Meet Animenakaya Chikezie John, the youngest lecturer, Department of Foreign Languages & Literary Studies, UNN.
Strong language skills are not only selling point in the contemporary society, they are asset that will promote a lifetime of effective communication. GrassRoots.ng’s Features Editor, Sandra Nnemeka, had an inspiring chat with Animenakaya Chikezie John, the youngest lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). John, fondly called Kezie among friends and pals, graduated from the prestigious tertiary institutions. Excerpt.
GR: Can we have a peep into your background?
Young Lecturer: My name is Animenakaya Chikezie John, simply identified as Kezie. I am the fifth in a family of seven. I hail from Enugu state; precisely, Amechi Akwunanaw in Enugu South Local Government Area.
GR: What are the institutions you have attended?
Young Lecturer: I started my education journey at the Model primary school Nsukka before proceeding to Nsukka High School for my secondary school education. I later proceeded to the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). I obtained Bachelor of Arts in French at the prestigious University and later obtained Russian language certificate from Volgograd State Technical University, Russia.
GR: What influenced your decision to study languages?
Young Lecturer: What actually influenced me was trying to be different from others and I also love languages. I made a research and found out that skills improve when students study a foreign language. Business skills plus foreign language skills make an employee more valuable in the marketplace. …Graduates often cite foreign language courses as some of the most valuable courses in college because of the communication skills developed in the process.
GR: How did you venture into lecturing?
Young Lecturer: I decided to give back to the society through knowledge and skills. My best option was to go into lecturing, I had to apply.
GR: As the youngest lecturer in your department, how do you relate with your colleagues?
Young Lecturer: My first step was establishing a strong relationships with them on the level of colleagues and of course my reputation and my achievements as a student also helped. I also gave them the right hand of fellowship. So, we could work together as a team.
GR: How about relationship with the students?
Young Lecturer: Wow, hmmmm…my relationship with students has been amazing and stressful, especially when I was given the Students Staff Adviser. It’s been amazing working with sharp Brains, learning a lot from them and at the other hand stressful trying to control them.
GR: Graduating at such young age and assuming the post of lecturing must have come with some prizes. What are the things you had to forgo to get to where you are now?
Young Lecturer: One major thing I dropped was time wasting; always using my time to do something that will yield positive things. Secondly, my mind was already prepared for great things, I learnt very early in life that time favours only the prepared mind.
GR: Can you recall how your relatives reacted when you chose the course of study?
Young Lecturer: They hadn’t other option than throw their weight behind me. I have amazing people around me. They wanted the best for me and are always ready to support me. They believed it’s what will make me happy.
GR: You won several awards, even as a student then. One would think that with set target, you wouldn’t have time for music, how were you able to pull those awards?
Young Lecturer: Like I said before, time favours only the prepared mind. I believe that each and every one of us has a purpose of coming into this world and for you to actualise that you must discover who really are. I also believe that any course you choose to study in school should not hinder you from making use of your gift as a man. Rather, it should spur you to discover more. I discovered that Music Is part of me. So, I needed to set that strong platform for myself as a student. Self discovery opens your eyes to alot of possibilities and opportunities. You dream is who you are.
And one thing about talent is when you discover one and make use of it, it will open doors for more to come in. I have to tell you that I’m an entertainer. At a point friends started asking me questions like: Guy… how will u succeed here with all these gifts? I replied them by releasing couple of songs and getting movie roles. Told them that you can still become a champ any were you find yourself.
GR: What is your advice to your fellow Nigerian youths, especially those in your department?
Young Lecturer: My advice is simple: Keep doing what you love and have passion for something. Don’t be in a rush, because life is all about stages. Stop waiting for opportunities; make them. Surround yourself with positive minds.
GR: Do you plan to further your studies? If yes, still on same field?
Young Lecturer: Yes! (smiles). Yes, on same field and also would like to have a training in Acting and film making.