A young Nigerian lady, Zainab Ohiaka, has shared her inspiring journey from multiple UTME attempts to graduating with a first-class degree from the University of Ibadan (UI). She emerged as the best graduating student in the Department of Food Technology for the class of 2025.
Struggles with UTME and Post-UTME
Ohiaka revealed that she wrote the UTME and Post-UTME exams multiple times before finally securing admission. She initially applied to the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and wrote their Post-UTME twice, but was not offered admission despite passing the exams. She described the heartbreak of watching her friends celebrate their admissions while she had none.
From Polytechnic to University
After her struggles, Ohiaka gained admission to Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, where she earned a Distinction. She then applied for Direct Entry to the University of Ibadan. While waiting for UI's response, she completed a one-year internship at NNPC Medical Services Limited as a Nutritionist. Despite being offered admission to return to the polytechnic for an HND program, she chose to forfeit that and start afresh at UI when her admission finally came through.
Support and Determination
Ohiaka credited her brother-in-law, Mr. Jawwad Alasa, for encouraging her to be patient. She also highlighted the role of the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN) at UI, which motivated her to aim for first-class honors after attending an award ceremony for top students.
Academic Excellence at UI
Despite challenges such as strikes and academic adjustments, Ohiaka maintained excellence throughout her stay. She received first-class awards consistently and eventually graduated as the only first-class student in her set and the best graduating student in her department.
Social Media Reactions
Her story, shared on LinkedIn, triggered widespread congratulations on social media. Many users praised her resilience and determination.
Related Stories
In similar accounts, the best graduating student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) also shared how he was initially rejected by UI, while another graduate staged a protest over unemployment. The Lagos State University (LASU) best graduating student also opened up about her admission struggles in an interview with Legit.ng.
