PoTW: Omotayo Lawal

NAME:
Omotayo Lawal

NICKNAMES:
Tayonatics, Tboy, Tiloye, T-Y

LOCATION:
Ire-Akari Estate, Isolo, Lagos

BRIEF BACKGROUND:
I was born on April 11th, 1983 in Anthony, Lagos. I’m the middle born of a family of 7 children (5 Males and 2 Females). My origin can be traced to the Lawal-Olurin family of Mojoda/Odo-Ayan village of Epe Local Government of Lagos State. My dialect is Ijebu and my hometown is the border town between Lagos and Ogun State if you’re linking Ijebu-Ode from Epe.
My late dad was a Fine-Arts teacher at MCSS but he had become a Principal at another school by the time I gained admission to MCSS. My mum is a Fashion Designer and she runs a Tailoring School.
I attended Saint Agnes Primary School and I found myself at MCSS after scaling through the Common Entrance Exams. I hooked-up with my 2 elder brothers at MCSS but I never relate with them at school because I believed I had to create my own path.
After MCSS, I initially gained admission to study Chemical Engineering at Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) but finally graduated at Lagos State University with the same course. I initially thought I was going to become a Professional Actor but I felt Actors don’t earned a lot as at that time. I also thought I would have been a military officer but I don’t like the human right abuses that were often associated with the military.

ABOUT MYSELF:
I’m a person with deep positive vibes. I’m not too religious but I’m very spiritual. I believe in the law of Karma and the law of attraction. I’m mostly as good as the best but sometime I can be as bad as the worst. I believe that if I’m not the best, I’ll definitely be one of the greatest. I don’t like bullies and I’m not afraid to make sacrifices for the general good of everyone. I’m mostly friendly but I don’t like to be taken for granted.

MY EXPERIENCE IN MCSS:
I’ll summarize my MCSS experience under 3 headings; the Good, the Bad and the Ugly…
The Good
I started as an average student in JS 1 but graduated as one of the best students in SS3. I remembered using the big hole at the back fence of JS1 block to gain entrance to school anytime I was late to assembly. In JS3, I was a member of the Drama group that represented MCSS at over 15 schools in Lagos State. I played the lead role in “King Emene” and also played an active role in “Death in the Family”.
I enjoyed lots of after-school activities at Seun Solomon and Wole Akinsanya’s apartments. I am fortunate to have met very good personalities at MCSS. I learned a lot from my friends and I appreciate all the wonderful times we shared. I remembered staying back with Tope Akano, Tosin Afoke, Wole Akinsanya and Gbuyi Idowu at Seun Solomon’s crib to eat “Ewa-Agoyin” and bread after attending Kayus Lab morning lectures. In the afternoons, we pluck coconuts from the coconut tree at Seun Solomon’s house to drink Garri. I can’t forget the uncountable parties we had at Access Hotel. Bisi and Gbuyi always gave us first-class treatment at such parties. I remember Amusa Foluso as one of the active participants at Access Hotel Parties.
I learned playing chess at the Intro-Tech lab. Segun Ogunlana and Jerry Agbontaen were my motivators that helped improve my chess skills. After graduating from MCSS, I was drafted as a member of LASPOTECH Chess Team that qualified for the finals at NIPOGA games at YABATECH in 2001.
The Bad
Though I had 3 crushes, I ended up not having a girlfriend at MCSS.
My 1st crush was Ademide Adu… I tried as much as I could to get her attention by checking up on her after school as we but lived at Anthony but she friend zoned me. Her granny and her younger brother liked me then but I just I had to pull back when I noticed she wasn’t feeling me.
My 2nd crush was Ronke Abolaji… She was the girl I connected with the most while at school. We often hooked-up at her mum’s shop at Anthony. The only impediment was that she was crushing on a very popular guy. The irony of it all was that the guy was also crushing on another girl. It was then that I learned that this life no balance.
My 3rd crush was Kemi Medeiros… I’ve been crushing on her from afar but I just didn’t know how the connection was going to happen. As fate may have it, I found myself sitting next to her all through WAEC exams and I was so excited that I’ve had the opportunity I had been dreaming of. Unfortunately, I didn’t shoot my shot because I felt the time was too late as she might not be interested at that time.
The Ugly
At JS2, I was bullied and severely beating by some SS3 guys for some inconsequential issue. I was eventually rescued by some of my brother’s friends that recognized me.
I still remembered the senseless beatings and hand blisters as a result of the cutlass we used to cut grasses as punishments.

PALS IN MCSS:
Seun Solomon, Gbuyi Idowu, Bisi Idowu, Tosin Afoke, Temitope Akano, Paul Okiokio, Wole Akinsanya, Samson Hundeyin, Amusa Foluso, Maryjane Ezeanyika, Ronke Abolaji, Sholape Abolaji, Ibukun Adeyeye, Desola Kuyoro, Tolulope Ilusanmi, Seyi Ige, Bukola Adepoju, Ademide Adu, Elizabeth Utsu,Jerry Agbontaen, Segun Ogunlana, Femi Oyekan, Shola Odusina, Gbenga Oworu, etc. I’m sorry if I omitted your name.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN MCSS:
My most memorable day was when I got my November 1998 GCE exam results about 3 months before the commencement of WAEC exams. I was so happy to have good GCE results. So, I had less pressure in writing the WAEC exams. While others were busy preparing for WAEC exam, I was just using that time to catch cruise at school.

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU:
When I was born, a random Indian couple came to witness my 7th-day naming ceremony. The couple was very excited to have witness such event in Nigeria that they carried me and took pictures with me. Just like the 3 wise men that visited Jesus Christ when he was born, I think I’m also special because I feel the Indian couple has always been my guardian angels.

WHAT DO YOU DO?
I’m a licensed Engineer and Entrepreneur. I had over 7 years working experience in the cement industry. Now I’m a supplier of machine spares and raw materials.

INTEREST AND HOBBIES:
As an Ijebu boy, I like to Party and hangout. I also like to dance till I’m fully soaked in sweat. I like traveling and discovering new places. I’m also a “meaty” because I eat Suya and Asun a lot.

WHO IS YOUR PERSONAL HERO/MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE?
My wife

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?
Establishing a food processing company

IF I COULD CHANGE THE WORLD WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
I’ll abolish religion and ethnicity. I feel religion has done more harm than good to humanity due to global terrorism. I also believe that people should be judged not by the colour of their skin or by their tribe but by the content of their character.

EXPECTATION FROM ALUMNI GROUP AND ADVICE TO LANDER FAMILY
I expect us to be fair and respect one another. We should try to be selfless in contributing to the advancement of the Marylanders 99 family.

Thanks