Be Inspired! 45-Year-Old Dad-Of-7, Bala Magaji Emerged NOUN’s Best Graduating Student

While many Nigerians without a formal education would use age and family responsibilities as a claim for not getting the proper education, a 45-year-old married father of seven has challenged that claim.

Married to two wives, Mr Magaji on Saturday emerged the best graduating student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for the 2018/19 academic year. Mr Magaji in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES said;

”I feel very happy and excited today and I will recommend the school because it is one of the best in the country and it has rich materials.”

When asked about how he was able to combine his academics and marriage, the polygamist said;

”I had to tell my wife to sacrifice every time she said she needed me and that is why I had to praise and thank her in my speech.

I had the feeling that I will perform exceedingly well so I created time to study and I ensured I understood all I read. On the average, I read two to three hours daily and had lots of sleepless night.”

Mr Magaji recorded a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.8. He advised the management of the university to start a postgraduate degree in courses they are yet to have the programme. He said;

”I will like to teach Islamic studies later.”

Information gathered reveals that Mr Magaji currently works at Unity Bank and he has a previous degree in Zoology from the University of Jos and a Masters degree in Banking and Finance from Bayero University, Kano.

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In his welcome address, the vice chancellor of the institution, Abdalla Adamu, said 20,799 students graduated, the highest in the school’s history. Last year, 14,769 graduated from the university.

Speaking on the academic development of the school, the pro-chancellor of the institution, Peter Okebukola, said the management is confident that the authorities of the Council of Legal Education and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) would discuss with NOUN on how to end the discrimination against NOUN graduates so that they can access the services offered by the agencies.

Mr Okebukola urged all the graduates to concentrate on their life’s endeavour.

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