A brilliant Nigerian man named Jubril Agbalaya, who worked as a cement loader to sponsor his education, has achieved success.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics with an outstanding 4.86/5.00 cumulative grade point average from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria.
With his performance, Jubril emerged as the Second Overall Best Graduating Student of the university, proving that resilience, sacrifice, and determination can change any story.
Jubril's Story and How He Did It
Jubril’s journey to this achievement was not a smooth one. Before gaining admission into university, he was learning welding as an apprentice.
But when the time came to pursue higher education, he made a difficult decision to pause the apprenticeship and find work that could help finance his studies.
In 2019, he began working as a cement loader, carrying heavy bags of cement daily to save money for school fees and educational expenses.
With the small wages he earned, he not only funded his own education but also helped support his mother, who often carried much of the family’s financial burden while his father worked as a petty trader in Kano State.
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Jubril also shared that as the first in his family to enroll in the university, he was determined to achieve success and make his jorney a meaningful one
He gained admission into LAUTECH in 2022 with a JAMB score of 206/400. According to him, his academic background was not initially strong, but he refused to let that define him.
Instead, he surrounded himself with focused students, especially medical students who inspired discipline and made serious studying part of his lifestyle. Jubril revealed that he studied for an average of 19 hours daily during his undergraduate years.
After every semester examination, he would travel to Ibadan immediately to work and raise money for the next semester. And in 2026, he graduated with a impressive grade and as the second highest in the whole institution in his graduating class.
Reflecting on his journey, Jubril shared on Linkedin that tears filled his eyes when he was recognized as the university’s second-best graduating student because it reminded him of every struggle he had overcome since 2018.
Jubril did not only excel academically, but he also left a leadership legacy. He served as president of the Nigerian Economics Students Association, LAUTECH Chapter, and a member of the Student Caretaker Committee.
He also graduated with the highest CGPA ever recorded in both his department and faculty, alongside receiving multiple awards for academic excellence and leadership.
Talking about his achievement, Jubril said it serves as an inspiration that one’s background should not determine one’s journey. “Your poor background should not put your back on the ground,” he said.
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