A determined Nigerian man named Francis Ezeakunwanne has achieved academic excellence after hustling as a market boy to raise money for his education, eventually graduating with a first-class degree in Accounting with a 4.84 cumulative grade point average.
Francis earned his degree from the University of Lagos, a remarkable achievement considering the financial challenges he faced throughout his academic journey.
Francis's Story and How He Did It
Francis gained admission into the University of Lagos in 2019 after scoring 300 out of 400 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. However, despite securing admission, he struggled to raise money for his school fees.
Determined not to lose the opportunity, Francis began hustling at Kantangowa Market, one of the largest thrift markets in Lagos, where he worked to support himself and pay for his education.
While working to support himself, Francis remained committed to his academic goals. In 2022, during his second year at the university, he sat for the Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS) Exams 1 and 2, organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and successfully passed both in one sitting.
The following year, 2023, he continued the professional journey by writing ATS 3 and the Skills Level exams, again passing them in one sitting, despite the rigorous demands of his university coursework.
In 2024, Francis advanced further in his professional accounting journey by sitting for the Professional Level exams, which he also passed in one sitting.
That same year, his leadership abilities were recognized when he was appointed Director of Research and Development at the Impact Leaders Club, UNILAG Chapter.
Throughout his undergraduate studies, Francis also earned several scholarships that helped support his education and professional exam fees, including the FSB Scholarship, Seplat Energy Scholarship, and SNEPCO Scholarship
Despite balancing work, professional exams, and leadership responsibilities, he maintained excellent academic performance and eventually graduated with one of the highest CGPAs in his class.
Sharing his achievement on LinkedIn, Francis reflected on the years of hard work behind the success.
“That moment was more than a ceremony. It was the closing of a chapter that began years ago with ambition, uncertainty, and a decision to bet on discipline,” he shared.
He recalled moving between the noise of the market and the silence of his books, studying late at night while chasing his dream.
“What you see today as ‘First Class’ was built on consistency in unseen seasons — choosing discipline over comfort, preparation over excuses, and faith over fear,” he said.
Francis says his story proves that a difficult starting point does not determine a person’s future.
“This achievement is not just about grades. It is a reminder that your starting point does not define your finish line,” Francis said.
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