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Chigozie Chukwu: He failed school cert 9 times, UTME 7 times, but he’s now prof in UK varsity
From failing WAEC nine times and writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) seven times to earning a PhD, becoming an Assistant Professor and attaining the prestigious Senior Fellowship of Advance HE (SFHEA), Dr Chigozie Chukwu’s journey is one of resilience, faith and determination. Now affiliated with the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom, where he contributes to teaching, research and academic development, Chukwu has turned the struggles of his early years into a passion for empowering students and influencing development policy.
He spoke more in this interview
What was your childhood like, and what kind of environment and experiences shaped the person you are today?
My childhood was filled with complexities and memorable experiences. There were sweet moments, but honestly, there were more challenging ones.
I lost my father at a very young age, and that changed the direction of our family. Suddenly, everything became about survival, resilience and figuring things out. Growing up in a large family came with its own challenges. Resources were limited, attention was stretched, and there was always pressure to do more with less. It taught me early to be independent, to share and to look out for others.
School was not easy either. My academic performance in primary school was poor, and I struggled to keep up. That continued into secondary school, where I failed the school certificate examination conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) nine times and sat for the UTME by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) seven times before eventually gaining admission. Those repeated failures were painful and discouraging, but they taught me persistence. I learned that just because you start at the back does not mean you have to stay there.
Looking back, those experiences shaped me deeply. Losing my father, facing financial hardship and enduring repeated academic setbacks taught me empathy, discipline and the value of hard work. They also gave me a deep appreciation of education as a tool for transformation — not just for myself, but for others from similar backgrounds.
There is a quote that has stayed with me: “It’s not about how hard you fall, but how you rise and who you become on the way up.”
That has really been the story of my childhood and early life. It was not easy, but it built the foundation of who I am today — someone who values resilience, service and the belief that circumstances do not have to define your future.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Lagos, and I spent all my formative years there. Lagos shaped many of my early experiences and values. Growing up there was not easy. I did a lot of menial jobs to get by, but those experiences helped me grow and built my resilience. They taught me early that there is dignity in labour and that you have to be willing to do what is necessary to move forward.
Which schools did you attend during your formative years?
I started my primary education at Hope Children School. For secondary school, I initially attended Hope Bay College. After the passing of my father, I transferred to Festac Grammar School in Lagos, where I completed my secondary education.
Those years were important in shaping me, even though academically they were very challenging.
You said you failed WAEC nine times and JAMB seven times, alongside experiences of neglect and discouragement. How did you endure those years without giving up on yourself?
Those years were some of the hardest of my life, and I will not pretend otherwise. Writing WAEC nine times and JAMB seven times was not just about examinations; it came with neglect, whispers and discouragement. There were moments when even those who should have supported me had written me off.
What kept me going was a combination of stubbornness, faith and purpose.
After losing my father, I had seen what giving up looked like. I watched my family struggle and told myself I could not add quitting on myself to that story. Despite poor results and limited opportunities, I knew education was the only ladder I had.
I also learned to separate people’s opinions from my potential. The discouragement hurt, but it became fuel. Every “you won’t make it” pushed me to try again, but smarter. I began asking, “What am I doing wrong?” and treating every failure as data, not a verdict.
Above all, I held on to my faith in God and the belief that my story was not finished. There were nights I cried and almost gave up, but something kept telling me, “Just one more attempt.”
I continued because I wanted a different life — not just for myself, but to honour my father’s memory and show people from backgrounds like mine that their starting point is not their destination.
Those years taught me resilience, humility and empathy. I know what it feels like to be counted out, and I also know what it means to keep showing up until the door finally opens. Looking back, every struggle I endured was worth it.