Rasheed Buhari's raced on Okada to citadel, earns a PhD, Mass Comm From Babcock University, Ileshan Remo

Congratulations, Dr. Buhari. Indeed your journey to this academic level would have been a bed of roses. 

Please, let's share from your experience from birth to citadel.

 My name is Buhari Olaoluwa Rasheed,I was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Rasheed Odutola in the late 70s. My father hails  from Odogbolu in Odogbolu Local Government and my mother is from Ibido/Senbora in Ijebu North East Local Government, Atan  all in Ogun State.

I attended St. Peters Anglican Primary School Oke-Aye, Ilugun Central Academy, Ibido/Senbora before I proceeded to Ogun state University for my diploma in Public Relations, Olabisi Onabanjo University for my degree in Mass Communication and University of Lagos for my Masters degree in Mass Communication. I later attended Babcock University for my Ph.D. degree in Mass Communication.  Although, all these journeys were not as easy as anybody may think but I am grateful to God that I made it. The journey can be described as grass to grace.

2. Are you married, who is the lucky woman and the secret of combining home management with schooling, especially with the demands from raising quality and progressive children under the harsh economic indices in Nigeria.

Yes, I am married to Mrs Omosimideleola Rasheed with lovely children. The secret is God Almighty who knew what I will become made it possible for me. You know when you have God, you have everything. What I will just say is that God made it possible.

3. How would you like to describe your family, your parents,  are they wealthy, for the notion has been that only children of the wealthy can attain your level at this time that governments in Nigeria have no sympathy for educational development of tomorrow's leaders.

Well, I thank God that I have a supporting, understandable wife who aligned with the   philosophies and aspirations of my life. I also have supportive parents that shared my vision. Therefore, in God my parents are wealthy but they don’t beg before they eat and train their children. My father is a retiree from Federal Ministry of works and my mother is just a petty trader. With my father’s seven thousand plus as monthly pension, he was able to sail me through the journey of my diploma, first and second degrees with the supports I received from my mother and siblings.

 4. How would you describe your stay at Babcock University?

 My stay in Babacock University was not an easy journey at all. You know it is a private school. You can only enjoy private school when you have money to pay your school fees. Nevertheless, Babcock opened my intellect to the world of academics. Babcock is a very good university that made me whom I am today. In all, God made it possible because I prayed to God that He should give me the grace to attend Babcock University when I was an Okada rider when I take passengers there for supply from Federal Government College, Odogbolu. So I can say attending Babcock University to earn a degree in a time like this is in God’s master’s plan for my life.

 5. Where are you from, paternally and maternally? 

Paternally, I am from Odogbolu as I said earlier and maternally, I am from Ibido/Senbora

What led you to Okada Business?

Then, I was helpless. No one was ready to help. Even when people see you as Okada rider and you tell them to assist you in going to school. The end results were always disappointments.  But I thank God, my parents and siblings for their encouragements and supports.

6. In your days as okada man, why did you not join those boys to commit felonies against people in your community?

Thank God that I passed through that journey of Okada business so that when I get up there I will understand the feelings of the people at the base of the ladder. The journey to okada business was not an interesting one to me at all but since I do not have a choice and other means to raise money for my university education.  Alternatively, I had to ride my father’s motorcycle in order to raise money for my studies.  Also, I cannot say that Okada riders are criminals but there are criminally minded people among them. However, some Okada riders are good people with good family background, kind-hearted and hardworking that their means of survival and livelihood depend on this business. So, I am fortunate to be in the midst of good ones that knew what they are doing and this helped me in the journey. Though, I still see some of them in the business whenever I go to my home town, Odogbolu.

7. What advice do you have for Nigerian politicians with regards to education and socioeconomic development?

Well, I will advise our politicians to do the needful in the areas of our education and socioeconomic development so that Nigeria can be a good place for us to live.

8. Finally, what next from here, to become a professor or a consultant/business man, for the pay packet in institutions in Nigeria is below what a Councillor with primary six certificates earns monthly? Thank you.

I want to leave that to God. He has been the compass that is directing all the affairs of my life.