A pure water hawker Ugwu Augustus, has reportedly scored 309 and secured a full scholarship into the university after scoring 309 in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Alex Onyia, the founder of Educare, an organisation that prepares candidates for UTME, revealed that Augustus left school two years ago.
Interestingly some of the students who did well in science said that Chibuzo usually stays back to explain further to them what was taught in class before he leaves for the day to sell pure water.
He also created a study group with his classmates where he coaches them on.
He added that he was, however, challenged to join the UTME preparatory class and score above 300 to get a full scholarship.
He wrote, “This youngster from my village, Ugwu Chibuzo Augustus, scored 309 in JAMB. He left school 2 years ago and has been selling pure water in the streets.
“We convinced him to join the JAMB prep program with a promise that he will get a scholarship if he scores above 300. He took up that challenge.”
Onyia recalled Augustus’s commitment to the preparation, saying he comes to classes during the day then goes back to sell pure water on the road.
He also stressed Augustus’s zeal for sharing knowledge, noting some students’ testimony of how he stays back after class to teach them.
“He comes to classes during the day and goes back to sell his pure water after the days classes.
“Interestingly, some of the students who did well in science said that Chibuzo usually stays back to explain further to them what was taught in class before he leaves for the day to sell pure water.
“The group comprised of those who were desperately determined to score above 300 and get the scholarship. They became close friends and studied together always.
“During the monthly assessments he has been consistent with good scores and right now he made it. He has now been enrolled in our full scholarship program.” Augustus wrote.
Amid disappointing statistics from this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Augustus’s achievement stands out as a testament to perseverance and excellence.