looking at the way people look down on farmers, how does that make you feel?

It makes me sad. I believe agriculture should be taken as seriously as oil and gas because of the opportunities it holds for this nation. People need to change their orientation that farming is only about hoes and cutlasses. They should begin to see it as a business that would address poverty and unemployment. Being a first-class graduate, I intend to bring a new approach to agriculture that would even encourage other young people to venture into the sector.

What were the things you did differently to make it happen?

I did everything differently to the extent that people felt there was something weird about me. It is said that if you want to be the best, then you must do something different from the rest. I prayed more, read more, made the library my second hostel and disciplined myself in watching movies and playing computer games. Whenever I was too tired to stay awake, I would listen to motivational songs or talks. While others were sleeping, I was awake, browsing to know more because my notes were never adequate enough. I went the extra mile in doing my assignments and taking my tests and exams. I gave every course 100 per cent attention. Finally, I had mentors.

How would you have felt if you had not made a first-class honours degree?

I would have felt bad because I worked really hard. However, it would not have changed my goal in life.

What are your aspirations?

I want to be the highest employer of labour in the world.

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