Ep 9: JAMB Gave Me 141, UNILORIN Gave Me First Class - How I Did It

She scored 141 in her first JAMB attempt. For many students, a result like that can feel like the end of the road. But for Barakat Jummai Banni, it became the beginning of a different journey. She went back, cleared her O’Level papers, changed her approach, and scored 242 in her next JAMB attempt. That result opened the door to study Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). But getting admission was only the beginning. Barakat started university with a 3.95 GPA and gradually improved until she graduated with a 4.66/5.00 CGPA and First Class Honours. Her journey was not without challenges. She speaks about navigating university without receiving a scholarship, grant, or bursary, while continuing to pursue academic excellence. But what makes her story even more interesting is how she approached engineering. During her undergraduate years, she worked on a smart shoe project designed to support visually impaired and blind people, exploring how engineering can be used to solve real-life problems. In this episode of Stories That Build, Barakat shares: • Her journey from 141 to 242 in JAMB • What she changed between her two JAMB attempts • How she improved from a 3.95 GPA to 4.66 CGPA • The habits, discipline and consistency behind her First Class • Her experience studying Biomedical Engineering • The financial challenges she faced during university • Her smart shoe project for visually impaired people • Lessons she learned about failure, growth and self-belief • What she hopes to build with her engineering knowledge Her story is a reminder that a disappointing result can be information, not a verdict on your ability. Your starting point matters, but it does not have to define your destination. 🎙️ Stories That Build Real people. Real journeys. Real lessons. Because every story is still being built. #StoriesThatBuild #JAMB #FirstClass #UNILORIN #BiomedicalEngineering #JAMBToFirstClass #StudentSuccess #AcademicExcellence #Nigeria