By Erewunmi Peace

A remarkable story of resilience and determination has emerged from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), where a student who sold popcorn in lecture halls to fund her education has graduated with an impressive First Class honours degree.

The graduate, Perpetual Iregbundah, shared her inspiring journey on social media, detailing the financial challenges she faced during her studies in Plant Science and Biotechnology.

To support herself, she operated a small popcorn business within lecture halls — a move that helped her cover tuition and personal expenses while staying focused on her academics.
Despite these challenges, Perpetual completed her degree with a CGPA of 4.88 out of 5.00, earning recognition as one of the top students in her department and faculty.

Her story has drawn widespread admiration online, highlighting hard work, perseverance, and ingenuity as key factors in overcoming obstacles in higher education.

Public Reaction and Inspiration

Perpetual’s achievement has resonated with students and young professionals across Nigeria. Many online commentators have praised her ability to balance entrepreneurship with academic excellence, noting that her story serves as a motivational example for anyone facing financial or personal challenges while pursuing education.

This story underscores the broader issue of student financial struggles in Nigerian universities and demonstrates how creativity and persistence can lead to extraordinary outcomes, even under difficult circumstances.