Young Man Who Dropped out of UDUS Finds Success and Graduation at KASU

In 2013, a year after graduating from secondary school, Victor Samuel sat for the JAMB exam, hoping to secure a spot to study Computer Science at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria. Unfortunately, his dreams were dashed when he wasn't offered admission. Undeterred, he tried again in 2014, this time applying for the same course at Usman Danfodio University (UDUS), Sokoto. But instead of Computer Science, he was offered BSc Statistics, a field that, deep down, he knew wasn’t his strong suit. Struggling with mathematics, he faced a tough decision but, driven by the desire to attend university, he decided to give it a try, with the encouragement of family and friends. His cousin Dorcas Abbah’s words still resonate: "Guy, people wey dey do am no get two heads. You fit do am, no worry."

With renewed hope, Victor embarked on his academic journey at UDUS, but it was not easy. While he made friends and enjoyed the social aspect of university life, his academics proved to be a struggle. At the end of his first year, his results were discouraging, but he was determined not to give up. As he put it, "Giving up was way harder than trying."

But as time passed and Victor reached 300 level, things only worsened. Numerous carryovers piled up, and reality hit him hard. His mental health began to deteriorate, and he fell into a quiet depression. It wasn’t until his uncle, Emma Umar, noticed something was wrong that he finally opened up. During a visit home for the semester holiday, his uncle took him aside for a heartfelt conversation. "For the first time in a while, I felt a sense of relief, like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders," Victor recalls.

His uncle, sensing the weight of his struggles, advised him to drop out and start over. "Your results at UDUS would be of little value in the real world," his uncle said. It was an incredibly difficult decision, especially after investing three years and countless resources into his education. Victor had kept his struggles a secret from his parents, and breaking the news to them was painful. "The disappointment on their faces was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever experienced," he says. "For days, I felt like a stranger in my own house. But my mum never ceased to encourage me, reminding me that she would support me in any way she could."

In 2017, Victor made the decision to drop out of UDUS. In 2018, he sat for another JAMB exam, this time applying for Estate Management at Kaduna State University (KASU). But as he waited for the admission list, doubts crept in. He saw his former coursemates from UDUS graduate and it stung. "It was a bittersweet moment," he admits. "It was heartbreaking, but I had to move on."

While waiting, Victor considered switching to a more reliable institution to avoid another setback, but his friend Zuasham Jael Victor, a current student at KASU, encouraged him to hold on. "She was confident that I would be offered admission," he recalls. He decided to trust her advice and wait patiently.

The day the admission list was released, Victor faced a new hurdle: he couldn't log into his JAMB profile to check. After frantic searching and scouring Facebook groups, he found his name on the first list. "I jumped out of bed and rushed to share the news with my mom," Victor recalls, his eyes lighting up at the memory. "Tears of joy streamed down my face as I realized that I had made it."

Yet, this was only the beginning. Upon arriving at KASU for registration, Victor discovered that his JAMB subject combination didn’t align with his choice of Estate Management. The course was switched to Quantity Surveying, but to finalize the change, he had to travel to the main campus in Kaduna. The process was stressful and uncertain. "I feared losing my admission, but I kept praying and trusting in God," he says.

The road to his matriculation was far from smooth. Even after the course change was approved, there was an issue with his registration details. His information was still in the Estate Management database, and it took nearly a month to resolve. "But some kind ICT staff treated my problem like their own," he says gratefully. "They made calls and took action, and eventually, everything was sorted."

Victor’s journey at KASU was full of challenges, but he never gave up. "I was determined to succeed this time," he says. "I gave it my all, praying every step of the way." The COVID-19 pandemic and ASUU strikes caused delays, but Victor’s faith remained unshaken.

The final blow came in 2023 when Victor lost his beloved cousin, who was an Architecture student at KASU. His cousin was set to graduate, but tragically passed away before he could celebrate that achievement. "It was a heart-wrenching loss, and I had always imagined celebrating that day with him," Victor reflects, his voice thick with emotion. "But I choose to trust God, even in the darkest moments."

Today, Victor proudly stands as a graduate of Kaduna State University, with his academic struggles and setbacks behind him. "This day marks the end of my long journey, and it is one of the happiest moments of my life," he says. "I want to thank my parents, siblings, and friends for their unwavering support. I dedicate this day to my late brother, Joe, who dreamed of this moment but didn’t live to see it, and most importantly, I give all the glory to God Almighty."

Victor Samuel’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, faith, and the unwavering support of family and friends. Despite the many obstacles, he never gave up on his dream. His journey reminds us all that no matter how difficult the path, with determination and faith, success is possible.

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