Dr Ezekiel Olagunju speaks to TEMITOPE ADETUNJI about his 22-year journey as a German Language lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, the viral moment his students celebrated him with unexpected gifts, his teaching philosophy, and the delicate balance between his roles as educator, pastor, husband, and father
Can you tell us about your background?
I teach the German Language in the Department of Foreign Languages at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where I’ve been a lecturer for the past 22 years. I am from Esa-Oke in Osun State.
How many languages do you speak?
I am fluent in Yoruba, English, French, and German. I also have a basic knowledge of Italian. I speak a variety of Yoruba languages (Ijesha dialect).
There is a viral video on the Internet where students presented gifts to you. What was it about?
I didn’t expect it. I just do my normal teaching, putting in all my efforts to ensure they get the best. It was completely unexpected and a surprise to me. I felt emotional, great, and happy. It’s good to be good. Reflecting on the past and all the efforts I’ve put into my work, it feels rewarding that the students recognise and appreciate it. Coming together and planning something like that made me feel deeply happy.
What was going through your mind during the presentation of the gifts?
It was a mix of emotions, shock, and surprise. I kept wondering, ‘What’s going on? How did this happen?’ It was so emotional that I had to control myself to hide my tears from the cameras.
Can you share your teaching philosophy and how it has shaped your relationship with your students?
I believe students are like blank sheets of paper. As a lecturer, it’s my duty to fill those sheets with knowledge. If you don’t teach them, they won’t learn. It’s a collaborative process. What they learn from one lecturer combines with what they learn from others to shape them into successful individuals.
My principle is to ensure I teach my portion of the curriculum thoroughly so there are no gaps in their learning. I also focus on creating an environment conducive to learning. For instance, in primary school, if you teach Mathematics with a cane in your hand, students are more likely to give wrong answers out of fear.
Similarly, in language teaching, I make sure my students are relaxed and happy in the classroom. When they’re comfortable, their minds and hearts are open, and they’re more ready to learn. Some students may come in with the mindset that the subject is difficult, but by interacting with me and experiencing a positive atmosphere, they develop the readiness to succeed.
Aside from being a lecturer, we understand you’re also a pastor. How do you balance being a pastor, lecturer, husband, and father?
It’s all about balance and planning. As a lecturer, some tasks must be done daily. As a pastor, there are responsibilities in the church. As a father, there are duties at home. Once everything is planned and scheduled properly, it becomes easier to manage.
Of course, it requires sacrifices, such as less sleep, but when there’s passion for what you do and a clear goal in mind, you’ll find a way to get everything done. At the end of the day, nothing is left undone.
Remember, one doesn’t do everything in a day. On a given day, there may be 10 tasks to complete, maybe five for the church, three for school, and two for the family. The key is putting everything down on paper and tackling them little by little. With proper planning and the help of God, everything gets done.
What has been the reaction of your family and friends to the video of your students presenting you with gifts, especially since it’s been trending online?
Well, they know me well. My wife especially sees the work I put in, waking up at night to mark scripts, prepare lectures, and handle other tasks. When the students appreciated my efforts, it felt like validation not just for me but for my family too.
My wife said, ‘Oh, so, they also recognise what you’re doing!’ She was happy, and my children felt proud as well. It’s a lesson for them that being good pays off, even if it takes years for recognition to come. As I’ve always believed, your good deeds will eventually be acknowledged.
Have you received similar forms of recognition before?
This kind of online recognition is new to me. In my generation, things like this didn’t happen. I’ve been teaching here for over 22 years, and recognition from students has always been more personal, individual messages, calls, or visits when they come back from abroad. For instance, when I travel, former students often come to see me, but this public, widespread appreciation, it’s different and overwhelming.
What’s your view on the Gen Z generation? Some people describe them as difficult, arrogant, or even lazy.
There’s some truth to those perceptions, but they’re not the full story. As a lecturer and also parent, you need to understand them. If you do, you’ll see their potential. When you categorise them as arrogant or lazy, they may live up to that expectation. But if you encourage them, tell them they can do it, and believe in them, they’ll rise to the occasion. It’s like prophesying into their lives, it can come to pass.
I’ve had students; one, in particular, would often come to my office saying, ‘This course is too hard.’ I kept encouraging her, and today, she’s in the United States. She’s completed her Master’s degree in German and is planning to pursue a PhD.
Many of these students simply need someone to believe in them. We, as lecturers and adults, have more experience and can help them see what’s possible. The challenges they face are real, but I believe we should help them by encouraging them and letting them know they can succeed. With the right support, they can overcome these challenges without much difficulty.
How do you manage to stay passionate and committed to your role despite the challenges in the educational system?
From the beginning, I’ve always loved to impact lives. That has always been my driving force. After completing my Master’s degree in Germany, I felt I’d have a greater opportunity to make an impact if I returned home. Though I couldn’t come back immediately, the passion to contribute to the growth of young people never left me. That passion makes the sacrifices worthwhile because I truly want to see my students succeed.
If you were to advise other educators on building meaningful relationships with their students, what would you say?
My advice would be to see students as individuals with the potential to succeed. There is no student who cannot make it. Many of them face challenges, financial struggles, family losses, illnesses, or a lack of proper upbringing. As educators, we should strive to understand these issues and do our best to contribute to their lives, happiness, and future.
Instead of labelling them as bad or horrible, we need to see the positives, encourage them, guide them, and support them. We are their leaders, mentors, and in some ways, their parents. That’s why we are here.
This generation needs help and guidance, and I believe that’s why God placed us in positions ahead of them—to lead and inspire. None of us chose when we were born, and if we find ourselves as lecturers in such a prestigious university, it is a privilege. We must carry out our responsibilities well and help our students become successful in life.
What advice would you give students going through challenges, whether financial difficulties, struggles in a particular course, or other personal issues?
I always encourage them not to give up. Giving up doesn’t solve the problem; it only makes it worse. They should keep pushing forward. I can share stories of some of my students who had significant financial struggles but were encouraged to persevere. Today, many of them are successful individuals; some are even abroad, while others are doing very well here in Nigeria. Because of what I’ve seen, I always tell students in tough situations not to give up.
Sometimes, there may be days when you don’t have enough to eat, but if you trust God and manage to get by with something small, it will sustain you. I even advise them that if there’s no food, drinking water can help keep you going and prevent health issues like ulcers.
I remind them that it’s just a temporary phase. Four years or however long their programme lasts, of hard work and challenges can lead to a lifetime of success. I also tell them to rise above the difficulties they face, even the challenges of Nigeria as a country. Once they focus on their goals, you’ll see them scoring good grades and achieving success, despite the odds.
What are your hopes for the future of education in Nigeria?
I believe there is great hope for the educational system in Nigeria. However, I would like to appeal to the Federal Government to invest more in education. For example, in my department, particularly the German section, you’ll notice that many lecturers are aging, and the young ones are not joining the system as much as they should. The reason for this is partly due to globalisation.
Young graduates today often earn more working remotely than they would as lecturers. For instance, some fresh graduates earn more than professors while working from home. So, when they’re offered a starting salary of N150,000 or N180,000 in academia, they ask themselves, ‘What can I do with this, especially with the current level of inflation?’
This situation has led to brain drain, with many young people leaving the country and those unwilling to take up academic positions. I appeal to the government to address this issue so that education can be respected and attractive enough for the younger generation to join and contribute. Younger and intelligent individuals can voluntarily choose to become lecturers. This will significantly enhance the progress of education in our country because the foundation of every successful nation is education.
Once education is well-funded, research will thrive. With increased research, the economy will improve, and we will have capable individuals contributing positively to the nation’s development. However, when everyone avoids lecturing and younger people lose interest in studying because they believe there are no opportunities afterwards, it creates challenges. I encourage our government to invest more in education and urge parents to prioritise their children’s education.
What is your message to the students who honoured you?
I deeply appreciate them. I’m genuinely grateful for their thoughtful action. As a teacher, my role is to give them everything, not to expect anything in return. While I initially thought about returning their gesture, I decided to accept it graciously. To the students, I encourage you to work hard and, most importantly, remember to give back to others when you have the opportunity to make an impact. If you appreciate me today, you should also strive to impact the next generation positively.
By doing so, we can collectively improve our society. Students are the future. If we nurture and guide them well, we are effectively building a stronger nation. If they’ve seen good things in me, I hope they embody those values and avoid vices such as dishonesty or other harmful behaviours.
My guiding principle has always been my faith as a child of God, which influences every aspect of my life. I encourage my students to embrace this faith and be sincerely devoted to their values. To those watching the viral video, I urge you to embrace righteousness, hard work, faithfulness, focus, determination, and a love for mentoring others.
What is your connection with the Multi-Language Place?
The Multi-Language Place Foundation is a language institution I established several years ago. It offers students the opportunity to learn languages of their choice, particularly German and French. The institution prepares students for international exams such as German and French proficiency tests.
In today’s globalised world, these certifications open doors to numerous opportunities. For instance, many Nigerian students are in demand in Germany, America, and France. With professional certifications in German or French, students can access scholarships and pursue advanced studies or vocational training abroad.
For example, pursuing a Master’s degree in America typically costs about $50,000. However, with these certifications, students can secure scholarships that cover the cost. Additionally, universities often provide a monthly stipend of $1,700, and students may assist lecturers in teaching undergraduates due to their language skills.
This was why we established the foundation—to equip students with the knowledge and certifications needed to access these global opportunities. It’s our way of opening doors for them to excel internationally.
