A Nigerian student boy to fund his education and later graduated with a first-class Accounting degree with a 4.84 CGPA from the University of Lagos.
A Nigerian graduate, Francis Ezeakunwanne, has shared his inspiring journey from working as a market boy to becoming a first-class Accounting graduate with a 4.84 CGPA from the University of Lagos.
Francis gained admission into the university in 2019 after scoring 300 out of 400 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. However, paying his school fees became a major challenge. Determined not to give up on his education, he began working at Kantangowa Market, one of the largest second-hand markets in Lagos, where he hustled to earn money to support his studies.
Despite the pressure of working while studying, Francis remained focused on his academic goals. In 2022, during his second year in school, he sat for the Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS) Exams 1 and 2 organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and passed both exams in a single sitting.
He continued his professional progress in 2023 by writing ATS 3 and the Skills Level exams, again passing them at once despite the heavy demands of his university coursework. By 2024, he advanced further by sitting for the Professional Level exams, which he also successfully passed in one sitting.
In addition to his academic achievements, Francis took on leadership responsibilities. In 2024, he was appointed Director of Research and Development at the Impact Leaders Club, UNILAG Chapter. During his time at the university, he also received several scholarships that supported his education and professional examination fees, including the FSB Scholarship, Seplat Energy Scholarship, and the SNEPCO Scholarship.
After years of balancing work, professional exams, and leadership roles, Francis graduated with one of the highest CGPAs in his class, earning a first-class degree in Accounting.
Reflecting on his journey in a post shared on LinkedIn, Francis said his success was the result of discipline and perseverance. He explained that behind the achievement were years of consistency, choosing hard work over comfort and preparation over excuses.
He added that his experience proves that a person’s background does not determine their future, emphasizing that one’s starting point does not define where they can eventually end up.
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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION