A determined Nigerian Lady finally earns PhD admission to London University after suffering 27 rejections, celebrates achievement.

A resilient Nigerian lady, Shukurah Ghali, has achieved a major milestone by earning admission to study for a PhD in Epidemiology and Population Health at the prestigious London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in the United Kingdom.

Celebrating her success on LinkedIn, Shukurah shared her excitement about being accepted into her dream school to pursue her dream doctorate.

She highlighted LSHTM as the #1 public health school in the United Kingdom and the #2 globally, adding that she is thrilled to study Population Health alongside world-renowned researchers.

This is a moment I’ve dreamed of for so many years, and seeing it come to fruition feels so unreal,” she said.

Shukurah reflected on her challenging journey to this success, revealing that she faced 27 rejections from various programs and scholarships before finally earning this opportunity. “Every single ‘no’ was a redirection, preparing me for something far greater than I could have ever imagined,” she noted.

Her determination was fueled by years of hard work and an unwavering commitment to her goals. From her role as the Presiding Veterinary Officer at the largest abattoir in Ilorin, Nigeria, to completing her Master’s degree at the University of Ilorin, Shukurah held on to her dream even when it seemed out of reach.

“There were moments when ambition felt lonely, the weight of waiting was heavy, and I questioned if it was all worth it,” she admitted.

Yet, through faith and persistence, she found the strength to continue. “God gave me the strength to keep going. And here I am, walking the halls of LSHTM, ready to contribute to impactful research in global health,” she said.

Shukurah’s message to others pursuing seemingly impossible dreams is one of hope and encouragement. “Persistence, faith, and resilience can truly move mountains. May your delulu become trululu—because mine just did!” she said.

She expressed heartfelt gratitude to her family, friends who stood by her, and God, who guided her through every setback. “I now understand that every rejection was leading me here, to the best possible path,” she said.