A Nigerian man who applied for admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) seven times between 2017 and 2023 has finally achieved his military dream by joining the United States Air Force on his first attempt. His inspiring story has gone viral on social media, where he shared his journey and offered advice to others facing similar challenges.
From Rejection to Triumph
The man, who goes by the TikTok handle @ak_vibema, documented his long struggle to become a military personnel. He listed each year he applied to the NDA and marked it with a cross (❌) to indicate rejection. The list read: 2017 - NDA ❌, 2018 - NDA ❌, 2019 - NDA ❌, 2020 - NDA ❌, 2021 - NDA ❌, 2022 - NDA ❌, 2023 - NDA ❌. Then, in 2026, he wrote: Air Force ✅, signifying his success in joining the United States Air Force.
In his TikTok post, he revealed that it took him nine years to achieve his dream. He encouraged others by writing, "Stay locked in. It took me 9 years to achieve my dream."
Social Media Reactions
The post drew widespread reactions from users who celebrated his perseverance. Many commented on the difficulty of the journey and the ultimate reward. User Beejay198 said, "To everyone now it look so easy but nobody ft see the pain you don grow through low-key before you archive your dream." OLÁYÍNKÁ added, "Congratulations, stranger. Real locked in? Using good 2 years for the processing. Finally worth it." Maxwell001jp expressed, "Ahhhh God go bless you for me. I think nah only me dey this kind senero I don't know that jah plan something sweet for me." Others like Cee Jay, Japata, and ALABI shared similar sentiments of admiration and encouragement.
Some users noted the contrast between the NDA's rejection and the US Air Force's acceptance. MCBNXN remarked, "People wey nda take once no fit relate." IFE commented, "Na my life be dx but I done give up on naija force. Kai naija? Maybe next life." Overall, the story resonated with many who saw it as a testament to resilience and the value of not settling for less.
Related Stories
In a similar vein, Legit.ng previously reported that a US Air Force member went viral after sharing her monthly salary breakdown. She disclosed that as an E-4, she earns a specific base pay and would complete six years of service in August. Another report highlighted a US Army soldier who explained that Nigerians must be physically present in the United States to enlist, warning against online scams promising direct recruitment from Nigeria.
This story serves as a powerful reminder that persistence can lead to success, even after repeated setbacks.
