I WANT TO BE ADDRESSED AS AN 'ENGINEER'

‘his reason was I was studying a male course’

Earlier this year, February 2017 to be specific I was presented with the shock of my life that I will no longer be financed in my educational journey i.e if I wish to continue schooling I will have to go through all the expenses myself.

I have gone through some level of education up to the tertiary level where my highest qualification is a National Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Growing up was not funny because my dad expected me to do whatever he wants not minding my own point of view or how I will be affected by it. When I finally got to the stage of going into the higher institution, I was expected to go into the medical line either being a nurse or a laboratory attendant or any other feminine looking course in the medical line. I wrote series of exams in order to obtain admission into the medical line and couldn’t scale through any, at that point I realised that God has being watching for a very long time, at that point I realised that God knew that that I had physics and maths flowing in my veins, He also knew that going into the medical line will not make my success story a very interesting one, He also knew that going into the medical line was not what is best for me and finally He knew that I things I will love to be included in my achievements in the future is to be addressed as an ENGINEER so I decided to allow God do what he knows how to do best.

September 2014 I was finally offered admission into a Federal Polytechnic to study Science Laboratory Technology (SLT), I was glad because I got the admission at least I was going to leave home but I was so sure I was not going to find things easy while in the medical line, I resumed lectures and stated my registration it was no up to two weeks and I was already having issues with my biology related courses, on the other hand a news went round that the department was filled up and that those who were not done with their registration should either leave the school or change their course of study. I was part of those still struggling with the registration process so the only option I had was to change course, with all the joy I had in my heart I quickly applied for a change of course and within a month I was transferred to the department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology ,concluded my registration and resumed lectures. My Dad did not support the idea, his reason was that it was a MALE course, that I will not be able to do the things that were involved in the course but my mind was already made up and I was ready to face whatever Electrical Engineering has to offer so he allowed me to stay in school with the condition of graduating with a good result. I came out the second best female in the department out of 7 female students and over 180 male students, I was fulfilled, I conquered but still could not convince my Dad to see the greater part of me studying Engineering.

Now, I have to go back to school to continue what I have started, to finally attain that tittle ‘ENGR’ in front of my name and it looks like my dreams is about to be cut short, it feels like the light is gradually going dim and no one seems to notice but in the other hand my heart is ready to face the challenge the world is presenting to me, I know in a few years from now my story on how I finally attained ‘ENGR’ I front of my name will be a source of encouragement to young girls who were born with the blood of STEM running through their veins never to hesitate to take the bull by its horn and go for what they really want instead of going through some normal life routine.