UDUS Graduate Umar Gegele Celebrates Academic Resilience After Narrowly Missing First Class with 4.49 CGPA

Umar Yusuf Gegele has declared himself winner despite being 0.01 point short of attaining a first-class degree, according to his results released by Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS).

VANGUARD PRESS, in an interview with 24-year-old Umar Yusuf Gegele, learned that the second-class upper graduate of Islamic Studies made sacrifices and overcame several challenges in his academic journey to graduate with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.49 on a 5.0 scale.

Admitted into the university in 2021 after scoring 201 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Umar’s academic path was shaped by early challenges and firm parental guidance. 

As a former science student who wrote his first West African Senior School Certificate Examination in 2018, he initially aspired to study Law after switching to the arts, but eventually accepted his father’s insistence that he pursue Islamic Studies, a decision he says required deep reflection and acceptance.

Arriving on campus, Umar made a personal commitment to graduate with a First Class honour, despite widespread beliefs that such an achievement was nearly unattainable within the department. 

Rather than being discouraged by the narrative, he focused intensely on his studies from his first year, maintaining consistency and discipline throughout his academic journey, achieving 4.69, 4.56, 4.54 and 4.49 respectively at each level.

His determination remained firm even as academic pressure intensified, and while the release of his final results confirmed a CGPA of 4.49—just 0.01 below the First Class benchmark—he described the moment as one that reinforced his belief in hard work, even in the face of narrow outcomes.

Umar also revealed that his journey was not without internal struggles, particularly during his second year, when he faced personal distractions arising from issues he prefers not to disclose publicly. He noted that maintaining full concentration became his coping strategy, emphasizing that focus remains essential to academic success, especially during intense academic periods. 

Beyond the lecture halls, Umar was actively involved in student leadership and service without compromising his academic focus. In his second year, he ventured into student politics and was elected Financial Secretary of the Ilorin Emirate Students' Union (IESU), later serving as Chief Editor of the Markaz Students’ Union during his third year. 

According to him, these responsibilities never became a burden on his studies, but rather strengthened his discipline and time-management skills. He credited his parents as the strongest pillar in his academic journey and acknowledged the consistent motivation he received from studying with a coursemate, Alfa Salman, describing the partnership as a source of encouragement throughout challenging periods.

Looking ahead, Umar, who expressed a strong desire to pursue his postgraduate studies, admitted that graduating with a CGPA of 4.49, represents resilience, growth and the reward of consistency, even in narrowly missing a First Class degree. 

His message to students striving for excellence is simple but firm: stay disciplined, remain focused and never allow distractions or early setbacks to define your academic journey.

Najeeb Lukman reports.