UNILORIN Graduate Who Wrote UTME Six Times Achieves First-Class Honors
A graduate from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has captured widespread attention online after revealing he wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) six times before finally gaining admission. Damilola Olayiwola recently graduated with first-class honors in Mechanical Engineering, sharing his emotional and motivational journey on social media platforms.
Persistent Academic Pursuit Despite Multiple Setbacks
Damilola Olayiwola explained in a detailed LinkedIn post that he did not fail any of the six UTME attempts but faced repeated admission denials. His academic journey began in 2013 when he wrote his first UTME, but he only secured admission in 2018 after persistent efforts. "I wrote my first UTME in 2013, but I did not get admission until 2018. Did I fail those JAMB exams? No. In fact, I graduated as the best student from high school," he stated.
During this challenging period, Olayiwola watched many of his peers graduate from university and even get married, which significantly impacted his self-esteem. "I began to lose my self-esteem and confidence anytime I met my old classmates. I tried avoiding the question, Where are you now? because they expected highly of me," he shared. To support himself financially, he took up a teaching job at a primary school, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
Multiple Applications to Nigeria Defence Academy
In his quest for higher education, Olayiwola applied five times to the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), attracted by its tuition-free structure and rigorous training. Although shortlisted twice, he was ultimately denied admission on all attempts. "Out of the six UTME I wrote, in a bid to help myself, I applied to the Nigeria Defence Academy, a military and tuition-free school, five times. I did not mind the rigorous training. I just wanted to further my academics," he explained.
His determination stemmed from a desire not to let his potential go to waste. "I did not want to watch my potential go to waste. I knew I was made for more," he emphasized. Despite these setbacks, he maintained faith and continued striving toward his academic goals.
Final Breakthrough and Academic Excellence
On his sixth UTME attempt, Olayiwola finally gained admission to the University of Ilorin to study Mechanical Engineering. He described this step as a leap of faith, uncertain about how his school fees would be paid but trusting in divine provision. "I finally took the bold step in faith in my sixth attempt and applied to the University of Ilorin. Not knowing how my school fees were going to be paid, I just trusted God, and He came through," he recounted.
Eleven years after completing high school, Olayiwola graduated with first-class honors, a testament to his perseverance. "Eleven years after high school, I graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ilorin with First Class Honours," he proudly announced. He expressed gratitude to God, his parents, friends, coursemates, mentors, lecturers, and the university's engineering department for their support throughout his journey.
Inspiring Message and Viral Impact
Olayiwola's story has resonated widely, with his LinkedIn post emphasizing that "delay is not denial." He encouraged others by highlighting the uniqueness of personal journeys and the potential for one's story to motivate others. "Sometimes we do not like sharing this story because we keep asking ourselves questions: Do I really need to share this? How will I be perceived? Will people really understand me? Not remembering that your story could be a source of motivation to some people," he wrote.
His experience underscores the challenges many Nigerian youths face in accessing tertiary education, including financial constraints and competitive admission processes. By sharing his struggles and ultimate success, Olayiwola has become a symbol of hope and resilience, inspiring others to persevere despite obstacles.
In similar inspiring news, other Nigerian graduates have also gone viral for overcoming academic hurdles. For instance, a Covenant University graduate shared how she scored 200 in UTME and later achieved academic success, while a University of Port Harcourt student sold popcorn to fund her education and graduated with excellent grades. These stories collectively highlight the determination and resourcefulness of Nigerian students in pursuing their educational aspirations.
