By Abdullateef Faruq
From the bustling city of Ilorin, Kwara State, where he was born and raised, to the arid academic landscape of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), Abdulkareem Abdulrasheed Akere’s journey to academic excellence was anything but ordinary. A first-class graduate of Education Biology from the Faculty of Education and Extension Services, Akere defied the odds, mastering the art of balancing journalism with academic rigour.
Akere’s quest for higher education began in 2019 when he sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), scoring 209 and selecting the University of Ilorin as his first choice. However, his post-UTME score of 36% fell below the required 50% threshold, denying him admission. Undeterred, he tried again the following year, this time selecting UDUS, a school he had never visited before.
“I trusted the process,” he recalled. “I passed UTME again and secured admission, but not into the Medical Laboratory Science programme as my uncle had hoped.”
Faced with an alternative, he took a bold step, switching to Education Biology, a decision that would define his academic journey. “I told myself to work for a first class in this course since it was not as rigorous as medical programmes. But from the very beginning, I realised that first class in UDUS is hard to attain in any discipline. Regardless, I was determined and surrounded myself with like minded students who encouraged academic excellence.”
By the end of his first year, Akere had secured a stellar 4.64 GPA. “My uncle was proud of me, and I wanted to make him even prouder,” he said. His CGPA continued to reflect his dedication—4.65 in 200-level, 4.61 in 300-level, and 4.54 in 400-level.
No Shortcuts to Success
Akere’s academic success was not a result of any special technique, but commitment.
“I never missed lectures, tests, or assignments. I read almost every day. There was no Sunday for students like me who were chasing high dreams. Even the night bore witness to our passage to the lecture halls for overnight reading,” he said.
His strategy was a blend of discipline, time management, and faith.
“I prayed like I never read and read like I never prayed,” he added.
Balancing academics, personal life, and extracurricular engagements required prioritising.
“When I had clashing schedules, I followed the scale of preference, doing what could wait later and focusing on what was urgent,” he said.
Financial constraints posed challenges.
“I often couldn’t afford textbooks, so I relied on soft copies, despite the strain on my eyes. My phone broke down frequently, affecting my studies, but friends came to my aid. In my 200-level, my phone was stolen in class, and I was devastated. However, my friends and senior colleagues contributed to get me a new one,” he said.
Inspired by First-Class Graduates
One of Akere’s greatest motivations was the success stories of outstanding students he had reported on. As a reporter for Pen Press UDUS, he covered the journeys of first-class graduates, many of whom made it to national dailies like The Nation and Nigerian Tribune.
“I was thrilled when one of the graduates I wrote about secured a job at Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Lagos, thanks to my publication. He thanked me immensely, and that moment reinforced my belief in the impact of journalism. There’s no greater joy for journalists than seeing the impact of their stories,” he said.
Beyond reporting, Akere was deeply involved in tutoring, campus journalism, debating, public speaking, and advocacy. His journey in journalism began in 200-level as an opinion writer, earning him the Essayist of the Year Award from the National Association of Campus Journalists (NACJ) in 2023. His early publications with The Nation in 2022 were opinion pieces on national issues like corruption and elections.
“Initially, I sent articles via email, but they weren’t published. Then, I connected with the Editor, Mr. Damola Kola-Dare who encouraged me to keep writing. Through him, I also helped colleagues publish with The Nation,” he stated.
Breaking Barriers, Setting Records
First-class feat was historic, there had been no first-class graduate from his programme in the 2022/2023 session. In 2023/2024, he not only broke the jinx but also emerged as the only male first-class graduate of his set.
“My first class wasn’t accidental. I maintained a CGPA above 4.50 from 100-level till 400-level. I am also the first person in my entire family to achieve this,” he said.
His academic excellence earned him the title of Academic Director for the EDU-BIO Class of 2023, a recognition for his role as a tutorial master.
When asked how he managed to juggle academics and journalism, Akere said: “I attended lectures and conferences during the day to gather stories, then read at night while others slept. I sacrificed sleep because I knew the price of success.”
He also recalled his first breakthrough with The Nation. “During the 2023 election period, I submitted a piece on the elections to the email we were given. To my surprise, it got published. The EIC of my pressboard was the one who informed me, and from then on, I kept writing. Fortunately, I connected with Mr. Damola Kola-Dare, who kept pushing me to write better,” said.
