In 2009, I graduated from University of Ibadan. We had ‘minor ASUU-FG strikes’, some major challenges because of involvement in unionism, but sailed through. Then came Law School.

That’s when a single policy in Lagos changed everything. Fashola restructured Yaba market, and traders’ shops demolished overnight. The microfinance bank where my mum had saved up Law School fees for 3 years? Gone! Just like that. The bank collapsed because it loaned money to shop owners who had just lost everything to demolition

One government policy. One demolition. One incompetent finance institution. And just like that, my law school plans were paused. We had to hustle all over again to raise new fees. That’s why I believe policies and politics must account for the most vulnerable, otherwise it is not policy, it is police.

Before University of Ibadan, I was that kid selling ice cream on the streets of Akoka, running between school hustle and my mum’s small shop. She didn’t have a degree. But she gave me the courage to learn.

After the University of Ibadan, I practiced human rights law, then digital rights law. Later, I moved to tech law. Then tech policy. Now +AI Governance [economics, law, policy].

Japa? Wasn’t even on my mind. In 2015, I got the @WashFellowship, travelled to the @PresPrecinct USA Still, I returened back to Nigeria and continued to work, to build, to impact – also founded @YIM_Nigeria. Then in 2017, I decided to do a Master’s in Research and Public Policy [not in law] at UNILAG than travelling abroad. I believed in Nigeria.

But UNILAG… showed me pepper. Till today – I can tell you that I and many classmates from 2016, 2017, and 2018 are still yet to see our full results of a 2+year Masters, or our transcripts till date. Even after 7+ years, and after developing and presenting our thesis succesfully! We petitioned. Followed up. Wrote letters. Nothing happened – from Faculty of Social Sciences to Senate building – all unsure where the results dissapeared to. So weird!

Many dreams were paused. PhD offers lost. Careers stalled. People spent 2 years of time, money, and effort in a Master’s program — with nothing to show 8 years later . Some never recovered.

After all the disappointment, I decided to go global in pursuing knowledge. After @UnilagNigeria saga, I lost too many international offers because I couldn’t produce a transcript for a program I actually completed.

So, I applied again, this time, using only my first degree, which was 15+ years ago. I left the UNILAG Master’s out of the application completely. What’s the point of claiming a program Unilag can’t prove you did?

God did it, I got in. Now – I’m a @HarvardAlumni. And as a fellow Crimsonite, my heart goes to all international students and the challenges you face now!

I’m not sharing this because I’m special. I’m saying: you too can. Even better. Even younger. Especially with mentorship. Your background should never keep your back on the ground.

This post is both a celebration and a question; Why do public Universities and polytechnics treat students transcripts with impunity after years of hard labor? Why is JAMB still wasting teens’ time in 2025 and cannot apologize intelligibly? Why is WAEC doing same? Why are systems built to frustrate instead of uplift youths and businesses ? Why do we act like fixing education is rocket science, when it isn’t? Why must we massage ‘ego’ before we get what we already earned? Why is it normal for youth to suffer twice — first from poverty, then from a poor system? Why do we mute over police killing a poor citizen and nothing happens? Why? Why? Why?

I made it, but many didn’t. Let’s Pledge not to waste more destinies. PLEASE!

—credit: @timithelaw (Timi Olagunju)