UNILAG Graduate's One-Year Master's Program Extends to Three Years Due to Strikes
A Nigerian woman, Esther Taiwo, has publicly celebrated her recent convocation from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where she earned a master's degree after a journey that lasted three years instead of the anticipated one year. Esther shared her academic timeline and challenges on LinkedIn, highlighting how strikes and administrative hurdles significantly prolonged her studies.
Extended Academic Timeline and Initial Expectations
Esther gained admission to UNILAG's master's program in 2021, initially attracted by its advertised one-year duration. However, her plans were disrupted when an academic strike in 2022 halted all activities, forcing students to stay home for the entire year. She recounted that her father had expected her to pursue her master's at the University of Ibadan, but she chose UNILAG after research indicated a shorter program.
The program did not resume until 2023, with the first semester taking up the whole year. In 2024, the second semester followed, during which Esther and her peers had to plead with faculty to administer exams—a situation she described as unprecedented in her academic experience. Thesis defenses occurred in 2025 after students sent formal emails to professors, including the Vice-Chancellor, requesting the opportunity. Convocation finally took place in 2026, marking the end of a prolonged educational journey.
Challenges and Disappointments in the Program
Upon arriving at her department, Esther discovered that graduation did not occur annually, with two senior sets still enrolled. This realization led her to question her decision. The delays were compounded by the need to beg for exams and advocate for thesis defenses, highlighting systemic issues within the program's administration.
Esther expressed mixed emotions about her experience, noting the frustration of extended timelines but ultimately celebrating her achievement with gratitude. Her story sheds light on the broader challenges faced by students in Nigerian universities, where strikes and bureaucratic delays are common.
Online Reactions and Related Academic Stories
Esther's LinkedIn post garnered congratulatory messages from users like Love Emmanuel and Omotolani Oyekunle, who praised her perseverance. Her narrative resonates with other academic struggles reported in Nigeria, such as a UNILAG student who spent seven years instead of five to graduate with a second-class upper degree in computer science after multiple UTME attempts.
This incident underscores ongoing issues in Nigeria's higher education sector, including frequent strikes and administrative inefficiencies that impact student timelines and outcomes. Esther's journey serves as a testament to resilience amid these challenges, encouraging dialogue on improving educational systems.
