An Ode to Taofiq

I attended primary and secondary schools with a brilliant chap called Taofiq. Taofiq was the primary influence on my early career aspirations. While many children may have known from a young age that they wanted to become doctors or lawyers, I cannot recall having such ambitions until Taofiq entered the picture.

Because of Taofiq, I began keeping a small notepad during primary school where I would draw the solar system. I would immerse myself in the wonders of the cosmos and jot down my thoughts in the pad. This was inspired by observing Taofiq doing the same. With the most exquisite handwriting I had ever seen and exceptional drawing skills (at least until Yinka came along in secondary school with his handwriting and drawing prowess), Taofiq would meticulously illustrate the nine planets (Pluto was still considered a planet at that time) and accompany them with vivid descriptions.

Taofiq always expressed his desire to become an astronaut, and I, too, yearned to pursue that path because of his influence. In our primary school, no one doubted that he would achieve his dream. He consistently held the top position, and I followed closely behind.

My consistent second-place standing must have frustrated my teacher mother. She must have wondered why I couldn’t take that extra step despite the attention she gave to my notebooks. I recall her warning that if I didn’t improve, she would send me to a public secondary school.

When we took the Common Entrance Examination (CEE) for our secondary school, Taofiq secured the third position, and I came in fourth. He confided in me, expressing his belief that there must have been a mistake because he felt he should have been ranked first. Our secondary school had three classes for each level (M, D, L), and our performance in the CEE determined our class placement. Since Taofiq came third, he was assigned to JSS 1L, while I landed in JSS 1M. I felt relieved knowing that my time had come.

By the end of the first term, as expected, Taofiq led his class, and I led mine.

However, our separation didn’t last long. In JSS 2, for reasons unknown to us, we were mixed together, and we both ended up in JSS 2M. Taofiq swiftly regained his position.

He eventually emerged as the best graduating student in SS 3.

From that point on, our paths diverged, and we haven’t seen each other since. I eventually let go of my dream of becoming an astronaut after learning that there were no universities in Nigeria offering Aeronautical Engineering. My focus shifted to an engineering field with a promising earning potential. After consulting my dad’s COREN directory, Chemical Engineering seemed like the best option. However, my father disapproved of OAU which was the only university offering the course in the Southwest. So, I settled for another engineering course at his alma mater. Thinking back, that must have dwindled my interest.

But not Taofiq. He pursued his studies in Ghana, specializing in Aerospace Engineering at one of the top schools there. From Ghana, he went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Aerospace Dynamics at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom. Following that, he furthered his education at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he obtained his PhD.

I hope he gets to read this eventually. I am just so proud upon my remembrance of him.