Williams Sharespare in his play ‘Measure for Measure’ said, “Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”
This quote emphasises the importance of learning from mistakes and not letting setbacks define one’s ability to succeed.
This is exactly what Apampa Kikiloluwa, a 16-year-old student of Lagoon Secondary School did when she was told by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that she scored 158 out of the 400 marks obtainable in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Apampa with deep commitment to her education, and resilient disposition the teenager overcame the setbacks of the first examination to score 351 out of the 400 marks obtainable in the rescheduled UTME.
The brilliant Apampa with JAMB Registration Number 202551868129EF obtained 65/100 in English Language, 98/100 in Mathematics, 98/100 in Physics, and 90/100 in Chemistry, with a total aggregate score of 351/400.
The young amazon who plans to take A-levels and proceed to study Software Engineering or Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA.
Read also: How Reginald, a 17-year-old Whitesands student, scored 363 in UTME resit
“My goal is to help shape a future where technology works for everyone and makes the world a better place.
“I’m excited about being part of the next generation that unlocks these possibilities and uses them to improve people’s lives and the planet,” she told BusinessDay.
Throughout Apampa’s academic journey, she has been honoured with numerous awards and actively engaged in various competitions, reflecting her dedication and drive for excellence.
Beyond academics, she has a passion for reading and enjoy staying active through sports such as tennis and swimming during her leisure time.
Speaking about her impressive academic feats before the UTME, Apampa said, “At the junior WAEC examinations, I scored 10 As and one B. I have consistently finished in the top five percentile in class, earning me a permanent seat on the honours list of the school.
“I also represented the school in various competitions at various levels such as the Conrad Challenge, among others.”
She attributed her remarkable feat to hard work and divine intervention.
“I achieved this great result through a lot of hard work and consistent practice, but above all, it was by the grace of God. I truly feel that His guidance and blessings have been critical throughout this journey,” she said.
Besides, she applauded the support given to her by her parents, reiterating that she could not have achieved the great feat without the amazing support from her parents.
“They really believe in the importance of education and always encourage me to do my best. They made our home a really positive place for studying,” she noted.
On how she prepared to overcome the rescheduled UTME, Apampa emphasized that her parents provided her with a full library in the family living room in addition to a separate multimedia study room where the whole family often gets together to talk about different topics and help each other learn.
“My dad especially loves teaching and is very involved in helping me understand things,” she said.
Moreover, she explained that her mother enrolled her at Teesas Learning Centre, where she attended JAMB classes.
“Their frequent mock exams were a great help in the preparation for my UTME. My parents’ support and the environment they’ve created played a huge role in helping me reach this level of success,” she stressed.
