Kunle Adelabu
Asiwaju Kaoli Olatunji Olusanya is a fulfilled man in term of wealth, accomplishments and status and much more, but his drive to continue to learn is yet unfulfilled which explains why he surprised everybody last year when he went back to the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, to study for his Master’s programme in Educational Management and Planning.
Interestingly, he embarked on this renewed love for learning on full – time basis as he secured an accommodation in one of the LASU hostels when going from Ikorodu to Ojo every day became uneasy task.
Asiwaju Kaoli, the Asiwaju of Ibesheland, is an accomplished educationist, politician, community/opinion leader and an author.
Today, the Asipa of Ikorodu, former two – term Commissioner for Agriculture & Cooperatives, Lagos State, former Vice Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos East Senatorial District, former Lecturer, Lagos State Polytechnic, former Governorship and Senatorial aspirants and the Chief Learning Officer/Founder, Kith & Kin Educational Schools (KKES), is rounding off his programme.
While stating that he has interests in research, reading, learning and presentations of papers at conferences, seminars and workshops, Asiwaju Kaoli also emphasized the importance of learning which he described as life – long process which he enjoys doing.
In an exclusive interview with THE IMPACT, he revealed his intension to achieve his dream of pursuing his academics to the doctoral degree status, which he intends to start as soon as is Master’s programme is confirmed.
“While at the University of Ife, I love the serene environment. That was the University of Ife of 1972 to 1976 when I left. So, I love to be an academia and that was what attracted me to leaving my employment with the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture for Lagos State Polytechnic. I had wanted to read up to the PhD level. I want to be a researcher, just to read write and talk.
“That is what I actually envisioned for my life. But in the course of life, it has all changed. So, having gotten to this stage of my life, I just asked myself what I will be doing with my life and decided to go back to my first love which is to be a researcher, read, write, give seminar and workshop papers.
“So, I went to LASU to register for Masters in Educational Management and Planning on full time basis. When I submitted my certificate and other papers, they did not call me for any interview which is a prerequisite for those who want to be admitted. There is a standard at which matured candidates be admitted without going through that process”, he said.
Sharing his experiences as a student on LASU campus, the senior citizen said that despite his status which lecturers and students alike usually referenced in class, he found it easy adapting to the university environment because of his background as a school proprietor.
He said that he’s focus on improving himself and further develop critical ways of thinking and handling societal challenges.
“When I got to class, most of my classmates are below 30s and my lecturers too are young men, but I found it very easy to relate with everybody because of the life that I have cultivate with my students at Kith & Kin and my community.
“I flow with them easily. It is not a place where you flaunt who you are, it’s about education which is a continuous thing for those who enjoy it. It is a life – long learning and I enjoy it.
“Some lecturers even asked me why I returned to learn because they know me with the Lagos State Government, President Tinubu and they even said that they know that my daughter is a serving Commissioner.
“They actually said a whole lot of things, but I told them I didn’t come back to learn because of the certificate, rather, I just want to improve myself and learn. If you have any of the faculty of your body or organs which you don’t put into use or exercise, it will deplete and waste away.
“So, to that extent, I want to improve my thinking faculty and develop skills in analysis, problem solving, asking questions, investigation and examining issues, because, that is what we need in the society. We have to look at issues, critical – examining the impact of decisions, get feedbacks and re – evaluate. So, I love research and all that we do is research and by the time we finished, we will be professional researchers”, he said.
Further sharing his LASU experience and his intention to go back and learn, Asiwaju Kaoli said:
“It is systematic. It’s makes you to articulate and be rigorous and a person that is always thinking methodically in finding solutions to problems. So, I told them, I am just here to develop my skills. If I get my certificate today, where am I taking it to? (laughter). It is intentional motivation that put me there and also determined the type of efforts, diligence and engagement that I put in”.
