AFRICA | A brilliant 22-year-old Nigerian lady named Melissa Onwuka has achieved an exceptional academic feat after earning two bachelor’s degrees, one from the United Kingdom and another from Nigeria, within just five years.
Mellissa Story and How She Did It
Melissa’s academic journey began in 2020 when she gained admission to Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom, where she studied Mechanical Engineering.
Despite the challenges of long lab hours, complex fabrication projects, and even sitting for exams while on a hospital bed, Melissa graduated in 2023 with outstanding results.
But she did not stop there. Even before completing her studies in the UK, Melissa had already secured another admission to study Computer Science at Bowen University, Nigeria.
Determined to broaden her knowledge and skillset, she began her second degree immediately after completing her first.
Now, in 2025, Melissa has graduated once again, this time from Bowen University — with Second Class Upper Division Honours in both programs, officially making her a double degree holder at just 22.
Sharing her inspiring journey on LinkedIn, Melissa described her success as a “2-in-1 celebration”, noting that she could not properly celebrate her first graduation, so this time she chose to honour both achievements fully and proudly.
“The last seven years stretched me in every way possible — from 24-hour open-book exams to long hours in fabrication labs, to writing NC code and machining parts from scratch,” she said.
”From writing exams on hospital beds to learning programming languages overnight, God truly carried me through it all,” she wrote.
Melissa’s story is not just about academic excellence, but also about resilience, leadership, and purpose.
While studying, she served as a Global Ambassador for Heriot-Watt University, representing the institution across continents during international engagements and even navigating through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 evacuation period.
Her journey has also been shaped by service and community. She built what she calls more than degrees, a career, a network, and a track record of excellence that continues to inspire many young Nigerians.
“There were seasons when I almost gave up, but my ‘why’ kept me going. Today, I’m proud to say I made it and overcame those challenges,” she said. “I’m deeply grateful to God, my family, my mentors, and especially my mum, whose encouragement and support carried me through this second degree.”
Graduating with Second Class Upper Honours from both universities, Melissa says this milestone is only the beginning. “This is just the start. I’m coming for more degrees, more growth, and more impact,” she said.
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