I sat for UTME six times – 26 year old first class graduate

Idoko, a native of Udaburu Owukpa, Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State, said his dream of becoming a medical doctor or pharmacist was frustrated after sitting for UTME for five times without success.

A 26 year old first class graduate of  the Department of Applied Chemistry, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Simon Godwin Idoko, has opened up on how he was able to scale through the hurdles to pass out in flying colours in school.

He also revealed that before he could gain admission into the university, he sat for UTME at six different times.

Idoko, a native of Udaburu Owukpa, Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State, said his dream of becoming a medical doctor or pharmacist was frustrated after sitting for UTME for five times without success.

Still not discouraged, Godwin decided to apply for a different science-related course and was offered to study Applied Chemistry at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto where he graduated with a first class, garnering a total of 4.75 CGPA.

According to Daily Post, the former student of Wesley High School, Otukpo, and LGEA Primary School, Udaburu, Owukpa attributed his success to God and hard work.
He said:

“I left secondary school in 2007 from Wesley High School, Otukpo where I was awarded the overall best in Mathematics. I took UTME six times before I got admission to study Applied Chemistry. I was initially applying for Medicine and Surgery due to the advice from different people.

“I have never scored below 200 in UTME and the most disappointing time during the period of struggling to get admission was when I scored 264 in UTME and 68 in Post UTME in 2012 but I was not offered admission to study any course.

“The only course I was offered throughout the period of the six years was the course that I studied (Applied Chemistry). It was very frustrating then.”

Recalling his challenges and the pain he went through, the young chemist said:

“By the grace of God, I didn’t face financial challenges due to the constant support from my parents, Chief & Mrs. Simon Omonu Idoko as well as my uncle, Dr. Idoko Emmanuel Omale.

Additionally, NNPC/Total scholarship and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) scholarship that I won contributed in no small measure to my well-being in the university. However, one of my challenges was acclimatizing to the harsh weather condition in Sokoto