University of Ibadan Engineering Student Bags Degree 8 Years After His US Visa Was Denied Twice
- A young Nigerian man went viral as he celebrated the completion of his engineering studies at the University of Ibadan
- He opened up about how his visa to the United States of America was denied twice after he got a scholarship abroad
- Her story triggered reactions on social media, as many people congratulated the engineering graduate on his academic feat
A young Nigerian man, Miracle Okeke, signed out of the University of Ibadan (UI) in grand style.
Celebrating his academic feat on social media, an excited Miracle shared that he bagged a second-class upper degree in petroleum engineering from UI.
Source: UGC
From US visa denials to UI engineering degree
On his LinkedIn page, Miracle Okeke shared how he got a scholarship in the United States but his visa was denied twice.
The former departmental president also shared the challenges he faced before gaining admission into UI.
His LinkedIn post read:
"Reintroducing: ๐ข๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ๐บ. ๐๐ ๐ก๐ฆ๐. Bsc. Petroleum Engineering Second Class Honours (Upper Division) University Of Ibadan.
"Last week, I was inducted into the The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) โ a 5-year journey that took almost 7. I didnโt plan to come to UI. In 2018, I earned a scholarship to study at The University of Toledo, but my visa was denied twice! My zeal shattered.
"I wrote JAMB in 2019 and told myself, โLet me sha go to Nigeriaโs best university.โ The journey wasnโt smooth. In ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐, I had my worst session. Family challenges (my mum was in critical condition for a year, on oxygen at some point โ I even missed scholarship exams to stay at the hospital), financial struggles, and other personal battles I never spoke about took a toll.
"My CGPA dipped badly โ 3 Ds in 1 semester ?? I lost confidence. From ๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐, I faced reality and told myself i wonโt fail over situations beyond my control. That semester, I had 7 As and got my confidence back. My Final Year Thesis was โHybrid Oil Production forecasting in marginal Fields using Decline curve Analysis and Machine Learningโ and it earned an โ๐โ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ.
"In UI, I didnโt just chase grades โ I pursued ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ณ๐๐น, ๐ฎ๐น๐น-๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ. I represented the University of Ibadan in both ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ต.
"๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐, ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด: โข Asst Gen Secretary, Vice President, President โ SPE University of Ibadan Student Chapter โข Cohort President โ DWDG UI โข Pre-Collegiate Initiative Chair โ NSBE UI โข Co-Finance Lead, Finance & Partnerships Lead โ BWB UI โข Captain โ Faculty of Technology & Independence Hall Basketball. alongside several committee/team lead roles.
"๐ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ด๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ: โข Scholar โ DWDG Future Leaders Program โข Fellow โ Harvardโs Aspire Institute โข Alumni โ Tube Mentorship Program ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐บ:
"Published my technical research paper on OnePetro (my thesis also just got accepted), presented at top industry conferences & competitions, compered 20+ events, mentored students, and earned 25+ awards/recognition, including my facultyโs Departmental President of the Year Award. Iโm grateful to God, my parents, Mr. Olayiwola, my lecturers, mentors, classmates, and friends."
In a chat with Legit.ng, Miracle shared how he served in his leadership roles as an undergraduate and what worked for him.
His words:
"In my later years, I focused only on leadership roles aligned with my goals โ even declining some positions, and intentionally reduced my participation in sports to give more weight to academics and strategic leadership.
"Balance, for me, was never about doing everything. It was about doing the right thing at the right time, with full presence."
Source: UGC
Netizens celebrate UI engineering graduate
Raphael Obike said:
"Big congratulations to you."
Ebubechukwu Odinaka said:
"Congratulations Miracle."
Abdullah Hammed said:
"Congratulations Miracle."
In a related story, UNILAG's best graduating student shared how he was rejected by the University of Ibadan.
LASU BGS shares admission experience
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Lagos State University's (LASU) best graduating student opened up about her admission experience.
In an insightful interview with Legit.ng, the young lady shared her admission struggle, experience in school, and future goals.
Source: Legit.ng
