Mentor of the week

By John Herald

The ASSESA press mentor of the week is Bodunde Ebenezer Olayemi (p.k.a Speaking Eben). He’s a public speaker, a student politician and a one time president of the faculty of science before his resignation. In this intervie, he talks about his studentship, his brand name and public speaking career, how he became a student politician until his resignation.

ASSESA PRESS: Can we meet you ?

SPEAKING EBEN:Okay, thank you. My name is Bodunde Ebenezer Olayemi popularly known as SpeakingEben.

I am a 400L student of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan.

ASSESA PRESS: Tell us the story behind the name speaking Eben

SPEAKING EBEN: Ohhh😌The name “SpeakingEben” originated from within. I’ve been a debater since my Secondary school days and when I got to University of Ibadan, I had to pause since READING was the order of the day for any fresher. It got to a point in 2019, I was in 200L then, I suddenly felt this zeal and passion to start public speaking again and this led me to joining my Hall, Department and Faculty literary and debating society and by the Grace of God, I’ve done well in that area with many awards.

This name came into play one day when I was thinking of a brand name I could give myself. I once named myself “Fingers of David” because I play the piano but at that point, I know I needed a name in the public speaking sphere. The first name that came to my mind was “EbenSpeaks” and with joy in my heart, I went online to look up the name and to my surprise, I saw an American motivational speaker bear that name. I kept thinking and thinking again and then BOOM!!!!!, the name “SpeakingEben” came from within. It sounded so cool and beautiful to me that I knew that was it. I looked it up online and discovered that it’s a Divine name for just ME.😌

ASSESA PRESS:How have you been able to cope with academics and speaking? Speech requires lot of time to prepare and all?

SPEAKING EBEN:Hmmmm. That’s a big question!!

Well, I must say it has not been easy and the truth is, you can only make this work if you set a scale of preference. There was a time I was opportuned to represent University of Ibadan in a debate competition and I had to go to Lagos for a week. I had to give my note to a friend to write it for me for that one week. There were periods I didn’t do my tests well because I had to prepare for Jaw war speeches. Things like that will come up, YES and that is why you have to do the extra. When I have few days to tests or exams, I devote myself to voracious reading because that’s the only way I cover up. At times like that, MTN and TDB together on a go looks normal to me and I do it…

As much as I love public speaking, Our Academics is our priority and we must try every best to get the best out of it.

ASSESA PRESS:At what point did politics come into Picture?

SPEAKING EBEN:Well, Politics has always been in the picture from day 1 but I only had one ambition, being the Faculty of Science PRESIDENT and that’s why I didn’t contest for any political post from 100L to 300L

ASSESA PRESS:Tell us more ,what have you been doing all this while before you finally contested?

SPEAKING EBEN:I’ve been doing what I do most. Speaking and building interpersonal relationship with people.

ASSESA PRESS:Recently, theres news that you resigned as the Faculty of Sciences president, can you tell us what really happened?

SPEAKING EBEN:Hmmm. It’s a whole lot and I wouldn’t like to talk much about it but I will say; Resigning was the best thing to do at that point.

SPEAKING EBEN:Can you just give like a snippet of the whole saga?

Well, at the time of the election, I was not a financial member of the institution and I wasn’t supposed to contest. Some documents were required to be submitted and I didn’t submit complete documents. To me, resignation is more honourable then disqualification and that is why I resigned.

ASSESA PRESS:What’s the next step?

SPEAKING EBEN:Next step????

Help the Faculty in the best way I can. Try to fulfil some of my plans that can be fulfilled with or without holding a position. Work on self development and keep the name going “SpeakingEben”

ASSESA PRESS:Yea

I personally know Speaking Eben before now. You organised a training one time like that last year

SPEAKING EBEN: Yes. It’s a global name.

Oh yes. Beyond Academics 1.0. Those that attended know it was super wonderful and some of them have not recovered from the experience.

We will be having Beyond Academics 2.0 this year, stay anticipating!

ASSESA PRESS: What advice do you have for UI students in general?

SPEAKING EBEN: Well, I will start by saying, “According to Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, 60% of graduates don’t use their certificates every year”. This is to say that 60 out of every 100 students don’t use their certificates.

While it is paramount and very important to read in 100L and have a good grade, it is also important we see Academics as a 50% chance for us.

 What sense does it make to put all our 100 on academics and then after our service to the country, we come back to look for job and when there’s no job, we learn a skill???

Why not pick up a skill or work on an already existing skill, passion or potential and take it along your school journey. I mean, have an alternative for academics such that if the certificate does not yield at the end, you can easily fall back on your alternative…

It is only unwise that you put your 100 on Academics, go for service, find job and after not seeing any, start fashion designing, use your NYSC allowance to pay for training, learn for two years before you start getting money…

It is wiser if you pick up the Fashion Design from your school days and if there’s no job after service year, you use your Allowee to get a good machine and you start getting money…

I hope the wise understood my illustration

ASSESA PRESS: Thank you for your time.