Nigerians Hail As Frustrated UNILAG Student Becomes Harvard Graduate

Timi Olagunju has risen from being a street-side ice cream seller in Lagos to Harvard graduate and his story is turning into an inspiration for many facing the harsh realities of the Nigerian system.

In a heartfelt story that has stirred emotions across social media, Nigerian lawyer and tech policy expert, Timi Olagunju (@timithelaw on X), has shared his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Akoka, Lagos, to earning a postgraduate degree from the prestigious Harvard University.

But Timi Olagunju’s story isn’t just about personal success — it’s a powerful reflection on resilience, policy failures, and the challenges many Nigerian youths face in their pursuit of education and progress.

“Harvard postgrad, done and dusted! Praise God,” he wrote. But what followed in his post was not the usual celebration of academic success. Instead, it was a moving account of delays, disappointments, and systemic failures — and how he rose above them.

Timi Olagunju graduated from the University of Ibadan in 2009, having weathered the storms of academic strikes and student activism. He was set for Law School when life took a sudden turn. “One government policy. One demolition. One incompetent finance institution. And just like that, my law school plans were paused,” he recalled.

His mother had saved for years, but when the Lagos State government demolished Yaba market under Governor Fashola’s administration, the microfinance bank holding their funds collapsed. It had loaned heavily to affected traders — including his mother — and could not survive the fallout.

This sudden misfortune was a painful lesson: “That’s why I believe policies and politics must account for the most vulnerable, otherwise it is not policy, it is police,” he said.

Still, Timi pushed forward. Before university, he was the boy selling ice cream on the streets. After graduation, he became a human rights lawyer, then transitioned into digital rights, and later into tech policy and AI governance.

His commitment to Nigeria remained strong. Even after being selected for the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2015 and traveling to the U.S., he returned home to work and even turned down international opportunities to pursue a Master’s in Research and Public Policy at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 2017.

But UNILAG, he said, was one of his most disheartening experiences.

“Till today — I can tell you that I and many classmates from 2016, 2017, and 2018 are still yet to see our full results of a 2+ year Masters, or our transcripts till date. Even after 7+ years,” he wrote. Despite completing their theses and doing everything required, transcripts were never issued. Petitioning the university led nowhere. Careers were stalled. PhD offers were lost. “People spent 2 years of time, money, and effort in a Master’s program — with nothing to show 8 years later. Some never recovered.”

So when he applied to Harvard, he left out the UNILAG degree entirely, using only his University of Ibadan credentials from over 15 years ago.

“I made it, but many didn’t,” he wrote. “Let’s pledge not to waste more destinies.”

He ended his story with a cry for accountability:

“Why do public universities and polytechnics treat students’ transcripts with impunity after years of hard labor? Why is JAMB still wasting teens’ time in 2025 and cannot apologize intelligibly? Why is WAEC doing the same? Why must youths suffer twice — first from poverty, then from a poor system?”

The post quickly went viral, drawing praise and emotional responses from Nigerians across the globe.

“This is quite an inspiring story,” wrote The Urban Company (@UrbanCulturePR).
“School strikes delayed his dreams. But his dreams didn’t die, they just waited,” added @officialmrdeen.
“Timi’s Harvard University story is not a flex. It’s a blueprint,” said @khadijat_Oumar.
Another user, @DeeMan7991, echoed a common sentiment: “How I wish I had the funds to further my dreams too. God Abeg 🙏. I tap from this man’s grace.”

One commenter pointedly said: “Some use Harvard University for prestige. Timi used Harvard to preach change.” — @tokunboawo

Timi Olagunju’s story is not a fairy tale. It’s a mirror to the realities that so many Nigerian youths face. It’s also a reminder that behind every success is often a long trail of sacrifice, waiting, and courage. As @officialmrdeen aptly put it, “Sometimes it’s not laziness. It’s the system.”

Now a Harvard graduate, Timi Olagunju hopes his journey will inspire others to keep pushing forward, and more importantly, to keep asking why things don’t work — and what we can all do to fix them.

“Your background should never keep your back on the ground,” he concluded.

Indeed, from the streets of Akoka to the halls of Harvard, Timi’s journey is not just about one man’s success. It’s a call for justice, accountability, and the need to build a country where no dream is wasted.

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