Greetings to all the great, articulate and very much amiable Steemians all over the world.
I want to use this medium to do a kind of introduction of myself here.
My names are Moses Olanrewaju Daniel. I hail from Ode-Irele town in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. This establishes the fact that I am an Ikale man and from the Yoruba tribe.
Hence, I speak, read and write the Yoruba Language very fluently, and especially my dialect. Although, I also read, write and speak the English Language too being the Lingua Franca in West Africa, and Nigeria in particular.
Meanwhile, every typical Yoruba person is fond of their cultural heritage, the Yorubas are a very socio-religiously conscious and tolerant people in the world! This fact explains why I am a Christian and also a culture-conscious and tradition-driven Yorubaman.
However, as a Christian, I only personally uphold the aspects of the Yoruba culture and traditions that are pure and in tandem with humanrights and humanitarian empathy. I consciously jettison any aspect of the Yoruba culture and traditions that are fetish and inhuman.
My education all-through from the primary school to the university was in the Sunshine State, that is, Ondo State, Nigeria. My alma mater was St. Patrick's Primary School, Akure where I obtained my Leaving School Certificate in 1992 and proceeded to St. Francis High School, Akure where I again obtained my West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) in 1998. Then, in the year 2001, I secured an admission in the Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo (now Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo) where I studied Mechanical Engineering Technology and graduated in 2004 with Ordinary National Diploma (OND), Upper Credit.
Thence, I was recruited into the Nigerian Navy and during my years of service, I was able to study further and obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) at Upper Credit level in the year 2009 from the same Polytechnic. I further, obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure and graduated again with Upper Credit. My aim is to become a professor of engineering specializing in alternative energy and mechatronics.
Talking about my immediate nuclear family, I was born into a home of nine in which I stand in the middle of seven children vis-a-vis three elder brothers and three younger sisters. Precisely, I am in the 4th position amongst the children. We are all talented like our parents, although, both of them are late now, unfortunately. Saddening, though.
My story would be highly deficient if I fail to spot out the causes and consequences of my parents' death which will always continue to sadden my heart. My dad died 12years ago while my Mum passed on 9years after her husband's death. Between the two deaths, I lost my dearest immediate elder brother to a nagging sickness which lasted for 19years!!
My late father was a very gallant soldier who also fought the Nigerian Civil War from 6 Jul 1967 to 15 Jan 1970 as a member of the Federal Troops. He was also very loving and caring both to his pretty wife (my late Mum) and his dear children. Dad retired from the Nigerian Army on medical ground after serving for 9years plus. Unfortunately, he was not pensionable in the Army, reasons withheld. But then, he was reemployed at the Ondo State Radio Vision Corporation (OSRC) where he was able to secure pensions and a gratuity. He also worked for a school as a Security Officer before he passed on at the age of 67.
My Dearly beloved Mum, Christiana Awundu Ukaegbu, was a highly supportive wife and mother throughout her life time. She was a petty-trader. She was very faithful, caring, loyal, and hardworking, a mother of seven children consisting of four brilliant boys (including me, and my late brother) and three gorgeous girls. Mum hailed from Ojiama Village, Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. She was married to my Dad just as the Civil War ended and Dad was to return home to Ondo State. Mum was a very pretty and fair, good-looking and charming young lady then, (I saw the pictures of the story as Daddy explained them to us). May their souls rest in peace. Adieu Dad & Mum!
Now, the remote cause of their deaths is poverty of basic necessities fueled by national socioeconomic and political problems, and family discord iteratively caused by insufficiency of money plus wrong neighbourhood. The saying that when the desired is not available, the available becomes the desired was very applicable considering the scenario of my family at that time.
But, I thank God today. I am a success. Although, I was unfortunately raised in a very unenabling environment in all ramifications, I was able to realize earlier in life that the future would be disastrous if I fail to quickly accept the current realities and decisively push against all odds for my destiny's sake. I was lucky! I discovered myself very early. Hmmm! The saying was true: "self-discovery is the father of all discoveries and mother of all inventions". I discovered my natural abilities and talents, and responded to them as a matter of responsibility.
I am a born-teacher, scientist, artist, and philosopher. People call me a prolific writer. As a naturally gifted teacher, I have a very strong ability for learning either through self-help approach or under a teaching tutor. And I am a very effective teacher, tutor and mentor who can smoothly and effectively transfer knowledge and skills to his students and mentees. I am a voracious reader and a meticulous teacher/tutor. I am a very deeply thoughtful and analytical person. Maybe, all these traits of mine are suggestive of a very rear but powerful temperament blend which I can simply describe as Melancholy + Phlegmatic + Sanguine in the ratio 70:20:10 respectively.
I have used those natural talents of mine to push against the odds for a fulfilling future and satisfying destiny by securing some cognate employment to source for money to augment the insufficient resources in the home. I worked as a Nursery/Primary School teacher in three different schools within the city of Akure in Ondo State, Nigeria. I was a very successful and impactful classroom teacher, though without any conventional certificate of education certifying me as such. Yet, talent and results have certified me! And, I enjoyed what I was doing.
My talents were highly demanded but the wherewithal to exploit the talents was highly unavailable. Human factors assistance was also scarce coupled with unfavourable governance and unfounded family foundation. Hence, the talents were misguided and circumstantially abused leading to wastages and demoralizations.
My overwhelming brilliant talent was evidential to the fact that I should be a kind of a genius. During the earlier years in my secondary school, in JSS1, I developed a very excellent skill in paper mache crafts, French reading, music notation sightreading, and drawing faces with pencil shading skills. I also sing and composed musics. I can't forget that I single-handedly wrote the full script for a stage drama titled "Bone of Contention" in the year 1999 and I also directed the acting which worn awards. I particularly have innate abilities for arts and science. In JSS2, I used pieces of asbestos material with empty tin of milk to build an electric water heater. In JSS3, I was the best student in Introductory Technology.
In SS1, I used the converging lens to draw solar heat to burn a piece of green leaf. In SS2, I single-handedly attempted to locally produce hydrochloric acid for batteries but it was not successful due to inappropriate apparatus. I have long been desirous to specialise in energy systems and alternative energy sources. I also succeeded in developing a formula that combines the first and second Faraday's laws of electrolysis in order to deal with the elementary calculations in electrochemistry. Generally, I enjoy playing around formulas and investigating the relationships between variables, it's my hobby.
I was the best student in Technical Drawing in my secondary school days. Even I myself used to be very impressed with my drawings whenever I imagine the perfections therein as if it was printed by a modern machine. The trend continued about my academic drive and intellectual performances when I got to the polytechnic. I remember I faced the challenge of constructing irregular odd angles such as 11°, 23.8°, 57°, etc. I decided to develop a method for constructing all angles which the protractor cannot even obtain. I mathematically combined the fundamental rules of geometry and trigonometry in relationship with the compass, divider and a ruler, and finally I could construct all kinds of angles no matter what. So much more can be said about my academic uniqueness. But, I will hold on here.
My hobbies are reading, creative writing, mathematical thinking, mathematical modelling, analysing, mentoring, teaching, and spiritual meditations. I remember my childhood days when I was yet in primary school. I used to draw cartoons, and I was much delighted in anything artistic, colourful and every product of creativity.
All in all, to God be all the glory. I am still alive, hale and hearty, full of vigour and youthful energy, and packed with brilliant ideas to move the world forward, and Nigeria in particular. I believe I shall be great. I believe I shall be heard. I believe I shall fulfill the purpose of my destiny. I believe I shall overcome poverty and make indelible impact in life and finally leave my foot prints on the sand of history. Amen.
Thank you all for reading my story. I love you all.