I Came With ₦500, I Left With a Degree’: LASU Graduate Shares Remarkable Journey

A graduate of English from Lagos State University (LASU), Sakariyah Ridwanullah, has shared the remarkable story of how he overcame financial hardship, uncertainty and difficult living conditions to earn a Second-Class Upper degree from the university.

Ridwanullah, who graduated during LASU’s 29th Convocation, recalled arriving at the university with just ₦500 in his possession, with no clear idea of how he would survive or where he would stay.

According to him, his university journey began with depression, confusion and uncertainty, as he arrived at LASU about three weeks after academic activities had already commenced.

“I walked into Lagos State University with a ₦500 note, depression, confusion and no idea how I was going to survive,” he recalled.

He explained that after summoning the courage to leave for LASU, he entered the university premises pretending to know where he was going, despite being unfamiliar with the environment.

The only place he could identify at the time, he said, was the university’s Central Mosque.

For about a week, Ridwanullah slept on the balcony of the mosque, while battling mosquitoes and the harsh realities of his new environment.

He said the experience became so overwhelming at some point that he considered abandoning his university education and sitting for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination again.

However, his long-standing dream of obtaining a university degree kept him from giving up.

“I had dreamt of university for too long to surrender that easily,” he said.

His fortunes began to change after he discovered the Young Grammarians’ Hub, an academic community that rekindled his passion for the English language and connected him with people who supported his development.

It was there, he said, that he met a senior student who recognised his potential and taught him how to make a living without compromising his academic pursuits.

Determined to survive and complete his education, Ridwanullah embraced several legitimate opportunities.

He taught, tutored students, wrote, debated, participated in competitions, joined organisations and attended academic events, while continuously searching for honest ways to support himself.

Despite the demanding nature of combining academics with various income-generating activities, he remained focused on his ultimate objective — earning his university degree.

“There were days I was tired and wondered why I was doing so much. But one thing kept me going: I wanted the degree,” he recalled.

Years after entering LASU with virtually nothing, Ridwanullah has now graduated with a Second-Class Honours, Upper Division in English.

Beyond the academic qualification, however, his university experience has equipped him with several professional and creative skills.

He said he left LASU not only as a graduate but also as a public speaker, writer, poet, journalist, editor, proofreader and baker.

He has also begun building his professional career, having secured a paid internship with a United Kingdom-based news media organisation.

Reflecting on his journey, Ridwanullah described his experience at LASU as one that began with uncertainty and hardship but eventually ended with gratitude and a sense of fulfilment.

“What began with depression and confusion ended with appreciation,” he said.

Summarising the remarkable transformation, he added: “Alhamdulillah. I came with ₦500. I left with a degree and a story.”

His story has emerged as one of the inspiring personal accounts associated with LASU’s 29th Convocation, highlighting the resilience of students who navigate significant personal and financial challenges in pursuit of higher education.

For Ridwanullah, however, graduation is not the end of the journey.

With a degree in English, experience across writing, journalism, public speaking, editing and other fields, and a growing professional career, he sees his graduation as the beginning of a new chapter.

“And this is only the beginning,” he said.