- Okutu David and Okutu Daniel recount how an unexpected university course placement disrupted their first year and tested their resilience.
- The twins say administrative delays after their transfer to Cyber Security left them carrying courses they had not initially been able to register for.
- David and Daniel urge newly admitted students to resolve admission and course-placement problems early before they develop into larger academic challenges.
When we received our admission offers to Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, it was a moment of immense relief and accomplishment — or so we thought.
We had originally applied for Cyber Security, knowing fully well that our O’Level results met all the necessary requirements for the course. However, upon logging into the school portal, we discovered that we had been admitted into Physics with Electronics.
Confused and uncertain, our family watched as we waited for months for our Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admission status to update.
The official JAMB admission letter finally arrived just days before our first-semester examinations. Because of the timing, we were allowed to sit for our examinations under a special exemption, with the agreement that we would undergo physical screening immediately afterward.
An unexpected setback after admission
When we presented our documents for screening after the first semester, we were met with another unexpected setback.
The screening officer informed us that we did not meet the O’Level requirements for Physics with Electronics. Rather than rectifying the initial placement error, the initial recommendation was to direct us to the Admission Unit to be cleared out of the institution.
Knowing our rights as students, we stood our ground.
We pointed out that our credentials were valid for our original choice and requested to be transferred to the department we had qualified for in the first place: Cyber Security.
The Admission Unit granted the transfer, but the transition came at a heavy cost.
The administration failed to process our course registration adjustments in a timely manner. Consequently, we were forced to carry over several departmental courses from the first semester.
Navigating those unearned carryovers during our 100-level year took a heavy toll on our mental health. The frustration and sense of unfairness were overwhelming.
However, as twins leaning on one another, we made a conscious decision not to let the situation define our future.
We told ourselves that hardship is relative and that others have faced even greater hurdles. We resolved to keep smiling, stay disciplined in our studies and maintain a balanced life through it all.
Now in our 300-level year, we look back on that period with gratitude. It was not by our own power, but by the grace of God, that we overcame the stress and kept our academic goals intact.
What newly admitted students can learn
To every newly admitted student in Nigeria: if your university places you in a course you did not choose, but your O’Level and UTME results satisfy the requirements for your desired programme, act immediately.
Do not wait.
Visit your institution’s ICT centre and Admission Unit right away to seek clarification and rectify the problem where possible.
Delays in course correction can create administrative bottlenecks that later manifest as academic and mental stress.
If you are not resilient, such obstacles can derail your ambition.
Stand up for your academic interests early, stay strong and follow the appropriate admission procedures.
Our experience taught us that university education is not shaped only by lectures, examinations and grades. Sometimes, the administrative challenges encountered along the way can also teach resilience, patience and the importance of speaking up when something appears wrong.
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What initially felt like an unfair setback became one of the experiences that shaped our university journey.
By Okutu David and Okutu Daniel
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