"Don't just learn and acquire knowledge but master execution" - Samuel Osho

This week, Tell! Interviews Samuel Osho, a writer, public speaker, alumnus of mechanical engineering at the University of Ibadan and winner of the Greatest Campus Writer category in the 2018 Tell! Awards.

Can we meet you?

Hello, I am Samuel Osho. I am a writer, a public speaker, and a professional mechanical engineer. I believe in the power of words and its ability to stir change. I love solving problems creatively and doing things differently.

What was growing up like for you?

The building bricks of my formative years were baked in the bubbling ambience of one of Africa's ancient cities, Ibadan. On the corners and streets of Ibadan, I hear the echoes of my adolescent years - the escapades, the thrills, and the adventures. Ninety percent of my first 21 years in life were spent in Ibadan, I am familiar with the city and proud of its rich cultural roots.

I was raised by loving parents who believed firmly in the tenets of quality education while developing a child's ability to embrace independence in life. I had my fair share of cane strokes from my strict Dad and caring Mom - it was a way of instilling discipline and distilling exuberance. Of course, it all paid off. My parents are not as rich as Dangote, but they could afford to send me to a private primary school, a public secondary school, and a federal university. They gave me the best of everything, and I am proud to be one of their lofty investments.

My sojourn in primary and secondary schools had its twists and turns. I was usually the youngest in my class, and that made me a prime victim of bullies - I have got tonnes of tales, but I submit that it's a part of the many adventures you must face in your teenage years. I was that young chap in the corner of the class that rarely talks but was filled with curiosity to find answers to many questions.

Simply put, I just wanted to know how things work. My drive to succeed and exceed expectations was palpable. Along the line of satiating my curiosity, I fell in love with Sciences. I found paradise amid calculations and comfort in the arms of formulas. It was soothing to watch the pendulum of Physics and lovely to admire the composition of Chemistry. Choosing to study Mechanical engineering at the University of Ibadan was quite comfortable.

Active participation in campus journalism was one of the best decisions I made as an undergraduate in Nigeria's premier university, University of Ibadan. While learning the principles of mechanical engineering, I found my voice as a writer. Beyond the euphoria of getting my first degree, I was keen on becoming a total person and intentional about personal development. On this tumultuous terrain, I have built an arsenal of communication and leadership skills needed to thrive in today's competitive clime.

How come you are so smart, and yet so creative?

{Laughs}. I feel flattered by these words. You can be regarded as smart when you find an amusing way of getting into the heads of others and feeding on their views and thoughts without judging them. The simple way to do this is by reading widely. I love reading voraciously, and this has afforded me the opportunity to travel to numerous countries without getting a visa and engage in productive chats with the minds of highly intelligent people.

And to the creative side of me, I have learnt to dream like a child, and it's magical. I am not in search of pioneering something entirely new or reinvent the wheel - I just consciously add bits of uniqueness here and there. That's how to build a masterpiece and stay on the edge of innovation. I love to do things differently and unconventionally. I have learnt that being yourself is a unique gift that you can give to your world. I am not ashamed of being vulnerable when stepping out of my shell with a creative idea.

Can you tell us 7 things most people don't know about you?

This is interesting. I had a fail (D7) in English Language in my WAEC exams in 2007. I love soccer and I am a big fan of Arsenal FC. I enjoy playing computer games as a form of relaxation. An essential part of my day is when I get to take long walks and feed my eyes with the fascinating wonders of nature plus doing a weird thing - I talk to myself. I actively avoid overnight reading before exams because it usually leaves my brain cluttered and stripped of its ability to think creatively. While in UI, I was always too tired to stay awake in most of my early morning or late evening classes because of my extracurricular commitments. I sleep a lot in classes but quietly without the snores. {Laughs}

How has living in Canada been like for you?

It's been a lovely experience so far. I relish the rich cultural diversity and admire the rare strands of inclusion that binds the country together in unity and peace.

It's about 12,000 km away from Nigeria and it's an opportunity to bask in the blessedness of completely different weather compared to where I was raised. Oh! Yeah, the weather here is extreme - it's a freezing Winter and a scorching Summer. The cold bites deep into your skin and the heaps of snow decorate everywhere in celestial splendor.

Though I have had a loathsome taste of frostbites, snowstorms and freezing rain, it's been fun living here. I am done with school and working as an engineer has been a unique learning experience.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

I am not a fan of complex equations, so I will keep it simple - serial entrepreneur, consultant and public commentator on controversial international issues.

Thank you for your time. Any final remarks/inspirational quotes for the youths who look up to you?

In this journey of becoming, make sure you go with lots of patience because greatness is furnished in the crucible of experiences. As you give yourself to voracious learning, you will realize that you know so little. In fact, the vastness of what you don't know can sometimes be intimidating, but I advise you to be strong and not succumb to your fears and doubts.

What if I tell you that what you know is enough to live an outstanding life. This is the sauce - don't just learn and acquire knowledge but master execution. If you want to fly, knowing new things should be enough, but if you're going to soar, you must learn to get things done. Ruthless execution is the new currency of high achievers.

Thank you, Tell!.

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