A 25-year-old mother of one named Aisha Widad Yahaya has broken a long-standing academic record at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Nigeria, by graduating with first-class honors in Law.
This achievement made her the first ever student in 35 years to achieve such a feat from the university’s Faculty of Law.
Her journey to this remarkable milestone began years earlier, influenced by her late father, who encouraged her to choose Art class in secondary school, setting the foundation for a legal career.
However, the journey at the university was not easy. Aisha spent her university years commuting daily from her village, a 35-minute drive to the campus, a routine that drained her physically and mentally.
She stated that life off-campus was tough, and the pressure of balancing school responsibilities with the demands of travel often left her exhausted before lectures even began.
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Life took an even more complex turn in her fourth year when she got married, and not long after, she became a mother. Navigating motherhood while still pursuing her degree was another challenge she faced.
“It was overwhelming. There were times I doubted if I could make it. But with support from my husband, family, and mentors, I managed to keep going,” she said.
At the time she began her studies, the idea of breaking an academic record was not part of her plans. Though the Faculty of Law at BUK is known for its tough grading, with no student achieving a first-class degree in over three decades.
Aisha had simply hoped to do her best. But by her second year, things began to shift. “I just wanted to do my best. But in my second year, I saw that I had a 5.0 GPA. That was the moment I knew it was possible,” she said.
She became more motivated and determined to achieve the record-breaking goal with a renewed focus in her studies.
Aisha credited her husband, who lectures in another department at BUK, for offering constant encouragement. With her husband, she found the strength to keep pushing through the stress, sleepless nights, and long study hours.
“My husband played a major role. He’s a lecturer in another department at the BUK, and he never stopped believing in me. He always reminded me, ‘You can do it.’ His belief gave me strength,” she said.
She also found support in her siblings, two of whom are law graduates themselves, and in her lecturers, who took a personal interest in her progress.
Aisha also credited her level coordinator and the faculty dean, who offered guidance and reassurance that kept her grounded and focused.
For Aisha, earning a first-class degree was more than just an academic accomplishment. It was a personal victory, one that carried deep emotional weight. It is a symbol of resilience as a woman, of pushing through when giving up felt easier.
“This isn’t just my victory. It’s for everyone who believed it could be done. It’s for every girl who dares to dream, even when the odds are stacked high,” she said.
