Dr Ajayi Elizabeth: A Beacon of Excellence

Dr. Ajayi Elizabeth is a beacon of excellence and versatility. Renowned for her impressive achievements in sports and her engaging social presence, Dr. Ajayi flourished by excelling academically while actively participating in various extracurricular activities.

Her exceptional achievements include winning the BudgIT undergraduate scholarship for five years (2018-2023), and serving as Health Minister and Hall Chairperson at Queen Elizabeth II Hall. In the realm of sports, she made headlines by clinching the Gold Medal in the 10,000m race and the Silver Medal in the 3,000m race at the 2024 Interfaculty Competition. 

Her remarkable ability to balance these aspects of her life caught the attention of the Editorial Board, who were keen to understand the secrets behind her success.

In this insightful conversation, we delved into Dr. Ajayi Elizabeth's strategies and experiences, uncovering how she harmonizes rigorous academic demands with her roles as a social butterfly and accomplished athlete. Her journey offers an inspiring glimpse into the art of managing multiple commitments with grace and effectiveness. 

What motivated you to get involved in extracurricular activities while pursuing your studies?

Passion actually was my motivation throughout , as you can’t thrive in what you don’t align with else one would only keep striving to survive.

 

Balancing academics and extracurricular activities can be challenging. How did you manage to do both effectively?

Honestly, if I’m to talk about how I maneuvered my way through the challenges without mentioning God, I’ll only be bluffing. I was juggling different things including business, politics , sports etc with my academics but I usually make sure I set quality time aside for my books which is the ultimate purpose for being in school. 

Right from secondary school, I’ve always known myself to be more of a nocturnal person( I assimilate better in the middle of the night than the day) although there are times I seize opportunities during the daytime especially when there are free periods in between lectures or when traveling to an event( most times I focus on my slides when on a journey or when an event subsides and it’s rounding up). 

Then, as regards sporting activities, I sometimes jog down to Awo stadium on weekends that I happen to be free( especially when inter-faculty was drawing closer) and I usually do my routine indoor workouts for about 15-30mins(although not consistently) just to keep fit.

 

Can you share a memorable experience or achievement from your involvement in extracurricular activities?

Well, I’ve got a lot of memorable experiences especially from event planning/coordination or bridal chaperoning ( as one gets to interact with different people) but I’d dwell more on the most recent memorable experience from the last inter-faculty games in which I won a gold medal in the 10,000meters race( 25 lapses round Awo stadium) silver medal in the 3,000 meters race, MVP DEANS LEAGUE (female category), SPORTWOMAN OF THE YEAR and THE MOST FASHIONABLE FEMALE( Clinical category).

 

How did you prioritize between academics and extracurriculars when conflicts arose?

My academics has always come first no matter how conflicting the situation can be. There has been various times I had turned down event planning or coordination/ ushering gigs (for the agency I run) and brand activation gigs so as to focus on pressing matters ( Tests, exams, project etc).

 

What advice would you give to other students who want to excel academically while being active in extracurricular activities?

First is to KNOW YOURSELF AND KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR YOU. Don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure ( emphasis on unnecessary, as some pressures are necessary to navigate life) . If you don’t have the ability to multitask and you want to be involved or be active in extracurricular activities, BUILD CAPACITY by;

1. Nurturing healthy relationships with people( healthy relationships breeds connections).

2. Take your journey a step at a time.

3. Understand the dynamics of extracurricular activities (not everything will go as you planned all the time).

4. Learn to let go when things aren’t working out, learn to forgive yourself and heal, as this would give you a clearer picture of whatever you plan to accomplish.

5. Prioritize yourself, time and dreams as whatever energy you give out comes in handy ,one way or the other.