Fawaz Onakoya, a graduate of the University of Ibadan (UI), has become the first person in his family to earn a university degree, completing his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a Second Class Upper in 2025. Onakoya shared his journey in a LinkedIn post on 18 August 2026, reflecting on a matriculation photograph from 2021 that highlighted how improbable his academic path once seemed.
A Journey Without a Blueprint
According to Onakoya, he grew up without any family member who had previously gone through the university admissions process, leaving him without guidance on which school to apply to, what milestones to expect, or how to navigate student life. His path to the University of Ibadan began at a JAMB registration centre, where an official first suggested the institution to him. At that point, Onakoya only knew that he wanted to study History.
His first attempt at the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2018 fell short of the required cut-off score by approximately 0.8 points. He returned the following year, sat the examination again in 2019, and secured admission, eventually taking his seat at the 2021 matriculation ceremony at the University of Ibadan.
Overcoming Early Setbacks
Reflecting on his experience, Onakoya wrote in his LinkedIn post: "I recently found this photograph from my matriculation at the University of Ibadan in 2021. Looking at it now, I can't help but think about how unlikely that moment once felt. I was the first person in my family to gain admission into a university. The funny thing is, I didn't even grow up knowing exactly which university I wanted to attend. When I went to register for JAMB, it was actually an official at the registration centre who first mentioned the University of Ibadan to me. I had only known that I wanted to study History."
He added: "My first UTME attempt in 2018 fell short of the cut-off by about 0.8. I tried again in 2019, gained admission, and eventually found myself sitting in that matriculation ceremony. There was no blueprint. No one in my family had gone through the process before. There was no one to constantly tell me what decision to make, what milestone came next, or how university was supposed to work. My parents supported me in the ways they could, trusted my decisions, and stood behind me. But much of the navigation was mine. And somehow, I found my way."
Graduating as a First-Generation Graduate
Four years after matriculation, in 2025, Onakoya graduated with a Second Class Upper in Philosophy, becoming the first university graduate in his family's history. He wrote: "Looking back, I think being the first is less about having everything figured out and more about having the courage to keep figuring things out as you go. Perhaps that is the lesson I carry from this journey: you don't always need a blueprint before you begin. Sometimes, you just need to take the next step, make the best decision you can with what you know, and trust yourself enough to keep moving."
Onakoya concluded his post with a message for others facing similar circumstances: "If you're currently walking a path no one around you has walked before, don't let the absence of a roadmap convince you that you cannot get there. You may be the one creating the roadmap for those who come after you. Alhamdulillah for the journey so far."
Impact and Broader Context
Onakoya's story highlights the challenges faced by first-generation university students in Nigeria, who often navigate the admissions process without family guidance. His achievement of earning a Second Class Upper in Philosophy at the University of Ibadan, one of Nigeria's most prestigious universities, serves as an example of perseverance. The article was originally published by Legit.ng, authored by Human Interest Editor Oluwadara Adebisi, who joined the outlet in January 2026 and has over seven years of experience in journalism.
