HOW I OVERCAME: Ipente: I Conquered Fear Of Failure To Become A Civil Engineer

Just like other young Nigerians, Oye Ipente battled the fear of academic failure and reading an engineering course.

His fears were compounded by his elder brother, who told him all manner of stories about the difficulties associated with subjects required for studying engineering courses at tertiary levels. Leaving home to live with a teacher in a neighbouring community in Edo State changed his mentality and dread of the sciences.

With encouraging words and guidance from his new mentor, Ipente confronted his fears and conquered them on his journey to becoming a civil engineer.

Growing up in a modest household, Ipente’s early academic life was marked by inconsistency and self-doubt. He recalls struggling particularly with mathematics and physics, the core subjects required for engineering. “There were moments I thought engineering was not for people like me,” he said in an interview. “I feared failing so much that I almost didn’t try.”

That fear nearly defined his future. After an initial setback in his university entrance examinations, Ipente considered switching to a less demanding course. But encouragement from a secondary school teacher pushed him to try again. Determined not to be held back, he retook the exams, this time with renewed focus and discipline.

Gaining admission to study civil engineering marked only the beginning of a more intense battle—with himself. University life presented its own challenges: rigorous coursework, competitive peers and moments of academic strain. Yet, Ipente adopted a new mindset. Instead of avoiding difficult tasks, he confronted them head-on, seeking help from classmates, attending extra tutorials and dedicating long hours to study.

“I realised failure is not the end; it’s feedback,” he explained. “Each mistake showed me where I needed to improve.”

That shift in perspective proved transformative. By his final year, Ipente had not only improved academically but had also gained confidence in his abilities. He graduated successfully and secured a role with a construction firm, where he has since contributed to several infrastructure projects, including road and drainage systems.

Today, Ipente is regarded as a rising professional in his field, mentoring younger students and advocating resilience.

His story, he says, is not about avoiding failure but learning to move through it.

“Fear doesn’t disappear,” he noted. “You just learn not to let it stop you.”