UI Graduate's Persistence Pays Off After Five JAMB Attempts
Aremo David Opeyemi, a graduate of the University of Ibadan (UI) with a second-class lower division in anthropology, has shared his remarkable academic journey on Twitter, revealing that he wrote the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam five times before finally gaining admission to study pharmacy at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). His story has inspired many who face academic setbacks.
In a tweet posted on June 29, David disclosed his JAMB scores across five attempts: 204, 244, 256, 286, and 277. He also wrote the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exam twice, the General Certificate of Education (GCE) once, and the National Examinations Council (NECO) once before he finally cleared all nine required subjects. Despite these challenges, he persevered and eventually achieved his goal.
Struggles at University of Ibadan and Turning Point
David's academic difficulties did not end with admission. During his first degree at UI, he took on 70 credit units in his first year—approximately 27 courses in one session. His first semester ended with a low 1.8/4.0 GPA, which he described as a painful reality check. However, he changed his reading strategy and pulled a 3.6/4.0 GPA in the second semester, raising his cumulative GPA to 2.71/4.0.
After gaining admission into OAU Pharmacy, he faced another setback: scoring 0 out of 30 in one of his tests. Refusing to be defined by that failure, he prepared harder for the exam and scored 40 out of 70. His journey underscores the power of consistency over perfection.
Social Media Reactions to His Academic Story
David's tweet, which included his WAEC results, UI degree result, and JAMB admission letter for OAU, triggered numerous reactions on social media. Many users praised his resilience and determination. @ReenaSplitz commented, "You did great. Consistency over everything." @NickFirst9 echoed, "Consistency will eventually defeat setbacks." Others like @Azizacryptos joked about his choice of study, while @KingdomNurse expressed happiness for him and noted that he is missed at UI. @thereal_hikmat added, "Consistency is the key. Well done, Aremo, I'm rooting for you." The story also drew attention to the external pressure he faced, with @medikozone asking, "How did you deal with external pressure tho?"
Related Stories of Persistence
David's experience is not unique. In a related story, a LASU student who wrote the UTME five times bagged a degree 11 years after secondary school. Another man who wrote the UTME five times shared his scores: 185, 188, 251, 282, and 299. After his third attempt, he secured admission into a tertiary institution, though he did not stay long. These stories highlight the importance of persistence in the face of academic challenges.
