A young Nigerian man, Faruq Olaegbe, has shared his inspiring journey of perseverance after writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) four times before finally gaining admission into Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). His story, initially posted on LinkedIn, has sparked widespread reactions and congratulations on social media.
Former UI Aspirant Recounts UTME Experience
On his LinkedIn page, Olaegbe detailed how he spent five years, took four JAMB exams, and earned a National Diploma along the way before achieving his university dream. His post read:
'5 Years, 4 JAMB Exams and One Unwavering 'Yes'. My path to university wasn't linear—it took six years, four exams, and a friend who refused to let me quit. In 2019, fresh out of secondary school, I took my first JAMB exam with my friend Olamide Ayoade. We aimed for the University of Ibadan. My score of 205 fell short by 3 points. Life continued, but my momentum stalled.
'I tried again in 2021, targeting OAU. When I scored 187, I pivoted quickly to Yaba Tech to study Mass Communication as a course. I met their cutoff, but admission never came. The silence was crushing.
'By 2022, I faced a choice. Looking in the mirror, I decided this wasn't over. I registered for JAMB again with a dual strategy: OOU as first choice, Kwara State Polytechnic as second with a score of 245. Kwara Poly responded first—admission into their Distance Learning programme. I paid ₦20,000 for the acceptance fee and relocated to Ilorin.
'Then OOU called for their Post-UTME. I was torn, already settled in Ilorin, with tuition fees looming. I paid Kwara Poly tuition fee to avoid forfeited admission, but that university dream still pulled at me. This is where Olamide Ayoade —already an OOU student by then—became my anchor. When I hesitated about travelling for the exam, he insisted, 'Come and do your best.' When I couldn't afford transport, he sent the fare without hesitation.
'I travelled from Ilorin, sat for the exam, and scored 48%—well above the 40% cutoff. Still, admission didn't come. This time, however, I wasn't stranded. Kwara Poly became my safety net. I completed my ND, but in my final year, that old fire reignited. I decided: no HND. One last shot at university.
'After graduating with my ND in 2024, I registered for my fourth JAMB in 2025. Exam day brought severe vomiting and diarrhoea. If not for my dad rushing to get medication, I wouldn't have made it. But I did. When I saw 250 on my result slip, hope surged.
'OOU announced their Post-UTME. Olamide, now a graduate, remained my only anchor in Ago-Iwoye. I gave it everything. When results came I had 56% followed by that long-awaited notification, I had finally made the first batch.'
Social Media Reactions
Olaegbe's post triggered an outpouring of support and congratulations from social media users, many of whom shared their own admission struggles. The story highlights the challenges many Nigerian students face in securing university admission and the importance of resilience and friendship.
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In a similar story, UNILAG's best graduating student revealed how he was initially rejected by the University of Ibadan, while another graduate staged a one-man protest over unemployment. Additionally, the Lagos State University's best graduating student opened up about her admission experience in an interview with Legit.ng, sharing her struggles, school journey, and future aspirations.
