Jumoke Olatunji is a 19-year-old trapped in the body of an eight-year-old child. But the 100-level student of Linguistics and Languages at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), does not allow her small size to constitute any hindrance to her. In her words, her stature does not make her less of a human being or different from any normal girl.
In this interview with Saturday Sun, the undergraduate who is the first of her parents’ three children spoke about life, her ambition, challenges and other issues.
Tell us about your growing up days
I was born and brought up in Ibadan, Oyo State, but I am from Igbara Odo in Ekiti State. My father is a fashion designer, and my mother is a teacher. They live in Ibadan. I have two younger sisters.
Have you ever been curious about your stature?
Well, yes. But all I can say is that God wants me to be like this. My siblings are far taller than me. My parents are tall. They said nothing was responsible, that it is just my stature. They said nobody has such stature in their families.
How do you feel when you are in the midst of your peers?
I feel like other people feel. I don’t think I am different from them. Some people who don’t know me before might ask about my sister or my mother, but after they have known me, they wouldn’t do it again.
Sometimes, when I am on a public bus, some people will be asking, who is with this child? But I don’t get bothered about such. I would just laugh.
How was your first day in class?
On my first day, l asked for the class governor and went to him to add me to the class group for any updates. That day, I didn’t know that some people took my pictures. It was when I got familiar with everybody that they told me that some people took my pictures and posted them on the school’s group.
Did you have any negative experience in secondary school?
I will say it was not difficult because the primary school I attended also had a secondary school arm. But whenever our school admitted new students, they would ask the other classmates if I was a part of the class. But they would soon know I was one of them.
Why did you opt for Linguistics and Languages?
I chose Theatre Arts but had to change to Linguistics and Languages when I didn’t make the cut-off mark..
Why Theatre Arts?
I can do anything that concerns the stage. I can act. I can do anything.
What do you hope to become in future?
With Linguistics and Languages I can work in a hospital, in a law firm or even be an actress. I love watching Nigerian English movies.
At 19, have you been getting advances from the opposite sex?
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No. I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t even think about that. I don’t think about it
Recently, you got a scholarship that will take care of your university education. How did it happen?
I wasn’t expecting it. After a student of the institution interviewed me, he posted the video and It went viral. Some days later, a call came and my mum said I should pick it. I even thought the caller was calling a wrong number. But the person introduced himself as Barrister Yemi Ayeni. He told me he wished to give me a scholarship because he was going to be given an award by FUOYE at its 9th Convocation Ceremony and he would also like to give me a scholarship award. My mum was like, does this man mean what he is saying? I checked via Truecaller, and his name appeared as Barrister Yemi Ayeni. My mum started rolling on the floor, saying God I thank you because things were not easy when I got admission into FUOYE. My mum and dad had to take loans. My mum called my dad. He said, haa, God I thank you.
The convocation ceremony lasted a week. The Barrister called on a Tuesday, so we got to Oye-Ekiti the following day which was a Wednesday around 7:00pm. My mum even borrowed the money for our transportation. When we got to Oye-Ekiti, we called him and he said he was also in Oye-Ekiti. He said we should come to the new hall on the campus of FUOYE. That was it. And the university also said they would be responsible for my feeding, accommodation and other things. I was so happy. I met with the Vice Chancellor the day Barrister Ayeni gave me the scholarship.
How do you feel about all this?
I feel happy about the scholarship. I also love the fact that I was able to meet with the VC because one of my neighbours used to say I cannot get to the office of the VC, that the security officers would send me back. I was happy that I didn’t even go to his office, but I saw him freely. When I got home, my neighbour said I had become a celebrity.
Whenever you see these popular Nollywood actors, Aki and Pawpaw, what comes to your mind?
I always tell myself that as long as they can do it, I can also do it. As long as they can become successful, I can also be successful. Nothing should stand as a hindrance to me becoming a great person in life.
What advice do you have for the youth?
They should continue to strive, work hard and be focused. It is not by words of mouth alone. I wrote JAMB first time, second time and third time. I didn’t relent; they too should not relent. My parents did not have the money to sponsor me. So, even if they don’t have parents or anybody to sponsor them, they should still try. I have many people who didn’t have people to sponsor them and they sponsored themselves. I have people who are sponsoring themselves in my department now. We have so many people that are great in life who didn’t have anybody to sponsor them. So they should not give up. I hope to bag a First Class from FUOYE, and I am working towards achieving that.
What are your likes and dislikes?
I like when a person is straightforward and serious. I don’t like it when people cheat or when they lie or are cunning because I don’t do these things. So, whatever I don’t like, I don’t do it to people and I don’t want people to do it to me. If I keep you as my friend and I see that you are not straightforward I will distance myself from that kind of person
How do you spend your free time?
If I don’t feel like talking or interacting with people, I just stay in my bed and listen to music or sing or watch movies.
My roommate is Joy, a 100 level student of Biochemistry She is my friend. She is a very serious student. She reads all the time. When I feel I have studied enough and I see that she is still reading, I will also continue to read.
She is a good girl. Straightforward. If you offend her, she will tell you, I don’t like what you did the other time. If you say or do what she doesn’t like, she won’t react immediately. She does not keep malice. She is truthful, honest and she likes to read. She is a bookworm.
When children who are younger than you talk to you with disrespect, how do you handle such situations?
I don’t talk to them. I don’t do as if I heard them. And if I see that their parents are with them, I tell them to talk to their children.
Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the Vice Chancellor, the Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, the university management. I also want to thank Barrister Yemi Ayeni. He is such a wonderful man, I thank him for the scholarship. I also thank the university for taking responsibility for my feeding, accommodation and other things throughout my study. I also want to thank my parents; they are loving and wonderful. I thank my Head of Department (HoD), Dr Oladimeji Olaide. I than .the Personal Assistant to the VC on Student Affairs, I thank the student that made me go viral, Oluwatomiwa Timothy. I thank my roommate and also my friends in my class.
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