In an emotional and thought-provoking story currently trending on X, Nigerian lawyer and policy expert Timi Olagunju shared how his humble beginnings, systemic barriers, and unwavering resilience shaped his journey from the streets of Akoka to the halls of Harvard University. This is not just a personal success story. It is a powerful commentary on the failures of Nigeria’s public education system, the pain of lost dreams, and the unstoppable determination of a young man who refused to be defeated by an unresponsive system.
A Childhood of Hustle and Hope
Timi grew up in Akoka, a bustling neighborhood in Lagos State, Nigeria. Like many Nigerian children born into modest homes, he hustled to support his family while pursuing education. He sold ice cream on the streets, running between schoolwork and helping his mother, who owned a small roadside shop. Though his mother never had a university degree, she poured all her energy and savings into making sure her child had the opportunity she never had. Timi grew up with the values of hard work, faith, and learning.
In 2009, he graduated from the University of Ibadan. It was a time when public universities in Nigeria were riddled with strikes, especially due to constant disagreements between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government. Still, he made it through. He had dreams of attending Law School, and his mother had spent years saving every naira at a microfinance bank to make that dream possible. But just when everything seemed to be falling into place, a single government decision shattered their hopes.
The Market Demolition That Derailed Everything
When the Lagos State Government initiated a sudden restructuring of the Yaba market under Governor Babatunde Fashola, hundreds of traders lost their shops overnight. That demolition caused a ripple effect beyond the physical buildings. The microfinance bank where Timi’s mother had saved his Law School fees went bankrupt. It had heavily lent to traders who were now bankrupt themselves. In one swift blow, all the money saved for years vanished. Law School had to be paused. The dream was delayed, not by a lack of ambition or discipline, but by a government policy that ignored the vulnerable and crushed the fragile structures many families had built their futures on.
This event forced Timi to rethink his approach. He turned to other opportunities, diving into activism, public service, and digital rights law. He did not run from the country, as many might have done. Instead, he stayed and tried to build a better society from within.
Unending Frustration at the University of Lagos
Years later, Timi decided to further his education by pursuing a Master’s in Research and Public Policy at the University of Lagos. He believed in Nigeria. He believed the future could be built right at home. But the University of Lagos experience turned into a nightmare. After fulfilling all academic requirements, including completing his thesis and passing all necessary courses, Timi and many of his classmates still have not received their complete results or academic transcripts.
Eight years after the program, some of them are still waiting. Some students lost international PhD offers. Others lost scholarships, jobs, and years of hard work, simply because the University administration failed to release their transcripts. Repeated petitions, letters, and follow-ups yielded nothing. The school’s response? Silence, confusion, and constant back-and-forth with no solution.
This is not an isolated case. Thousands of students across Nigeria have suffered similar fates. Graduates from various public universities are often forced to wait for years just to access transcripts they rightfully earned. In a world that runs on time and verification, this delay ruins lives, interrupts academic careers, and sends a clear message that Nigerian systems often punish hard work instead of rewarding it.
Refusing to Be Broken: The Harvard Leap
After years of frustration and lost opportunities, Timi decided to look ahead. Since he could not obtain his UNILAG transcript, he excluded the degree completely from his application and applied for international opportunities using only his first degree from the University of Ibadan, which was more than fifteen years old. Despite the gap, he was accepted at Harvard University.
Timi enrolled in a postgraduate program focused on Artificial Intelligence Governance, which includes elements of law, policy, and economics. Now a Harvard graduate, he shares his story not to boast, but to inspire others who are still stuck in the system and to challenge authorities to fix what is broken.
A Voice for Reform and Justice
Timi’s message is clear. He is grateful to have made it. But he is painfully aware that many others did not. Some of his classmates at the University of Lagos are still waiting for transcripts they may never receive. Some have given up on their dreams. Others have become bitter and angry at a system that appears not to care.
Timi is asking the questions many Nigerians have been asking for years. Why do Nigerian universities treat students with such indifference? Why is it so hard to access basic academic records? Why is a government policy allowed to destroy lives without any safety net for the poor? Why do we spend so much time massaging egos just to get what we already earned? Why is it normal for young Nigerians to suffer twice—first from poverty, and then from a broken system?
These are not abstract questions. These are issues that define the destiny of a nation.
Timi Olagunju’s journey from selling ice cream in Lagos to earning a Harvard degree is proof that resilience, faith, and determination can still lead to greatness even in the face of structural failure. However, no individual success story should blind us to the reality that thousands of Nigerian students continue to face needless obstacles due to bad governance, poor educational policies, and administrative negligence.
If we truly want to celebrate stories like Timi’s, we must also commit to reforming the systems that almost crushed his dreams. Education should not be a battlefield. It should be a launchpad. And Nigeria owes its youth better.
Note: These reports are all allegedly, as seen on the internet.
Written By Joe Brens
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