If there is ever a story that defines the Nigerian spirit of resilience, it is that of Emmanuel Ali.
Here at Kawe È Africa , we often hear stories of academic struggles, but rarely do we come across a journey as persistent and inspiring as Emmanuel’s. After seven years of trying, eight UTME attempts, and completing an entirely different degree in the process, Emmanuel has finally secured admission to study his dream course: Medicine and Surgery (MBBS). He narrated this story in a post on his Linkedin page six days ago and the post went viral
His story is a powerful reminder that delays are not denials.
The UNIBEN Years: A Rough Start (2017–2020)
Emmanuel’s pursuit of the medical profession began in 2017. Fresh out of secondary school, he set his sights on the University of Benin (UNIBEN). However, the competitive nature of medicine in Nigeria proved to be a formidable wall.
For four consecutive years, Emmanuel sat for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams, but despite his consistency, he could not meet the cut-off.
His scores during this period tell a story of struggle:
- 2017: 214 (UNIBEN)
- 2018: 225 (UNIBEN)
- 2019: 209 (UNIBEN)
- 2020: 237 (UNIBEN)
By 2020, with no admission letter in hand, Emmanuel had to make a tough call. He reluctantly accepted admission to study Education Biology at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
The “Double Agent”: Student and Aspirant
For most people, gaining admission into the university marks the end of writing JAMB. For Emmanuel, it was just a detour. While attending lectures for Education Biology, he kept his eyes on the ultimate prize.
He continued to sit for the UTME while actively pursuing his undergraduate degree:
- 2021: He scored 239 (Applied to UNIBEN again, but was not admitted).
- 2022: He improved significantly to 271 (Switched choice to ESUT, yet admission remained elusive).
At this point, fatigue set in. Emmanuel admits he considered giving up on the MBBS dream to focus solely on his Education degree. He skipped the 2023 JAMB to focus on his final year.
Follow Us on Social Media
The Breakthrough
In his final year, the fire was rekindled. Emmanuel decided he would not graduate without one last fight. He registered for the 2024 UTME and scored a massive 293, choosing ESUT as his first choice.
Heartbreakingly, he was not admitted.
In August 2024, Emmanuel completed his programme and graduated with a B.Sc. in Education Biology. He was now a graduate, but he still wasn’t a doctor.
Refusing to settle, he decided to give it one more try post-graduation. He sat for the exam again this year, smashing his previous records with a score of 302.
This time, the story changed. With that score, he finally secured a spot to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Borno State.
A Victory Well Earned
From a score of 214 in 2017 to 302 in his final attempt; from a secondary school leaver to a University Graduate and now a Medical Student. Emmanuel Ali’s journey is one for the history books.
In his own words shared with our team:
“Congratulations to myself! I am thrilled and grateful to finally be on the path to realizing my dream.”
We at Kawe È Africa celebrate Emmanuel Ali today. His story proves that it doesn’t matter how long it takes—as long as you don’t stop moving, you will get there.