Samuel Jeremiah’s Long Road to Emerging Pharmacy Best Graduating Student

By Jacinta Emeka, Success Essien, Omope Oyinnijesu Omolola, Ajibola Oyindamola Odunayo, and Oluwatosin Akpobi

Samuel Jeremiah was meant to study Pharmacy at the University of Lagos for five years, but he ended up spending seven years.

Those extra years came with setbacks he never planned for. Financial strain. Health challenges. Academic dips. Long pauses caused by strikes and a global pandemic. There were moments when graduation felt distant and success even farther away. Yet in 2025, Samuel emerged as the best graduating student (BGS) of the University of Lagos Faculty of Pharmacy, turning a delayed journey into one of the most compelling stories of resilience on campus.

“At the end of the day, I have conquered my past,” he said. “That is what this achievement means to me.”

Jeremiah gained admission into UNILAG in 2019. Like many freshmen, he arrived with assumptions about his course and university life. Pharmacy, he believed, would be manageable. Initially, he had considered other paths, including Microbiology, and did not fully understand the depth of commitment the course demanded.

“I did not really enjoy the idea of coming back to school at some points in my life,” he admitted. “But I told myself that wherever I found myself, I would do my best.”

Reality hit early. Pharmacy required more than reading and examinations. There were professional materials to purchase, long commutes, and constant financial pressure. At times, Jeremiah struggled with accommodation and stability, moving between locations while trying to keep up academically.

“There were moments when my friends would come around and see me studying,” he recalled. “But inside, I was miserable because I did not know how everything was going to work out.”

Academically, his journey was uneven. Some semesters went well. Others did not. By his second and third years, the pressure intensified. Courses became more complex, expectations higher, and mistakes costlier. Then came COVID-19.

For Jeremiah, the pandemic became an unexpected turning point.

“Those years of COVID had a positive impact on my life,” he said. “It was like an alarm. A call to action.”

Away from campus, he found space to reflect. He leaned into faith, creativity, and self-awareness. He began to understand himself beyond grades and academic timelines. Still, returning to school did not erase the challenges. In fact, higher-level pharmacy courses tested him even more.

“There was a semester where I realised that if I did not calm down, I would lose myself,” he said. “That was when I understood that learning was not just about passing. It was about growth.”

Financial difficulties persisted. Health issues emerged. At one point, he found himself far from the academic standing he once hoped for. But what kept him going was support. His parents remained constant. Friends encouraged him. Lecturers noticed his effort.

“My parents never stopped calling,” he said. “They reminded me that I was not alone, even when things were not working.”

Scholarships later became a turning point. Beyond easing financial pressure, they restored his confidence and sense of direction.

“The scholarships helped me gain balance,” he explained. “I learned how to manage academics and life. I stopped seeing myself as someone behind and started seeing myself as someone becoming.”

By his final years, his mindset had shifted. He no longer compared himself to others. Instead, he focused on understanding, consistency, and discipline.

“The biggest competition was not anyone else,” he said. “It was who I used to be.”

Those extra years, which once felt like punishment, became years of deep transformation.

“Mental growth does not always show on paper,” he reflected. “But mentally, I grew ten years within those extra years.”

When the announcement came that he had emerged as BGS, the moment felt overwhelming. The recognition was not just academic. It was personal.

“It gave me a voice,” he said. “Before now, I felt like I did not have one. Now I do.”

Beyond the title, he is thoughtful about the future. He believes pharmacy education should place greater emphasis on hands-on experience, not just theory.

“We know the theory,” he said. “But students need more practical exposure. That is where confidence comes from.”

Looking forward, Jeremiah hopes to contribute to Nigeria’s pharmaceutical advancement with a focus on empathy and lived experience.