A Nigerian lady, Ruteh Atiri, has shared her inspiring academic journey as she graduated from the University of Ibadan with a second-class upper degree in Psychology. Despite living with a disability, she overcame numerous challenges to achieve her goal.
Challenges of a Student with Disability
Ruteh suffered a spinal cord injury that confined her to a wheelchair. In her LinkedIn post, she described the difficulties she faced, including exhaustion, frustration, and pain. She emphasized that the journey was not just about academics but also about showing up and pushing through each day.
Graduation Day and Reflection
On November 12, 2025, she officially graduated. Her post read: "There's probably no 'right time' to post this anymore, but better late than never. My journey through school as a person living with a disability was far from easy. There were days filled with exhaustion, frustration, and pain that many people never saw. Sometimes, the challenge was not just academics, but simply showing up and pushing through. Still, through every difficult moment, God carried me. This journey taught me resilience, patience, and strength. It taught me that progress may look different for everyone, but that does not make it any less meaningful. Today, I'm not just proud of the result. I'm proud of the journey it took to get here."
Social Media Reactions
Her story triggered an outpouring of congratulations on social media. Onovo Marvelous commented: "Congratulations, keep soaring higher!" Bliss Cephas Alokon said: "Congratulations Ruteh, weldone!" Rebecca Opawande Akinkunmi added: "Congratulations dear, greater grace in Jesus name."
Related Stories of Resilience
In a similar vein, another University of Ibadan graduate shared how he initially aimed for a second-class upper but ended up with a first-class degree. He credited his success to changing his mindset about the university's difficulty. Meanwhile, the best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU) also shared her admission struggles and study secrets, revealing that she took the UTME twice before gaining admission.
