Nigerian Graduate's Six-Time JAMB UTME Journey Ends with Admission After Course Change
A Nigerian man has revealed his arduous path to university admission, which involved writing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) a total of six times. The graduate, identified online as @peterbuywin, shared his story on TikTok, detailing how despite scoring above 200 in five of those attempts, he faced repeated rejections from universities.
Parental Pressure and Competitive Choices as Major Hurdles
According to @peterbuywin, two primary factors contributed to his prolonged struggle. First, he insisted on applying to highly competitive institutions such as the University of Ilorin (Unilorin), University of Ibadan, and the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). Second, and more significantly, he faced immense pressure from his father to pursue prestigious courses like Medicine and Surgery or Engineering.
"But could you believe what stopped me from getting admission? Number one, it was the course. And number two, it was the school," he explained in the video. "I was choosing Medicine and Surgery. And to be very sincere, I loved Medicine. Everybody from the science class that is a little bit brilliant would love Medicine. But personally within myself, I know that I'm not that brilliant for me to do Medicine, especially when I can't go to a private university and I have to go to a public university. But my dad kept saying I should do that JAMB, I should do it."
Turning Point and Admission at FUNAAB
After four years of staying at home and watching his younger sister catch up to him academically, @peterbuywin eventually reconsidered his options. During a JAMB registration session with his sister, who was applying to FUTA, he decided to explore universities in Ogun State, his mother's home state. He searched for institutions offering Veterinary Medicine and discovered the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).
"Immediately, without even thinking twice, I chose FUNAAB and I was given admission," he recounted. However, even after this breakthrough, he initially desired Veterinary Medicine but was offered a different course. He attempted JAMB a sixth time, hoping to switch, but was again assigned another course, leading him to finally abandon further attempts.
This admission marked the end of his long battle with the national entrance exam, highlighting the challenges many Nigerian students face due to parental expectations and the competitive nature of university admissions.
Broader Context of JAMB Struggles in Nigeria
This story resonates with numerous Nigerian students who experience similar pressures and repeated attempts at JAMB UTME. For instance, another candidate recently shared plans to write the exam for the sixth time since 2020, admitting to feeling unprepared. Additionally, a University of Ibadan student previously lost her admission three times before graduating after 11 years.
These cases underscore the intense competition for limited slots in Nigerian public universities, often exacerbated by societal and familial pressures to pursue certain high-status courses. The narrative also reflects the emotional and academic toll on students who spend years attempting to secure admission.
In related news, a female student who wrote the 2026 UTME offered assistance to upcoming candidates by listing topics that appeared in her exam, covering subjects like English, physics, chemistry, and biology. This gesture highlights the collaborative spirit among examinees navigating the challenging process.
The experience of @peterbuywin serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of aligning educational choices with personal strengths and interests, rather than succumbing solely to external pressures. His eventual success at FUNAAB demonstrates that alternative paths can lead to meaningful academic achievements.
