A young Nigerian woman, Wasilat Adetogun, has shared her remarkable story of perseverance after securing admission to the University of Ibadan (UI) seven years after completing secondary school. Her journey involved writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) five times and sitting for three post-UTME screenings before finally being accepted.
Wasilat Adetogun's UTME Journey
On her LinkedIn page, Adetogun revealed that she initially planned to take a one-year break after secondary school before attempting the UTME. However, that one year stretched into seven, during which she faced repeated disappointments. In her post, she wrote: 'I remember telling my classmates in 2018 that I was going to wait a year after our graduation before taking the UTME. Well, one year turned into seven… and here we are. After seven years, five UTME, 3 Post-UTME... Today, I become a bonafide and recognized student of the Premier University, the University of Ibadan.'
She expressed gratitude for the opportunity and looked forward to the challenges and growth that university life would bring. 'I waited for this day for a long time, and I'm glad to see it finally unfold. And now, I'm stepping fully into a defining journey. A journey where I have been handed a script to write my own story. A journey where I won't be leaving with just a degree, but also with the many beautiful things the university has to offer, because in UI, you are expected to be an all-rounder. A journey that will stretch me as part of the process,' she added.
Social Media Reactions
Her story quickly went viral, drawing congratulatory messages from many who admired her resilience. Akintola Faruq wrote: 'Congratulations, Sister Waseelah. Welcome to the Home of Giants. You'll see shege, but you'll shine bi'idhnillāh. Bārakallāhu feekum.' Abubakar Alade Yakub commented: 'So glad to see this. Congratulations! My doc? I pray that the Almighty strengthen you in your endeavors and guide your affairs. Rooting for you.' Ganiyat Oresanya said: 'Your resilience and persistence finally paid off. Well done Wasilat Adetogun. I celebrate you.' Jamiu Olaniyan added: 'Congratulations. Truly delay is not a denial but a preparation for the best opportunity.'
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In a similar vein, the best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU) previously shared her own admission struggles in an interview with Legit.ng, detailing her journey and aspirations. Another story highlighted a UNILAG graduate who was rejected by UI and later staged a one-man protest over unemployment.
Wasilat Adetogun's story serves as an inspiration to many, proving that persistence and faith can overcome even the longest of delays.
