AFRICA | A determined young Nigerian man, Cyril Dambo, has finally reaped the reward of years of sacrifice and persistence, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Health Sciences from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Nigeria.
His achievement is remarkable as he achieved success after a challenging academic journey that lasted nearly a decade. Cyril’s story is one marked by loss, sacrifice, resilience, and unwavering determination.
Cyril's Story and How He Did It
He completed his secondary school education in 2013, but gaining admission into higher education proved difficult.
After four attempts at writing JAMB, he finally secured admission in 2016 into the National Diploma (ND) programme in Animal Health and Production Technology at the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, ABU.
Although grateful for the opportunity, Cyril knew his ultimate goal was to earn a university degree, as shared on his Facebook.
He pursued the diploma with dedication and completed it successfully in 2018, after which he applied for Direct Entry admission into a degree programme.
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By late 2019, he received two admission offers, one to continue for his HND and another to enter directly into the second year of a B.Sc. programme at ABU.
Choosing the path that aligned with his long-term dream, he opted for the degree programme, even though it meant committing to a longer academic journey.
However, tragedy struck just three days before resumption when he lost his father, whom he depended on for financial support. This left him grieving, and suddenly without financial support, Cyril faced a difficult reality.
Rather than burden his mother, who already had two other children in tertiary institutions, Cyril decided to shoulder his educational expenses himself. He paid his registration fees using savings from jobs he took after completing his ND programme.
But upon resumption, he faced another challenge: the ASUU strike and the outbreak of COVID-19 forced schools to shut down, delaying academic progress.
During this period, Cyril returned to Kaduna, where he learned popcorn making, a skill that would later sustain him through university.
When academic activities eventually resumed in 2021, he launched his popcorn business on campus, popping corn using borrowed equipment and moving from class to class to sell to students.
By 2023, he was able to set up a more stable stand outside ABU’s North Gate, selling popcorn consistently. Ironically, shortly after lectures resumed in 2022, another ASUU strike shut down the university again for nearly a year, further extending his academic journey.
Despite these setbacks, Cyril continued working tirelessly. His popcorn business became his lifeline, paying his school fees, rent, daily needs, and even helping him support his siblings.
In 2024, he finally secured permission to sell inside campus during convocation activities — something he had pursued since 2021.
To honor the business that carried him through school, Cyril decided to make popcorn one final time on his own convocation day, closing that chapter exactly the way it began. Today, he celebrates not just earning a degree, but proving to himself that perseverance pays off.
Reflecting on his journey, Cyril shared that the experience strengthened him and taught him patience, resilience, and faith. His story stands as proof that with determination, hard work, and faith, it is possible to overcome even the toughest circumstances.
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