A young Nigerian man, Chukwudozie Joshua, who was previously denied admission into Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) to study medicine, has shared an inspiring update on his academic journey. After going viral for his plight, he received sponsorship to study at Madonna University.
From Rejection to Opportunity
Joshua scored 304 in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) but was denied admission to study medicine and surgery at UNIZIK. He expressed frustration on social media, which caught the attention of a benefactor who offered to sponsor his education at any private university in Nigeria.
In a LinkedIn post, Joshua recounted his journey: he graduated secondary school in 2022, scored 284 in his first UTME, missed the 2023 exam, and then scored 304 in 2024 without success. A well-wisher contacted him via Instagram and offered to pay for his tuition at a private university. He also applied for the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) in 2024, scoring 15 points, and rewrote UTME in 2025, achieving 338.
Despite the high UTME score, he used his JUPEB result to secure admission into Madonna University, where he is now a 200-level medical student. He expressed gratitude to his anonymous sponsor and everyone who supported him.
Social Media Reactions
Many Nigerians celebrated his resilience. Blessing Abai Sunday commented, "This is resilience!!! I'm glad you're taking us on your journey to becoming. It is not only inspiring, it is worth emulating." Blossom Afia simply said, "Well Done dear. Congratulations."
This story highlights the challenges many Nigerian students face in gaining admission to federal universities despite high UTME scores, and the alternative paths available through private institutions and sponsorship.
