UNILORIN Graduate Who Wrote JAMB Three Times Finally Graduates After Years of Rejection

Rahmat Olajumoke Aliyu overcame three failed JAMB attempts, a rejected university opportunity and years of setbacks to graduate from UNILORIN, while fellow graduate Israel Adeniyi graduated with a record 4.83 CGPA and emerged as the 2026 Overall Best Student among 6,009 Nigerian Law School candidates.

Rahmat Olajumoke Aliyu, a fresh graduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has celebrated the end of a decade-long academic journey marked by repeated admission setbacks, family disagreements and determination to earn a university degree. She officially signed out of the university on July 16, 2026, after years of refusing to give up on her dream.

Rahmat completed secondary school in 2016 with hopes of studying Nursing. She sat for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination three consecutive times between 2016 and 2018, scoring 256, 245 and 242 respectively. Despite her efforts, she was unable to secure admission to her preferred university during those years.

In 2018, she eventually received an admission offer from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, through its screening process. However, her father did not allow her to take up the opportunity, forcing her to give up what she considered one of her biggest chances at university admission. Rather than remain idle, she enrolled at Kwara State College of Education and graduated in 2021.

After completing her college education, Rahmat applied for Direct Entry admission into UNILORIN. She was offered Adult and Primary Education, but declined the course because she believed it did not align with her career goals. She later spent almost two years teaching, working at Hassanat Islamic College as a secondary school teacher and Offspring Ilm School as a preschool teacher between January 2022 and November 2023.

Her long-awaited breakthrough eventually came in August 2023, when she received Direct Entry admission to study Biology Education at UNILORIN. She resumed in January 2024 and matriculated on February 14, 2024. In July 2026, she finally signed out, marking the completion of a journey that had begun years earlier.

Reflecting on her experience, Rahmat said the criticism and doubts she faced only strengthened her determination. She explained that people who questioned the money spent on her education and those who judged her based on her marital status did not stop her from pursuing her goals. She now hopes to become a professor, contribute to research and inspire younger girls to remain committed to their dreams despite setbacks.

UNILORIN Graduate Becomes Best Nigerian Law School Student

Another UNILORIN graduate, Israel Adeniyi, has also attracted attention after emerging as the Overall Best Student among 6,009 successful candidates at the Nigerian Law School in 2026. He graduated from UNILORIN’s Faculty of Law with a CGPA of 4.83 out of 5.0, reportedly the highest in the faculty’s history.

Adeniyi’s admission journey was itself a major achievement. He scored 297 in UTME and 84 in the UNILORIN post-UTME examination, eventually gaining admission among the top candidates in his set. He described studying law at UNILORIN as an important milestone and a confirmation that his hard work was paying off.

His university journey was not without challenges. During his first year, a disappointing first-semester result, including a D grade in European literature, affected his confidence. Instead of allowing the setback to define him, he worked harder and eventually rose to the top of his class. He went on to record a perfect 5.0 GPA on four occasions before graduating with his record-breaking CGPA.

Adeniyi attributed his success to discipline, consistency and understanding what examiners expected in examinations. He also emphasised the importance of getting enough sleep, saying that consistency played a major role in his academic performance. He dedicated his achievement to God, his teachers, mentors and scholarship sponsors, while also remembering his late father, whom he believed would have been proud of his accomplishments.

Looking ahead, Adeniyi said he hopes to become an influential lawyer involved in policy development, legal writing and mentorship. He also expressed interest in international opportunities, saying that exposure to different legal systems could help him become a better lawyer and use the law as a tool for social change.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, LEGIT