Like many African Gen-Zs, Mubarak Aremu’s pursuit of a University education didn’t exactly unfold as planned. However, unlike the multitude, he graduated possessing what eluded most: an all-encompassing growth that has set him on the path to the sustainable future he is currently living.
While the name “Mubarak Aremu” might not resonate with many at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), where he spent over five years pursuing a degree in Animal Production and Health, his alias—MB Banks—left an indelible mark across the campus’s creative, social, religious, fashion, and academic spaces.
In a school of over 22,000 students before he graduated, how did Mubarak manage to excel in not just one, but four major spheres that characterise any modern tertiary institution?
“It was more like I was experimenting to figure out what I truly enjoyed,” Mubarak told the JCIN FUNAAB Editorial team about his early explorations. “In the grand scheme of things, it didn’t take much time before I hit the ‘writing goldmine.’ Mind you, it all started with reading—random and endless reading formed the foundation of my expression with words. But it wasn’t until the end of my second semester in 200L that I really began to write. So, trust me, I didn’t start with a plan to master my undergraduate years; I was just figuring things out until I found something that truly interested me.”
Writing is a popular identity marker for many students, but for Mubarak, it was more than just following a trend or fitting in—it was the key that unlocked his other talents and interests.
To hear Mubarak say it, “Writing is the best thing that has happened to me after family and brotherhood. It’s my ultimate form of expression, and whether it’s for commercial or personal purposes, it helps me organise my thoughts and ideas in a unique way that influences people to associate with me.
“Essentially, it’s all from the ability to express properly with my writing that made a whole lot of influence I was able to garner and leverage to establish my other talents: marketing and modelling.
The overlap between writing and marketing seems natural, but modelling? That’s a curveball, even for a guy like Mubarak.
“Some skills are acquired, while others are innate,” Mubarak explained. “I believe modelling falls into the latter category for me.
“I just found myself fascinated about the possibilities of doing more beyond my daily showcase of elegance and steeze which isn’t usually an easy flex for most people around. So, I thought, why not pursue it seriously? And here I am today, trying to indulge myself on a bigger scale.”
Well, the scale couldn’t have been bigger for Mubarak, even when he was an undergraduate balancing school demands with commercialising his skillset and thriving across various domains. He served as the Director of Communications for JCIN FUNAAB during the 2023 LO year and collaborated with different teams at the Collegiate, National, and International levels.
Beyond his contributions to JCI, he was an active member of MSSN FUNAAB and the Creative Director of Jasline Entertainment—an entertainment brand notably known for hosting youth-centric parties and its annual FUNAAB Outstanding Students’ Awards (FOSA), which celebrate exceptional students across various categories on campus.
On navigating the moral and religious conflicts between his roles, Mubarak explained: “I served as Content Director alongside the 2024 Vice President of JCIN FUNAAB, Samuel Ajasa.
“We had boundaries, and thankfully, the respect and support of our boss, Babatunde Adejumo [Alhaji Jasi], allowed us to perform well without compromising our values. I mean, the team trusted us to deliver and let us be ourselves, by not indulging in some of our headlining activities, while at it.
“That was how I maintained my managed work, while I didn’t lose touch of my religious value, though more of moral reservations.”
Accolades came naturally to Mubarak, as he racked up over 15 nominations across different categories, winning:
- 2x Most Creative Student of the Year, Nigerian Animal Science Students’ Association, FUNAAB (2019 and 2020).
- 2x Most Creative Student of the Year, Nigerian Animal Science Students’ Association, FUNAAB (2021 and 2022).
- Most Creative Student of the Year, FUNAAB Outstanding Students’ Awards (2022).
- Best Dressed Male of the Year, FUNAAB Outstanding Students’ Awards (2023).
- Most Creative Student of the Year, FUNAAB Outstanding Students’ Awards, FOSA (2022).
- Best Dressed Male of the Year, FUNAAB Outstanding Students’ Awards, FOSA (2023).
After his degree program in 2023, Mubarak didn’t follow the conventional path of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) because, as he puts it, “Our timelines in life differ. Service year is fruitful to some people and it isn’t to others. But I can tell, though not backed by facts, that the percentage of graduates that service year has helped progress doesn’t outdo the percentage that service year drives to the ground.
“In my case, I immediately pivoted to working in a corporate setting. And thankfully, my JCIN FUNAAB culture of formality and excellence makes it all easier to navigate. So, it is 9-5 now, while I am trying to stay connected to the remote and freelance mode of work I used to have.”
On a final note, Mubarak gave a brief review of the Oluwasegunfunmi Bello-led administration, while advising the incoming Folu Odunsilu’s administration.
“From a distance, LOP Segun’s administration comes off as outdoing expectations. And sincerely, I think it is. Kudos to them.
“For the incoming administration, I’d say: foster a healthy community that thrives on a working feedback structure. Feedback gives a whole direction and helps maximise results. It works every time. Do what you think they need or would need, but don’t assume you know all their needs. So ask them,” he concluded.