A microbiologist and post-doctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia, Canada, Dr Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi, talks to FATTEH HAMID about how making tough decisions moulded him
What is your academic background?
I’m Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi, I’m from Ekiti State, specifically Efon Alaye. I have over 16 years of experience across four continents as a microbiologist. For my first degree, I attended the University of Ado Ekiti, which is now Ekiti State University. For my master’s degree, I studied Microbiology in South Korea which I completed in three years. After my master’s degree, I proceeded to Germany where I earned a PhD at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. I completed the programme in three years and two months then I moved to Canada as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia in 2020. I’m the founder of Scholarships Cafe, a platform that connects prospective scholars to scholarships and global opportunities. Scholarships Cafe has users from over 200 countries to access scholarships and global opportunities at no cost. We have been able to contribute to the success of so many people in Germany, Italy, South Korea, China, Canada, the United States, and a host of other countries.
Is travelling around the world something you have always wanted while growing up?
Well, when I was growing up as a boy on the street of Bashiri in Ado Ekiti, where I was born, I had scary dreams of travelling across the globe. So, I already had the dream that I was going to travel to the United States and maybe some other countries and continents and eventually become a professor. So far, I think I’m still on the right path.
What drives you to keep pushing yourself forward as a Nigerian?
Striving to become a better person every day and never settling for less has always been my drive. I never wanted to blame myself for anything. I wanted to be a better person than I used to be. I have my goals and aspirations and the task to be a better person has always pushed me forward.
You shared on X (formerly Twitter) that you took the O’level examinations 10 times. Can you recount that experience?
From 2002 to 2005, it was a remarkable experience for me having to take the O’level examinations 10 times. I recall travelling to Maiduguri (in Borno State) then because my dad was a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri. I think I took two of the O’level exams there. I think that was from the National Examination Council and the West African Examination Council General Certificate Examination. The first time I made a post and it went viral, a lot of people said it wasn’t possible but imagine 2002 to 2005, that’s three years and imagine having to take at least four exams in a year. It was an experience for me and sometimes, I feel bad to see my mates having admission into universities and polytechnics and I didn’t. But again, I had a family that believed in me, especially my mum, dad, and siblings. They really trusted the fact that I could do it and that I was going to make it.
How did that experience reshape you, your thought process, and how you saw life at that time?
It was an experience for me that made me independent. I recall having to study hard and create my notes which I didn’t do when I was in high school. So, it made me hone my story and believe in myself. I remember a book that I used to read at the time; it stated that success is never-ending and failure is never final. So, the focus was on the end goal and the belief in myself that once I truly trust in my ability, trust in God, and put in the work, I could achieve anything.
Did being the son of a professor put you under pressure to excel?
I came from a home where my dad is a retired professor and my mum is a retired principal. So, there were standards set for me even before I was born, so I had a standard that I could not settle for less and this has always pushed me to become a better person. Failure will always come. I recall that during my undergraduate days, I failed a four-unit course and that singular experience made me so uncomfortable and angry that every time I took exams back then, it was with anger; that kind of helped me because that failure motivated me to put in more hours and more work so that I would not settle for less than an A. So, I would say that I have a standard from my home and my quest not to fail shaped me and my career.
How did you feel when you learnt that you had been offered admission to a university after resitting O’level examinations several times?
The day I was given admission, I can’t forget that day because it was a new dawn for me, especially since I was going to the university to study the course I desired. I went through one year of the pre-degree programme and I was happy. Even when I was taking the pre-degree programme, I was partially in and out because I was waiting for my O’level result to be released and when they came out, I was finally happy and fulfilled that I was going to the university to fulfil my dreams. That began the journey in Microbiology for me and I’m still one to date.
You also said that you left Nigeria with N16,000, abandoning your master’s degree programme because of a scholarship abroad. Was that a tough decision for you at that time, especially when you were unsure of what you would face abroad?
Well, I can imagine what N16,000 is in Nigeria’s economy today, especially looking at the exchange rate. However, at the time, that amount of money was $100 back in 2013 because a dollar traded for N160. I made the decision at the time because the Korean government scholarship came fully funded. No one would ever want to leave Nigeria with N16,000 if the flight wasn’t taken care of. It was one of the toughest decisions of my life because my family was divided on it. My mum wanted me to complete my master’s degree and my dad said he would love me to go abroad, and I also had my siblings divided. On the tough side of it, I had to completely leave everyone out of my decision and I told them that I wasn’t going again but inside me, I knew that I was going to go. I had to make the hard decision, some of my friends had to contribute money to sort bills and all of that and I was left with N16,000.
Did you have any idea of what to expect there?
There was so much uncertainty about going to South Korea; it was a country I had never visited before but I was sure that it was going to be a life-changing opportunity especially because my flight (cost) was covered, my stipend was covered and my return ticket was covered if I ever wanted to come back to Nigeria, and my research and settlement allowances were covered. I remember that they (the organisers) picked us (beneficiaries) up at the airport. I had read a lot about the country because I had a Chinese scholarship then and I had to choose between the two. I had already seen and envisaged how the experience would be in South Korea, especially because it was one of the leading countries in technology in the world and its educational system is sophisticated. So, I knew that the experience might be challenging but would be worth it at the end of the day. So, it was a life-changing opportunity and I’m grateful I made that decision.
How did your family members find out you travelled and what was their reaction?
They found out when I got to Dubai because I uploaded a picture. It was a mixed feeling but at the end of the day, they came around to support me.
Did you struggle to adapt to the culture and traditions of the Koreans?
The struggle to adapt to the culture was very difficult at first, especially with the language. I would say that I was part of the few in the class who didn’t understand the language because we were all taught in Korean for a year but again, I went back to my strategy of trying to study on my own, forming my notes, which helped me a lot. Also, I had a great challenge with the food; I eat rice three times daily so I had to find a way to mix it with carrots, apples, and a whole lot of other things to spice things up. So, it was completely different. You don’t get to see African food at all; one had to travel for about two hours to get one. So, the language was very difficult at first but I was able to overcome that over time. The food also had a few options but again, I found the experience very interesting from my church, the African community, and my teachers.
How long did it take you to learn the Korean language and how did that help you settle down when you were still there?
The scholarship provided support such that for the first year, I had to learn the language and that helped me. It helped me to know the language, I was able to communicate basically, go to the bank, go to the market, and do other things. It helped me to settle down when I was there. However, taking the exams was not easy. I remember that I took my final exams in Korean as well and that was the most challenging part but I passed.
How important was the decision to abandon your master’s degree in Nigeria and head to Korea when you look back at it all today?
Abandoning my master’s degree in Nigeria was not an easy decision because I was about six months away from completing the master’s but because the Korean government’s offer came with a fully funded opportunity and I felt like with the whole Academic Staff Union of Universities strikes and instability in the calendar, I could go to a developed country, and become a better person which I would say that I am today. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. So, when people come to me about opportunities in South Korea and other countries, I can talk about scholarships at length today in South Korea, Canada, Germany, and other countries because I had the opportunity to leave Nigeria despite that I left Nigeria without completing my master’s. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life, it opened me to global opportunities and work in top institutions in the world that I would never have thought would happen.
I would say it’s been fulfilling having to study in Nigeria, South Korea, and Germany and work in Canada in the same field. Maybe if I was not a microbiologist, I would have been an economist but of course, it was Microbiology and it opened me to a lot of scholarships. There’s this saying by some people that there are more opportunities in the field of science than in non-sciences which I completely agree with. So, this path has been challenging, and fulfilling for me but it is rewarding as well.
Were there periods of frustration when you felt overwhelmed by the tasks ahead?
There were several times I felt like giving up, especially with the challenges that come with not having your extended family around and that was even much worse when I was single. You think about your whole life and everyone keeps to themselves, and talks about loneliness abroad, but I’ve always had a great community around me who gave their support. I used to be an introvert. I tend to come out of my shell and participate in events and I became a better person. Challenges come with field experiments and I’ll always agree with myself that these are normal. Rejections will always come, but to give up, no, because I’ve come a long way. Also, as a Christian, you understand that there’ll always be challenges but you trust God, do your best and all will be well.
Having the rare privilege to work in top institutions in the world and impact knowledge to a new set of scientists gives me the utmost happiness. I’ve taught, I’ve had opportunities to do fantastic research, publish papers in top journals and this has been the utmost happiness for me. Also, I’ve met great people in my field and I’ve interacted with authorities in my field of interest.
When you look back at certain decisions you made, do you have regrets over some of them?
Oh, no! Lately, I care less about situations I can’t change. However, that doesn’t mean that life has been all smooth. I have had difficulties, some of which I’ve mentioned, and I’ve had challenges, rejection, and things that didn’t work well. But again, having regrets over situations you can’t change affects you psychologically, and mentally and also affects your heart. So, I cannot change something that has been in the past but that doesn’t mean that my life has been full of rosy moments. We’ve always had our challenges individually and it is not strange for such things to happen.
I got married in Denmark. I met my wife at a friend’s wedding back in Paris and we got married about six months later, and it’s been a wonderful experience. Certainly, my wife has been a fantastic person and although she’s not in my field, she could still tell you about my research. She’s a huge fan of what I do and she’s been a very wonderful partner, friend, and someone that I’ve never regretted living my life with.
Amid the struggles youths in Nigeria face, what do you think they can do to make their lives better?
It is important to identify what you’re passionate about and don’t just follow anything. You should find your unique quality, and what your purposes are, pursue it with resilience, and determination, and be open to exploring different opportunities. The world is a global village today and you need to be ready to get connected to a lot of information. You need to put in the work and maintain a quality network of people. I remember that my South Korean and Chinese scholarships were sent to me by one of my seniors, Seyi Abegunde, who asked if I was interested in them and I told them that I was going to give it a shot. If I didn’t have that network of people, there’s no way I could have received that information. That singular conversation back then led me to Korea, Germany, and currently Canada. It is important to pursue those goals and be passionate about what you want to do in life while being open to exploring different opportunities. Also, the most important thing is to seek the kingdom of God and every other thing will follow. So, it is important to seek God’s favour.
