Persistent UNILAG Graduate Celebrates Academic Achievement After Multiple UTME Attempts
A determined University of Lagos (UNILAG) graduate has shared her inspiring academic journey, revealing that she wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) three times before finally gaining admission to the prestigious institution. Zainab Owolabi recently celebrated earning a second-class upper division degree in computer science, marking the culmination of years of perseverance and dedication.
From UTME Struggles to Convocation Success
In a viral TikTok post that has garnered significant attention, Owolabi displayed the scores from her three UTME attempts alongside her final academic achievement. Her educational journey began in 2016 when she first sat for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, scoring 160 points. Despite this initial result, she remained undeterred in her pursuit of higher education.
The following year, Owolabi retook the examination and achieved a much-improved score of 271. However, this still did not secure her admission to UNILAG. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, she attempted the UTME for a third time in 2018, achieving an impressive 321 points that finally opened the doors to her desired university program.
Extended University Journey Yields Rewarding Results
Owolabi's path through university was longer than the standard five-year computer science program, extending to seven years total. In her social media post, she highlighted this extended timeline with the caption: "POV: You had to write Jamb thrice to get admission and spend 7 years instead of 5 in uni."
The graduate shared multiple photographs from her convocation ceremony, proudly wearing her academic gown and celebrating this significant milestone. Her layered post clearly displayed the progression of her UTME scores alongside her final achievement: "2016 - 160. 2017 - 271. 2018 - 321. Graduated with second class upper division. BSc Computer Science."
Social Media Celebration and Public Reaction
Owolabi's TikTok post has received widespread attention, accumulating over 33,000 views and more than 2,000 likes at the time of reporting. The comments section overflowed with congratulatory messages from well-wishers celebrating her academic accomplishment.
Among the numerous responses, users expressed admiration for her perseverance. One commenter named Zainab wrote: "Congratulations ? namesake," while another user named Oreoluwaa6 added: "Congratulations, stranger." A particularly curious comment from Shahad inquired: "Congratulations ❤ but aunty wetin happen for 2016?" referencing her initial UTME score.
Broader Context of UTME Persistence Stories
This story follows a pattern of similar narratives emerging from Nigerian universities, where students overcome multiple admission attempts to achieve academic success. Recently, another UNILAG graduate who scored 300 in his UTME went viral for his final year CGPA achievement. Additionally, a separate UNILAG graduate previously shared his story of taking the UTME three times while facing personal challenges including family financial constraints and the loss of his parents.
These stories collectively highlight the determination many Nigerian students demonstrate in pursuing higher education despite various obstacles. The UTME examination, administered by JAMB, serves as the primary gateway to Nigerian universities, with competition for limited spaces creating significant pressure on prospective students.
Owolabi's achievement in computer science represents not only personal success but also adds to the growing number of women entering technology fields in Nigeria. Her story serves as an inspiration to current and prospective university students facing similar challenges in their educational journeys.
