Success in a Nigerian university is rarely a straight path. Behind every outstanding result is a story of pressure, discipline, and difficult moments that test a student’s resolve.
For Damilola Aruna at the University of Lagos, the journey began with challenges from his very first semester. Adjusting to the academic standard at UNILAG was not easy. The workload was heavier than what he was used to, and the competition was intense. Like many students, he had to quickly learn how to manage his time, prepare effectively for exams, and stay focused.
Instead of allowing early difficulties to discourage him, he adopted a growth mindset. After each semester, he reviewed his performance carefully. Where he made mistakes, he corrected them. Where he performed well, he maintained the standard. Gradually, his results improved.
By his second year, his CGPA had become strong. That realization pushed him to aim higher. At first, he simply wanted to graduate with a First Class degree. In Nigeria, a First Class can significantly improve opportunities for scholarships, postgraduate studies, and competitive jobs. It is a goal many students dream about but few achieve.
As his academic record continued to improve in his third year, he set an even more ambitious target for himself. He aimed to graduate with a 4.90 CGPA. It was a bold goal, but he believed consistency and discipline would make it possible.
Then came a major setback.
In the first semester of his fourth year, he received a C grade for the first time in his university journey. It happened twice in the same semester. The experience was painful, especially because he had expected an A in one of the courses. He had prepared thoroughly and believed he had performed well.
He made several attempts to meet the lecturer to better understand the grading. Due to the lecturer’s tight schedule, he could not secure a proper meeting. The situation was frustrating.
At that moment, he faced a choice. He could become bitter and lose motivation, or he could move forward with maturity.
He chose maturity.
In his final year, the same lecturer later became his project supervisor. Instead of revisiting past grievances, he focused on building a positive academic relationship. He treated the lecturer with respect and remained open to learning.
According to him, he eventually came to appreciate the lecturer not just as a teacher, but as a mentor.
Although his personal target of graduating with a 4.90 CGPA did not materialize because of earlier setbacks, something remarkable happened. He graduated as the Best Graduating Student in his department.
That achievement did not come from one perfect semester. It was the result of steady performance over the years, consistent effort, and the ability to recover from disappointment.
Reflecting on his undergraduate journey at UNILAG, he admitted that some challenges were beyond his control. Yet he remained disciplined. He stayed focused on his long term goal. He also maintained his faith and expressed deep gratitude to God, his parents, friends, lecturers, mentors, and colleagues who supported him throughout the journey.
His story is a reminder to Nigerian students that academic success is not about avoiding failure completely. It is about learning, adjusting, and pressing forward.
One unexpected grade does not define your future. One difficult semester does not cancel years of hard work.
Looking back at his time at the University of Lagos, he summarized his experience in three simple words.
God did it.
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