Zainab Yusuf, a graduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has revealed how she scored 184 in JAMB and still earned a First Class Honours degree in Agriculture, a feat she shared on LinkedIn on September 16, 2026. Her journey, which began with a 2.19 CGPA in her first year, culminated in a first-class result six years later, defying her own early expectations.
From Arabic School and WAEC Setback to UNILORIN Admission
Yusuf's academic path was unconventional from the start. She spent her secondary school years in an Arabic school, faced a disappointing WAEC result, and had to resit her exams through NECO. When she eventually sat for JAMB, she scored 184, a mark that was just enough to secure her admission to UNILORIN to study Agriculture.
The early days of university were challenging. By the end of her 100 Level, Yusuf had recorded a CGPA of 2.19, a figure that, in her own mind, placed a First Class degree firmly out of reach. She later shared a screenshot of her UNILORIN academic dashboard alongside her JAMB result on social media, offering a transparent look at the full arc of her story.
A Friend's Challenge Sparked a Turnaround in 200 Level
The turning point came quietly around her 200 Level year, when a friend challenged her to consider what she might achieve if she pushed herself harder. That single conversation reframed her approach. Yusuf described becoming more deliberate about her studies, committing to steady progress rather than any dramatic overnight change. There were difficult days, stretches of self-doubt, and moments where she questioned whether her efforts were enough, but she continued semester after semester.
"A difficult beginning does not have to determine the ending," she wrote on LinkedIn, crediting Allah's grace for carrying her through each stage of the journey. Six years after that 184 JAMB score, Yusuf walked away from the University of Ilorin as a First Class graduate.
Social Media Reactions and Related UNILORIN Success Stories
Her post quickly drew warm responses from those who found her story relatable. @David Okoli commented: "Stories like this is just so captivating? who would have taught 2.19 would turn into a first class honours. Really shows start can't justify the end. Congratulations?." @Rukayat Akanni said: "Congratulations Yusuf Zainab? The only way from here is up!" @Olorunishomo Folorunsho added: "Big congratulations to you??."
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that another UNILORIN graduate who spent five semesters in Benin Republic had bagged a first-class degree in Pharmacy. Additionally, a UNILORIN graduate named Banni, who wrote the UTME twice, achieved a first-class degree in Biomedical Engineering. Posting on X on September 7, 2026, Banni recalled how her first UTME result felt like a crushing blow, one she credits as the turning point that forced her to reassess everything. After scoring 141 in her first attempt, she overhauled her approach, cleared her O'level papers, rebuilt her study habits, and returned to write the UTME a second time, scoring 242.
