Fourteen-year-old Oluyode Beatrice Boluwatife, also known as little angel, is an upcoming poet and also student of Cherubim and Seraphim College, Ilorin, Kwara state. She speaks on her upbringing, passion for Nigeria and what the future holds for her. BLUEPRINT reports
Are you a student of Yoruba studies or perhaps Yoruba is your best subject?
No, I only did Yoruba as a subject when I was in the junior secondary school. My best subject is Biology. I am a science student, in year three of the SSS grade. I actually want to be a surgeon.
I love my country, I am proud of Nigeria and want to start playing my own part as a child to make Nigeria great. I don’t want to be called citizen of any other country but Nigeria. God has blessed my country enough such that we are the Giant of Africa. I love speaking Yoruba as my mother tongue. Understanding Yoruba as a language helps me in my studies and I cherish it so much. I took after my mother, she is a typical traditional Yoruba mother. She taught me to prepare food like Amala, Eba, Iyan and other local food since my tender ages.
She made me develop the Omoluabi (a person of honour, courage, integrity and hard work) spirit. Every time she warns me, remember the daughter of whom you are, don’t spoil my family name, don’t allow your father’s family say bad things about me, your mother, you know when the child is good, she is her father’s daughter but when there is a flaw, she becomes her mother’s child.
These are things my mother told me as a child up till now as a teenager. She let me know that whatever I did right or wrong affects the name of our family, our tribe as Yoruba and the country at large. I feel terrified to do anything against the law as I want to be a proud ambassador of Nigeria and Yoruba tribe.
What part of Yoruba land are you from?
I am proudly Igbomina; and the name of my town is Aiyetoro-Ile in Ilorin East local government, Kwara State. According to our history, our ancestors came from Omuaran town, headquarters of Irepodun LGA in Kwara state to settle at Oke Oyi. The name of the town initially was formerly, Aya Hijowu Community, and it metamorphosed gradually over the years to Aiyetoro-Ile. We are called the “Olomu aperan omo oloro alagogo ide.” meaning we are descendants of Warrior, Aperan, the custodian of the Scepter made of golden bell or say Olomu conqueror, owner of prickly pear, owner of silver or golden bell.
My role models and views on the girl-child
My first role model is my mother. She so much believes in me, she is ready to sacrifice her all for me. Then my lovely father, I call him favorite person in the whole universe. He is a father indeed. They are not rich people but they give me what I want per time and as a grateful child, I must appreciate them in my life. After them, I listen to Tope Alabi songs, they are inspiring; she is my role model, I also see her Excellency, wife of Kwara state Governor as a worthy role model. Despite being married to a governor, she is also now a Professor aside being a working Ambassador. I was told she is a diplomat. It means she doesn’t have to wait for her rich husband to spend money. That is the kind of woman I want to be when I grow up. I love her so much, I hope to meet her someday, and she is a mother to emulate by every young girl who seeks a bright future.
We are in a country where the girl-child is seen as second fiddle. So, when you see a parent supports their girl-child to such a height, that she became first lady in the state, all hands must be up for such a parent. I know that I will make my parent proud someday, God helping me, I trust God will lead me as I follow Him till I become a great personality in life.
Do you make money from your poetic renditions?
I am sometimes given transport money when I go out to perform but my reason for doing all these is for my country to become great not because of money. I perform for leather makers association and some people in my school and other places. What I do proudly is to carry the name of Nigeria wherever I go.
You once said you wanted to be a surgeon. What happens to this work?
God will see me through. I love doing what I do, so when it’s time for my work as a Surgeon, I may be using my relaxation time to write scripts. I just cannot do without this.
What is your best subject in school?
Biology is my best subject though I do well in every other science subjects even the nonsciences. The Grace of God speaks for me.
If you will rate your performances in school, how would you rate yourself?
Well, I cannot rate myself but I am above average. I have a mother who teaches me what I learnt from school, so as a teacher’s daughter, you should expect that I must be far above average, else my mother’s profession will become questionable.
So your mother is a teacher?
Yes, she is a school proprietress. She was working for notable schools in Ilorin before settling down to establish her own school. She is trying her best in teaching me what I learnt from school and that gives me an edge over other children, who just get home and relax till next day, you know there is always that difference. A mother is her child’s first teacher in everything.
What is your vision for Nigeria?
By God’s grace, Nigeria will be great. I read in some books that Dubai in United Arab Emirate struck oil and suddenly became popular. The former leader, late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, began the development of Dubai and with good vision, he turned the fortunes of the small country.
It appears you read a lot…
I enjoy reading printed materials, books or on internet as long as it can benefit my thinking and my studies. My mother told me that readers are leaders so I read a lot. We all make history by what we are doing, so reading about popular nations like Dubai, Libya, South Africa and so on is normal for an aspiring young girl like me who wants to be leader in the next ten years. I am fourteen now, when I am twenty four, as a surgeon, my leadership capability must start to manifest.
I read about United States of America, I read about the founders of America and how they were colonised by Britain, so I became curious that since Britain colonised them like they did for Nigeria, why and how did America rise after freedom to become a world power? Why can’t Nigeria rise like that too? So, I see it as a duty of we future leaders, I am one of the future leaders, I have a role to play, we all have a role to play. Nigeria must be greater than those other nations.
At 14 and now in SSS3 class, what happens if the law says you must be 18 before you enter the university?
It’s actually a painful thing but all things work together for good of those who love God. God will occupy me with something good and there won’t be any years of waste in my life.
You will start to learn a trade?
I said God will occupy me, I don’t pre-empt God, only Him knows tomorrow from today. I am just a small girl, where He leads, I will follow.
Aside all that you do now, what extracurricular thing do you engage in?
Business? Where will a young girl like me have the capital to start a business? Anyway, I help my mother in all her activities. She does leather work aside being a school owner. The devil finds work for the idle hand; I am not idle at all. I work and pray everyday not to disappoint my mother in anyway and God will help me through.
