Beyond First Class: How Muminah Agaka Became a Symbol of Excellence and Grit
By Labaran Saleh

A few years ago, the name Musa Muminah Agaka echoed through the halls of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, when she shattered a 38-year record in the Department of Sociology, becoming the first student in nearly four decades to graduate with a First Class. It was a moment that brought pride to her family, her community, and the entire Ilorin Emirate.

Today, she has done it again—this time at the prestigious University of Ibadan, where she completed her Master’s degree in Sociology with a Distinction (6.45/7.0), emerging as the Best Graduating Student, Class of 2025.
A rare distinction in the most competitive academic environment in the country.

Her story is not just one of brilliance. It is a narrative woven with resilience, grit, and the quiet courage of a young woman who refused to surrender to the weight of disappointment.

The Silence After the Applause

After her historic First Class at ABU, many expected doors to swing open for Muminah—job opportunities, scholarships, recognition, even basic encouragement.
None came.

Instead, she returned home to a painful silence. No celebration. No institutional support. No platform to amplify her achievement. For a brilliant young woman who had given her all, the silence felt louder than applause.

At home, the expectations grew heavier:
“With your kind of result, something should happen soon.”
But nothing happened.

The pressure mounted. The uncertainty deepened. And slowly, she slipped into a place many gifted young Nigerians know too well — the shadows of neglect.

Her sister still recalls a distress call from home:
Muminah is discouraged. She needs someone to talk to.

In an effort to help, the sister reached out to several media platforms to tell her story. Many promised; most did nothing. The world moved on. But Muminah did not.

The Rise That Inspires

Instead of breaking, Muminah bent — only long enough to gather strength.

She picked herself up and made a bold decision:
to pursue a Master’s degree.

To fund it, she worked. She crafted stunning henna designs, sold fabrics, created veils, and sustained herself without complaints. She embodied the spirit of countless young Nigerian women who take survival into their own hands while pursuing excellence.

And now, the girl who was almost forgotten has risen again — even higher.

Her Distinction at UI is not just a certificate.
It is a statement.
A reminder that brilliance, when fuelled by resilience, will always find its path.

More Than an Academic Star

Beyond the classroom, Muminah is a gifted henna artist whose designs (@Minah_henna) blend tradition with contemporary aesthetics. Her craftsmanship is as meticulous as her academic work — elegant, original, and captivating.

She embodies beauty and brains, not as a cliché but as a lived truth.
Her journey reflects:

Resilience that fights back

Humility that never fades

Talent that speaks louder than circumstances

Courage that refuses to bow to challenges

A Story Bigger Than One Girl

This is not just a Kwara story.
This is not just a girl-child story.
This is a Nigerian story — a universal story — of excellence that refuses to be ignored.

Muminah stands today as proof that even when society looks away, destiny does not. Even when recognition is delayed, reward is not denied. Even when platforms fail, purpose does not.

She is a symbol of what becomes possible when brilliance meets resilience.

A Call to Celebrate Our Best

Nigeria has no shortage of extraordinary young minds like Muminah. What we lack is a culture that identifies them early, supports them genuinely, and celebrates them loudly.

Muminah has done her part — twice.
Now it is time for society, institutions, and leaders to do theirs.

Because brilliance like hers should not struggle in silence.
It should shine — boldly, proudly, and without apology.