Glory Salawu, Vice President of the University of Ibadan Students' Union, has shared how she failed her O'Level examination four times before finally gaining admission to study Pharmacy at the university. In a LinkedIn post published in July 2026, she narrated a journey marked by repeated disappointments and remarkable resilience. Her story has now inspired many young Nigerians who face similar academic struggles.
A 13-Year-Old's First Setback
At age 13, Glory sat for her first O'Level examination and did not pass. She recalled in her post: "I failed my first O'Level examination. I thought I had fallen behind." But she did not let that setback stall her. By 14, she had completed secondary school and had gained admission to study Science Laboratory Technology at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. This early move into higher education, at such a young age, set the stage for her later achievements.
But there were more obstacles ahead. At 16, while working on her National Diploma, she failed another O'Level examination. Yet she still graduated as the Best Student in her department that year. "It felt like another setback, yet I successfully completed my National Diploma the same year and also the Best Graduating Student of my department," she wrote.
A Fourth Failure That Changed Everything
At 17, she failed again, making it three unsuccessful attempts. Then at 18, she took WAEC for the fourth time and also failed. But she made a decision, as she put it, "to refuse to let my failures define my future." She went on to pass both her NECO and WAEC examinations in the same year and earned admission to study Pharmacy at the University of Ibadan. "For the first time in years, the dream that had seemed impossible started to feel within reach," she said.
The University of Ibadan is Nigeria's premier university, and its Pharmacy program is highly competitive. Gaining admission after four failed O'Level attempts makes her achievement remarkable. Many students in Nigeria have to retake O'Level exams multiple times, and Glory's story offers hope to such students. The fact that she was only 18 when she finally broke through makes her story even more impressive.
Inspiration and Future Plans
Glory now serves as Vice President of the University of Ibadan Students' Union and is on track to complete her Doctor of Pharmacy degree next year. She has expressed a strong desire to contribute to global public health. Reflecting on her journey, she wrote: "If my story had ended at 17, people would have called it failure. But my story didn't end there." She added that her journey sharpened her beyond expectations, and she believes her story will help others who are struggling with their own exams.
Her story teaches that failure is not final. Despite struggling with O'Level exams repeatedly, she kept pushing forward and eventually achieved her dream. It also shows that exam failures do not define a person's potential.
Key Takeaways from Glory's Story
- Failure is not the end; it can be a stepping stone to success.
- Academic ability and exam performance are not always the same.
- Resilience can turn repeated setbacks into extraordinary achievement.
- It is never too late to pursue your dream course.
Related: Another Aspirant's Post-UTME Score
In a separate development, a 2026 UTME candidate who scored 286 in JAMB also sat for the University of Ibadan post-UTME examination and shared the result online. The aspirant is hoping to study Communication and Language Arts at UI with the combined scores. Glory's story, meanwhile, continues to gain traction on social media, with many celebrating her determination and drawing inspiration from her perseverance.
