- A Nigerian lady identified as @ayomie on X (formerly Twitter) shared her emotional academic journey.
- She dropped out of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) during her final year due to burnout.
- A motivational tweet by Oloye Akin Alabi in 2017 inspired her to start over at Lead City University.
- After years of perseverance, she graduated successfully and received her NYSC call-up letter.
- Her story has gone viral, with many praising her courage and resilience.
A Nigerian woman has captured hearts online after recounting her emotional path from academic exhaustion to ultimate victory. Known on X (formerly Twitter) as @ayomie, she revealed how she made the life-changing decision to drop out of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) at the brink of graduation, only to begin afresh at another institution — a move that has now inspired thousands.
According to her account, the struggles of staying afloat through years of rigorous coursework had taken a toll on her spirit. By her fourth year at FUTA, she found herself emotionally drained, uncertain of her purpose, and on the verge of giving up entirely. The turning point came in 2017 when she stumbled upon a viral post by politician and entrepreneur Oloye Akin Alabi, which read:
“You are 30 so don’t want to go for a 5-year course because when you finish you will be 35. Whether you go back or not, you will be 35 in 5 years.”
Those words, she said, “changed everything.” That same day, she decided to walk away from a university she had spent nearly five years in — an unimaginable move for many — and start all over again at Lead City University.
The decision, though terrifying, became the foundation for her comeback story. Years later, she proudly announced her graduation and shared the moment she received her NYSC posting letter, symbolizing the completion of a journey that had once seemed impossible.
Her post quickly went viral, drawing admiration from Nigerians who applauded her bravery and perseverance. Many saw her story as proof that life doesn’t always follow a straight line — and that success sometimes means having the courage to begin again.
In a society where dropping out is often seen as failure, @ayomie’s story flips the narrative — showing that quitting isn’t always the end; sometimes, it’s the beginning of something more meaningful. Her decision to abandon four years of study was not an act of defeat, but one of self-awareness and courage.
Her journey also raises important reflections about mental health and academic pressure in Nigerian universities. Too often, students push themselves to the brink for the sake of “finishing,” even when the process drains their passion and purpose.
The viral quote that inspired her — “you will be 35 either way” — captures a timeless truth about time and courage: life doesn’t stop because you restart. Her story serves as a reminder that growth isn’t linear, and sometimes, the boldest success stories are written by those who dare to start over when everyone expects them to give up.
