By Okutu David and Okutu Daniel
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 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 exams under a special exemption, with the agreement that we would undergo physical screening immediately afterward.
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. JAMB regulations state that once a candidate is officially admitted into a university, they cannot be arbitrarily sent away unless they violate institutional rules or regulations. Pointing out that our credentials were valid for our original choice, we 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.
Our Advice to Freshmen
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 program, act immediately.
Do not wait. Visit your institution’s ICT center and Admission Unit right away to rectify the error. Delays in course correction can create administrative bottlenecks that manifest as academic and mental stress down the line. If you are not resilient, such obstacles can derail your ambition. Stand up for your academic rights early, stay strong, and trust the process.
