A resilient Nigerian man named Sheu Tijani Lawal has defied difficult life circumstances to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science with Second Class Upper Honours from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
His inspiring academic journey was marked by hardship, including the loss of both parents and several personal setbacks, yet he remained determined to pursue his education.
Tijani's Story and How He Did It
His early academic life came with different challenges. As a junior secondary school student, he struggled academically and did not initially see himself attending university.
“Whenever teachers asked about our university dreams, I stayed quiet. I didn’t see myself as university material,” he recalled sharing his journey on LinkedIn.
His challenges deepened when tragedy struck early in his life. He lost his mother while in junior secondary school, and years later, in 2017, he lost his father just as he was preparing for his first attempt at university admission.
After finishing secondary school, Tijani decided to rethink his future and prepare himself for life’s uncertainties.
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He chose to learn tailoring, believing that acquiring a practical skill would help him survive financially if opportunities did not come easily.
“I said to myself that before I do anything, I need to learn a skill, because if I don’t do that, I’ll suffer in life,” he said.
Tijani sat for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination three times in pursuit of university admission, scoring 238 in 2017, 232 in 2018, and 272 in 2019.
He initially planned to study at Kwara State University, but changed his decision because of the high tuition fees for non-indigenes.
Tijani later applied to the University of Ilorin, hoping to study Economics. Sadly, his father passed away three days before the university’s post-UTME examination. Despite the grief, he still went ahead to write the exam, but was not admitted.
Eventually, after several attempts and sponsoring his own application process, Tijani secured admission in 2019 to study Actuarial Science at the University of Lagos.
University life also came with its own trials. During his first year, Tijani lost two siblings, his family home was demolished, and he ended the academic session with a 3.33 GPA.
Rather than giving up, he decided to work harder. “I prayed to God for at least one first-class semester GPA, and He gave me two,” he said.
Tijani also worked while studying, participating in the work-study program on campus to support himself financially.
Over time, he improved his academic performance significantly, eventually achieving a 4.59 GPA in his best semester.
Beyond academics, he remained actively involved in extracurricular activities. He volunteered in faculty and departmental programs and co-headed the welfare unit for the Career Expo and SEP program during his final year.
After six years, extended by the COVID-19 pandemic and university strikes, Tijani graduated with a final CGPA of 4.15 out of 5.0, earning a Second Class Upper Honours degree.
Throughout his journey, Tijani credits his brother’s support, faith in God, and personal determination for helping him overcome life’s obstacles.
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