Nigerian Student Triumphs After University of Lagos Admission Denial
A young Nigerian woman has become an online sensation after sharing her remarkable academic journey, which began with rejection from the University of Lagos despite achieving excellent examination scores. Shorinolu Sarah, who recently graduated from Lagos State University, revealed that she was denied admission to UNILAG even after scoring 273 in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination and achieving 24 out of 30 in the UNILAG Post-UTME screening test.
Persistent Academic Pursuit Despite Multiple Setbacks
The determined student wrote the JAMB examination four consecutive times before finally securing admission to study her preferred course. In her viral TikTok posts, Sarah explained that she initially applied to study Chemical Engineering at UNILAG but was not offered admission despite her impressive scores. She then attempted to gain admission to Yaba College of Technology, where she scored eight points above the cutoff mark, but was again denied entry.
"I switched to Mathematics because I felt that maybe my goal of becoming a Chemical Engineer was too ambitious," Sarah wrote about her thought process during the challenging period. "But I was still not accepted. I became so frustrated that I decided to learn a trade instead of taking any more exams."
Family Support and Ultimate Success
After extensive discussions with her parents, Sarah and her younger brother decided to take the JAMB examination for the fourth time. This persistence paid off when Lagos State University offered both siblings admission. Sarah was accepted to study Chemical Engineering, while her brother gained admission to study Medicine and Surgery.
The financial burden of supporting two university students proved challenging for the family, prompting Sarah to become entrepreneurial during her studies. She sold various items including jewelry, watches, clothing, snacks, and cake parfaits to support herself and contribute to her education expenses.
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Despite the initial setbacks and financial difficulties, Sarah excelled academically at Lagos State University. She graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.37, earning First Class honors. Her exceptional performance was recognized with two prestigious awards: Best Female Graduating Student in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Overall Best Female Graduating Student in the Faculty of Engineering.
In her celebratory social media post, Sarah wrote: "My name is SHORINOLU SARAH. A fresh graduate of Lagos State University. 4.37 CGPA (First Class Lower). Best FEMALE graduating student - Department of Chemical Engineering. Overall Best FEMALE graduating student - Faculty of Engineering. GOD DID. Don't be stingy to congratulate me if I appear on your FYP. Yours is coming soon."
Inspiring Reactions and Shared Experiences
The viral story has resonated with many Nigerian students who have faced similar admission challenges. Numerous social media users shared their own experiences with university admission processes in the comments section.
One user named Olla's Atelier commented: "Wrote jamb 4 times before gaining admission. Writing another one this year again cos I was given a course I don't want and I'm not ready to settle down with it! Motivated and really proud of you!"
Another user, Godsown, shared: "I got 324 in Jamb and 26/30 in unilag post utme and still unilag didn't pick me last year so I'm taking my JAMB tomorrow for the second time hoping to do better."
The story has become a source of motivation for many students facing academic challenges, demonstrating that persistence and determination can overcome initial setbacks in Nigeria's competitive university admission system.
