Muneer Yaqub, a Nigerian PhD graduate at the University of Texas at Dallas, has shared how he nearly dropped out of his doctoral programme due to severe challenges during his first year of online classes from Lagos, Nigeria. He ultimately graduated as the overall Outstanding PhD Student at the university.
Remote Start Amid Pandemic Restrictions
Yaqub began his PhD during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel restrictions prevented him from physically moving to the United States. He attended graduate-level classes remotely from Lagos, facing constant battles with poor internet connections, frequent power outages, and the difficulty of keeping pace with coursework across multiple time zones.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Yaqub (@elMunir5) described how the situation took a toll on his performance. He missed classes and dropped out of sessions mid-stream when electricity failed. He lost an entire exam due to a poor internet connection at a critical moment.
Rocky First Semester
At the end of his first semester, Yaqub had taken two classes and received a B in both. For international students, a grade lower than B is considered a failure, so he passed by a narrow margin. He said, “I messed up one exam because my internet connection failed. I missed a few classes, or dropped out in the middle of them, because the power went out. I did not have much of a support system beyond a couple of classmates I managed to reach out to, who were also trying to survive the same uncertainty.”
By spring, Yaqub finally made it to the United States. That semester, he earned a B and an A-. He noted, “And then, slowly, things began to turn. From there, I earned straight As. I found my footing. I grew into the work, the lab, the science, and the community. I went on to have some of the most formative and meaningful experiences of my life.”
Achieving Outstanding Recognition
Despite the rocky beginning, Yaqub finished his PhD as the overall Outstanding PhD Student at The University of Texas at Dallas. He remarked, “Given how rocky the beginning was, finishing my PhD as the overall Outstanding PhD Student at The University of Texas at Dallas was definitely not on my bingo card.”
His story drew an outpouring of encouraging responses. User @maduabuchijuli2 said, “Congratulations, and thank you for your encouraging words.” @patrickonchain wrote, “You just inspired me to spend an extra 4 hours in the library. Thank you sir.” @cryptaffi added, “This is no mean feat. Congrats Doc.”
Broader Context of Nigerian Academic Success Abroad
Yaqub’s achievement follows reports of other Nigerians excelling in US institutions. A Lagos State University graduate recently celebrated earning a PhD in the US, expressing gratitude to his wife and supporters. These stories highlight the resilience of Nigerian students who overcome significant obstacles to achieve academic success abroad.
