Brilliant Nigerian Lady Who Wrote JAMB 5 Times Finally Graduates With First-Class in Engineering

After writing the JAMB exam five times, Omolola Oke finally gained admission to study Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at UNILORIN, where her perseverance paid off as she graduated with a first-class degree (4.85 CGPA)—becoming the first female first-class graduate in her department and a symbol of resilience, faith, and determination.

A determined Nigerian lady, Omolola Oke, has achieved an outstanding academic feat after years of perseverance. She graduated with first-class honours (CGPA 4.85) in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) — after writing the JAMB examination five times.

Her journey from repeated setbacks to success is an inspiring story of resilience, faith, and determination.

Omolola’s Journey to Success

Omolola’s story began in 2011 when she finished secondary school, full of dreams to study engineering. However, things didn’t go as planned. She wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (JAMB) five times, facing disappointment after disappointment but never giving up.

Her early scores often fell below the required cut-off mark for engineering.

“There was one I didn’t even get up to 180, but others were above 200. I just knew what I wanted to study and refused to settle for less,” she shared on LinkedIn.

One of her JAMB scores eventually got her admitted to study Agriculture at the Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, where she completed her degree. Still, her passion for engineering remained strong.

Breaking Through at UNILORIN

After her fourth attempt, Omolola attended the School of Preliminary Studies at UNILORIN, and finally, on her fifth try in 2019, she secured admission into her dream course — Water Resources and Environmental Engineering.

Once admitted, she made up her mind to prove that all those years of effort were worth it. Her performance was exceptional:

• Graduated with 4.85 CGPA
• Scored a perfect 5.00 GPA twice
• Became the first female first-class graduate in the history of her department
• Ranked as the third-best graduating student overall in her department

Her brilliance earned her several awards, including:

• Best Graduating Student (Department of WREE, FET, UNILORIN)
• Best Graduating Student of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)
• Scholar Merit Award from the NSBE UNILORIN Chapter

Overcoming Challenges

Omolola admitted that the road to success wasn’t easy.

“There were nights I wept in silence. I went through seasons of self-doubt and exhaustion, especially balancing academics with extracurricular activities,” she said.

In addition to her studies, she was a student leader and entrepreneur, serving as the Female Engineering Conference Chairperson, mentoring younger students, and running a small business.

“Balancing business and academics wasn’t easy,” she added. “But it taught me resilience and diligence. There’s no limit when God is at the center and you’re willing to grow through the process.”

A Message of Hope

Omolola credited her success to God’s grace, her family’s support, and her determination to make a difference.

“To every student reading this — I know how it feels to not feel intelligent enough. I’ve been there. But look at me now — grace, consistency, and faith in Jesus Christ can rewrite any story. It may not be easy, but it’s possible. I hope to see your own victory post someday soon.”

READ ALSO: From Teenage Motherhood to Medical Doctor: Thandeka Ngcobo’s Inspiring Journey

SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION