How I Got Admission to Study a Course I Knew Nothing About, Spent 11 Years to Graduate

The story of Hassan Abdullahi, a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has struck a chord with many Nigerians after he revealed how an academic journey meant to last four years stretched into 11 due to wrong course placement, family rejection, and financial hardship.

Abdullahi, who hails from Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State, shared his story in an interview with The Nigeria Education News, describing his long stay in the university as a tale of “trials, tribulations, and resilience.”

He explained that he was admitted in 2013 to study Geology, a course he knew nothing about, and soon discovered he could not cope. “I didn’t even know what Geology was all about. I chose it without knowing whether it was a perfect fit for me or not, and unfortunately, I didn’t realize that until I was in my final year. My results were terrible, with more carryovers than you can imagine,” he recounted.

Faced with the prospect of never graduating, Abdullahi decided to switch to Geography in 2018. But breaking the news to his family was another battle. “My parents were angry to the extent that they said they didn’t trust me anymore and couldn’t invest in my education again. Some family members started spreading rumours that I was a dropout. Neighbours even called me a failure,” he said.

Determined to prove them wrong, Abdullahi began to sponsor himself through the federal government’s N-Power programme and by running a graphics design business. “I found a way to sponsor myself back to academics. Even people who wanted to see me fail started admiring my resilience and hard work,” he said, adding that friends later stepped in to pay his tuition when things got tough.

Though he eventually reconciled with his parents, tragedy struck when his father died of blood cancer before he could witness his graduation. “I am sad that he’s not here to see this, but I know if he were here, he would be proud,” Abdullahi said emotionally.

Reflecting on his journey, he stressed that faith kept him going. “My lowest point was when my family abandoned me. What kept me going was my belief that Allah would not test me beyond my capacity. I held onto the verse: ‘Verily, with hardship comes relief.’”

Now a Geography graduate, Abdullahi doubles as a professional graphic designer, using his skills to sustain himself and impact his community. On lessons learned, he described failure as a teacher and urged parents to let their children choose courses aligned with their passion.

“SUICIDE IS NOT AN OPTION,” he emphasized, recalling the cases of students who gave up on life due to academic struggles. “Parents should talk to their kids because sometimes people hide a lot of pain behind a smile. Universities also need to strengthen counselling services and expand summer courses to help students with carryovers.”