Overcoming Repeated Dropouts
A Nigerian man, Abuh Danmusa Faruna, has defied the odds by graduating as the best student in his faculty at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), despite dropping out of school four times during his primary and secondary education. He shared his inspiring journey on LinkedIn, detailing the financial and health challenges that forced him to leave school repeatedly.
Faruna explained that during his primary and secondary school years, he dropped out four times due to financial difficulties and health challenges. He completed only six terms of secondary school and often borrowed classmates' notes to prepare for the Common Entrance and Junior WAEC examinations. Much of his learning was self-directed, using notebooks from friends and elder siblings. Remarkably, he never repeated a class despite these setbacks.
University Admission and Academic Excellence
In 2019, Faruna scored 291 in the UTME, emerging as the highest scorer in his class that year. However, he could not proceed to university immediately. He eventually gained admission and resumed at Bayero University, Kano in 2021. While studying, he served as a class representative, worked as a part-time teacher, and volunteered in humanitarian outreach and mentorship programmes for fellow students.
Upon the release of his final results, Faruna graduated with a CGPA of 4.75, making him the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Business Management and the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences at BUK.
Message of Resilience and Gratitude
In his LinkedIn post, Faruna attributed his success to sacrifice, resilience, perseverance, and God's grace. He said, 'Behind this achievement lies a story of sacrifice, resilience, perseverance, and above all, God's grace. For the battle is not for the strong, nor the race for the swift. Every success and every victory come from God Almighty alone.' He added, 'Success is not determined by where you start, but by your determination to keep moving forward despite every obstacle.'
Faruna expressed special gratitude to Dr. Rabiu Hassan, PhD, and Associate Professor Shukurat Bello, PhD, AAT, CIFE, CSAA, for their mentorship and support. He encouraged other students facing hardship, saying, 'To every student facing hardship, uncertainty, or delays in achieving their dreams, never give up. Your present circumstances do not define your future. Keep striving, keep believing, and keep trusting in God Almighty.'
Reactions and Related Stories
Faruna's story triggered reactions on social media, with many celebrating his achievement. In a related story, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) best graduating student shared how he was rejected by the University of Ibadan, while another graduate staged a one-man protest over unemployment. Additionally, the Lagos State University (LASU) best graduating student opened up about her admission experience in an interview with Legit.ng.
