By Alabi Maryam
In 2016, Safiya Shuabu completed her secondary school education with the aspiration of becoming a medical student. She had applied for a degree in Medical Laboratory Science (M.L.S). However, fate took a different turn in 2019 when she secured admission into Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, albeit with a change in her course to Agricultural Science with a focus on Forestry.
Despite the unexpected shift, Safiya embraced the five-year journey after receiving a wave of support and encouragement from family and friends. Her enthusiasm for the new course was solidified when she excelled in her first-year exams, achieving outstanding results.
Throughout her academic journey, Safiya realizes that succeeding in her new field requires dedication and robust focus.
”I do not regret choosing the course, even though I may find the other course difficult if that is what was given to me”, she trails excitedly.
Similarly, Hamidah Omorilewa Ahmad experienced a change in her academic path. After completing her secondary education and sitting for her SSCE in 2019, she initially aimed to study Law at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. Unfortunately, her JAMB scores did not meet the requirements for Law, leading her to be admitted into the Literature-in-English program.
Although Hamidah had originally aspired to study Law, she found solace in Literature, which had been her dream course before being influenced by her secondary school teacher.
According to her, she never regretted studying Literature as her disciplinary field because of her fondness for reading, although her fondness has been inspired by studying Islamic-related courses.
“I have no regrets about studying Literature. My love for reading has always been strong, though I had an interest in Islamic studies as well,” she said.
“Where life has met me so far, I would really love to study a related course.”
I embrace the unexpected course—Isiaq Ibrahim
Isiaq Ibrahim resorted to giving a try to the altered course of Primary Education when it remained unchanged in the first and second admissions he was offered.
Like any other student, when he completed his secondary level in 2017, his dream was to study Business Administration and he wrote a jamb in 2018 with a change in his desired course, he did not feel deterred, so he wrote another jamb 2019 with the hope of giving his applied course but fate strikes him again with the same course he was given, he then resorts to give his new course a try.
“I was offered primary education in both the two times I wrote my JAMB. The first one I was offered admission to Ekiti State University (EKSU) and the second year is Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS)”
“This is the best course I cherish, I developed an interest in it, and I found my pleasure”, he beams excitedly.
From Nursing Dream to Agriculture
Muhammad Hawua, a 500-level student from the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, shared her own story of the story.
Hawau was unlucky to meet up with the cut-off mark in her first attempt for Nursing at Ahmadu Bello University, A.B.U Zaria.
However, in 2018, her hope was dampened on the second attempt when she traveled to Kebbi State University for the screening,, which produced no positive result. Downcast and feeling rejected, she was enlightened by her brother to change to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto.
Hawau was offered Agriculture Science in place of her dream Course, Nursing, at UDUS. She accepted the course gladly after a series of encouragement from family and friends.
” I was offered agriculture not knowing that it will later turn my preferred course of study. Agricultural science is a great course, it accrues a lot of benefits, being in different feeds like crops, Economic, Animals rears into business and many”