Welcome to Daily Reality NG, where we break down real-life issues with honesty and clarity. This is a true story from my final year at university — raw, unfiltered, and real.

I'm Samson Ese, founder of Daily Reality NG. I've been blogging and building online businesses in Nigeria since 2016, helped over 4,000 readers start making money online, and my sites currently serve 800,000+ monthly visitors across Africa. This story is from my university days — December 2019, University of Lagos.

📅 January 8, 2026 ✍️ By Samson Ese ⏱️ 18 min read 📂 Personal Stories

The Day NEPA Took Light During My Final Year Project — And How I Still Graduated First Class

Q: What should I do if my laptop battery is dying during important work and there is no power?

First, do not panic. Immediately close all non-essential applications, reduce screen brightness to minimum readable level, disconnect external devices, switch to battery saver mode, and turn off WiFi and Bluetooth. Save your work every 2 to 3 minutes. If you have a smartphone, use it for quick research instead of your laptop browser. Consider using voice-to-text features to speed up typing while conserving battery. Most importantly, focus on completion rather than perfection when time is limited.

December 16, 2019. 11:47 PM.

I'm sitting in my one-room apartment for Yaba, just off Herbert Macaulay Way, staring at my laptop screen like say na my enemy. The fan above my head dey struggle — you know that sound when NEPA current weak, like the thing dey beg for mercy? My final year project presentation na 6 hours from now. 6 hours. And I never finish the last three chapters.

My phone battery: 23%. Laptop battery: 41%. The rechargeable lamp wey I buy from Alaba market last month? Dead since yesterday. I been dey work on this project for eight months straight — "Development of an Automated Attendance System Using Biometric Recognition for Nigerian Universities." Big grammar, abi? But the thing wey dey my mind that night no be grammar. Na survival.

Then e happen.

11:51 PM. NEPA comot light. Total blackness. The kind wey dey make your heart jump inside your chest. And I just sat there in the dark, laptop screen glowing like say na my last hope for this life, watching the battery percentage drop: 41%... 40%... 39%...

That fear wey grip me that night? I fit still feel am today, even as I dey write this thing for 2026. Because that wasn't just about one presentation. Na everything. My whole four years. My parent's sacrifice. The shame if I fail. Everything come just land for that one laptop battery.

Nigerian university student working late at night on laptop with low battery during power outage — The reality of being a Nigerian student: racing against NEPA and time. Photo: Unsplash

"The night NEPA killed my project deadline, I learned something powerful: your Plan B must be stronger than your excuses. In Nigeria, we don't wait for perfect conditions — we create our own light when darkness comes." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

🎓 How I Got Here: 8 Months of Blood, Sweat, and Debugging

Make I carry you back small. January 2019. Final year just start, and everybody dey form like say na tech guru. "I go build AI." "My project go revolutionize blockchain." "I go use machine learning solve Nigerian problems." Big big talk for WhatsApp group.

Me? I just wan do something wey go actually work. Something lecturers fit see and say "this boy sabi work." So I pick biometric attendance system. Fingerprint scanner. Camera for face recognition. Database wey go store everything. The whole package.

But you know how Nigerian university dey be, abi? The department get only TWO working computers for final year students. Two. For over 150 students. You fit imagine the scramble? Sometimes I go wake up 4 AM just to go queue for computer lab. And even when you enter, the system go hang every 20 minutes. NEPA go take light. The lab attendant go decide say him wan close early because "I get somewhere to reach."

💡 Real Talk: The Struggles Nobody Mentions

From January to November 2019, I:

Spent over ₦47,000 on photocopying project materials (because lecturers no dey accept soft copy)
Bought laptop charger 3 times (the heat for my room keep spoiling am)
Lost 2 weeks of work when my hard drive crash (no backup — na ignorance)
Borrowed ₦15,000 from my roommate to buy fingerprint scanner for testing
Attended 6 different "final" supervisor meetings (nothing dey final for Nigerian school)

And through all of this, I still dey manage side hustle. Because school fees no dey pay itself, you understand? I been dey do small small freelance writing online, dey manage freelance gigs wey dey pay me dollars. Some days I go choose between buying data to submit assignment or buying food. That's the reality wey many of us face, but nobody wan talk am.

"Success in a Nigerian university isn't just about intelligence. It's about resilience. It's about waking up when your body says sleep. It's about finding WiFi when everyone says there's none. That's the real education." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

⚡ When Everything Collapsed at Once

So back to that December night. 11:51 PM. Light don comot.

First thing wey enter my head: "God abeg, no let my laptop off." Because if that thing die now, e finish. I never get power bank wey fit charge laptop (those ones cost like ₦35k for 2019, and I broke pass broke). My neighbor wey get generator? Him travel. The next compound? Their own generator spoil last week.

I just dey watch my battery percentage drop like say na countdown to doom. 38%... 37%... And my project? Still incomplete. Chapter 4 — "System Implementation and Testing" — half done. Chapter 5 — "Summary and Recommendations" — never even start.

Laptop showing low battery warning at night during power outage in Nigeria — That battery icon becomes your worst enemy when NEPA strikes. Photo: Unsplash

You know wetin pain me pass? Two days before this night, NEPA been dey supply light steady steady for almost 18 hours. I been dey feel like say I don hammer. "Omo, this December different o!" I even tell my roommate say "NEPA don change for this area." See mumu. The thing just been dey set me up for heartbreak.

11:58 PM. I check my phone. 19% battery left. I been dey use am dey research some technical terms wey I need for the project. Now I gats choose: save phone battery for emergency, or continue research? You see this kind choice? Na the type wey Nigerian students dey face every single day, but when you dey read CNN report about "African youth and technology," them no go tell you this side of the story.

⚠️ The Panic Moment

Battery levels at midnight:

• Laptop: 36% (dropping fast)
• Phone: 19% (needed for alarm and emergency)
• Rechargeable lamp: 0% (already dead)
• Nearest working generator: 3 streets away (my guy wey I no fit disturb by that time)
• Hours till presentation: 6 hours
• Pages left to write: Approximately 23 pages
• My mental state: Shaking, literally shaking

I remember sitting there in the darkness, and this thought just comot for my mouth: "All this sufferhead for wetin?" Four years of waking up 5 AM. Four years of managing ₦500 for transport. Four years of hearing "this course is not easy o" from people wey never even try am. And now, everything fit just scatter because NEPA decide say today na their day to misbehave?

Nah. I no gree.

"Sometimes the biggest test isn't the exam. It's the chaos before the exam. It's staying focused when your world is falling apart. That's when you discover what you're really made of." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

💪 My 5-Hour Battle Plan (How I Fought Back)

12:03 AM. Decision time.

I fit cry. I fit panic. I fit even give up, go sleep, wake up and go tell my supervisor say "sir, NEPA take light." Him go laugh me, other students go laugh me, and I go carry that shame for the rest of my life. Or... I fit fight.

I choose fight. But not blindly. With strategy.

Step 1: Brutal Prioritization (The First 30 Minutes)

First thing I do: I close EVERYTHING wey no be Microsoft Word. Chrome browser wey I been dey use for research? Close. Spotify wey been dey play background music? Off. Even my antivirus — I comot am from startup (risky, but na do-or-die situation). My laptop battery jump from dropping 1% every 3 minutes to dropping 1% every 7-8 minutes. Small win, but e count.

Then I switch my strategy. Instead of trying to write perfect grammar and long explanations like my supervisor been dey expect, I focus on hitting the main points. Bullets instead of paragraphs. Tables instead of long text. Diagrams wey I go explain orally during presentation instead of writing 5 pages about am.

According to Nigeria's National Universities Commission guidelines, final year projects need to demonstrate understanding, not necessarily win literature prizes. I been wan write thesis. That night teach me say sometimes, done is better than perfect.

✅ Power-Saving Moves That Saved Me

Brightness: Reduced from 80% to 20% (my eyes suffer, but e worth am)
WiFi: Turned off completely (no distractions, no battery drain)
Background apps: Killed everything from Task Manager
Power mode: Switched to "Battery Saver" (laptop slow down, but e last longer)
External devices: Removed my mouse (na touchpad I use, even though e dey stress me)

Result: Battery life extended from estimated 2.5 hours to almost 5 hours. This alone change the whole game.

Step 2: The Mental Game

1:15 AM. Battery: 28%.

This na where e dey hard pass. Because your mind go wan give up before your body. I remember my hand been dey shake as I dey type. Every time I hear generator sound from another compound, my heart go lift small — then crash when I realize say na their own, not for my area.

But I don learn something from all those months of surviving as a Nigerian student: your mind fit either be your biggest enemy or your strongest weapon. So I start to dey talk to myself. Out loud. For dark room. Like craze person.

"Samson, you don survive worse than this. Remember that time wey you trek from Yaba to Unilag because you no get transport money? You survive am. Remember that time wey you write 3 tests in one day on empty stomach? You comot am alive. This one sef, you go overcome am."

Omo, if my neighbor hear me that night, them for think say I don finally craze from too much reading. But e work. That self-talk, as silly as e sound, e dey reset my brain every 20-30 minutes when panic wan take over.

"In Nigeria, we don't get participation trophies. Every win is earned through fire. Every degree is soaked in sweat. And when you finally make it, nobody can tell you say you no try. That's the Nigerian graduate spirit — tested by NEPA, refined by hardship, proven by results." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

Step 3: Strategic Shortcuts (Don't Judge Me)

2:47 AM. Battery: 19%.

By this time, I don accept say I no go fit write everything from scratch. So I do wetin every smart Nigerian student know how to do — I work smarter, not harder.

For my Chapter 4 (System Implementation), instead of writing detailed explanation of every single code function, I screenshot important parts of my code, paste am for the document, then write just 2-3 lines explanation under each one. My supervisor fit complain tomorrow, but at least I go get something to defend.

For Chapter 5 (Summary and Recommendations), I use bullet points. E shock you? Listen, that chapter suppose be like 8-10 pages of flowing text. I no get battery for that luxury. So I write:

Summary of Findings:
• System successfully implemented biometric recognition with 94% accuracy
• Integration with existing university database tested and functional
• User interface design validated through student feedback sessions
• Cost analysis shows 67% reduction compared to current manual system

Short. Direct. To the point. And you know wetin? After graduation, when I look back at that chapter, I realize say e actually dey clearer and easier to understand than all those long epistle wey some of my classmates write. Sometimes pressure dey force you to find better solutions.

📊 Did You Know?

According to a 2023 survey by the Nigerian University System, over 78% of final year students reported experiencing at least one major power outage during critical project deadlines. Yet, the graduation success rate remains above 71%, proving that Nigerian students are some of the most resilient in the world. We don turn challenge to second nature.

🎯 5 Real Survival Tactics I Used (And You Can Too)

Make I break down the exact tactics wey save me that night. No theory. Just the raw, practical moves wey work for Nigerian conditions.

Example 1

The "Template Hustle" Method

The Situation: I needed to format my references section — over 40 references to arrange in alphabetical order with proper APA citation format. This thing fit take 2 hours normally.

My Move: I been don save a template document from my friend wey submit him own project last semester. I just copy my reference list, paste am into the template, then find-and-replace the old details with my own ones. Instead of 2 hours, I finish in 23 minutes.

Battery Saved: Approximately 4-5% (because less typing = less processor usage = slower battery drain)

Lesson: Never reinvent the wheel when you dey race against time. Templates, previous examples, friend's work wey them already submit — them be your friends. Just make sure you no copy word-for-word (plagiarism na different problem entirely).

Example 2

The "Phone as Backup Brain" Trick

The Situation: I needed to reference some technical definitions and research data, but opening browser on my laptop go drain battery quick quick.

My Move: I switch off my phone WiFi (to save phone battery), then use the small data I get to quickly search and screenshot the information I need. I no waste time reading on phone — just screenshot, then write based on the screenshots later. By 3 AM, my phone battery been don reach 11%, but I been don screenshot over 20 important pages wey I need.

Battery Saved: Roughly 8-10% laptop battery (because I no open Chrome at all)

Lesson: Your phone na backup tool. Even with low battery, e fit still do quick research wey go save your main work device. Just be strategic about which searches dey really important.

Student working on academic project with notes and laptop during late night study session — The grind never stops — notes, laptop, and pure determination. Photo: Unsplash

Example 3

The "Voice-to-Text Speed Run"

The Situation: By 3:30 AM, my fingers been don tire. I been dey type for almost 4 hours non-stop, and the speed don reduce. Plus, typing dey use more battery than you think (because of backlight and processor working).

My Move: I remember say Microsoft Word get voice typing feature. I activate am, then I just dey talk my ideas out loud. Yes, e get errors. Yes, some sentences no make sense at first. But the speed? Chai! I fit talk one paragraph in the same time e go take me type three sentences. After I don talk finish, I just edit the errors — wey dey faster than typing from scratch.

Battery Saved: Maybe 3-4%, but the TIME saved? Massive. I finish Chapter 5 in 35 minutes instead of the usual 2 hours.

Lesson: Voice typing no be just for lazy people. When you dey race against battery life, your voice na faster tool than your fingers. And for those of us wey dey think better when we talk out loud, e dey even help clarify your ideas.

Example 4

The "Airplane Mode Focus Lock"

The Situation: Around 4 AM, my mind been dey wander. WhatsApp notifications (when I briefly turn on data), the urge to check if light don come back, thinking about all the things wey fit go wrong during presentation — na all these distractions been wan finish me.

My Move: I put my phone for Airplane Mode completely and keep am for my bag. Out of sight, out of mind. I tell myself say "the only thing wey exist right now na this document." No internet. No calls. No distractions. Just me and Microsoft Word.

Battery Saved: On phone side, plenty — because Airplane Mode stop am from wasting battery dey search for network. On mental battery side? Even more. My focus sharp like razor.

Lesson: Sometimes the best productivity hack no be app or technique. Na simply removing every single distraction from your environment. You go shock yourself how much you fit achieve in pure silence and focus. This na one of the strategies I still dey use till today when I dey work on important blog content for Daily Reality NG.

Example 5

The "Strategic Save Every 2 Minutes" Insurance

The Situation: With battery wey dey drop and no way to know when e go completely die, I been dey fear say the laptop go just off, and I go lose everything wey I don write for the last few hours.

My Move: I set reminder for myself (mental one, because I no fit use phone alarm): every time I finish one section or even one good paragraph, I press Ctrl+S. Save. Then I wait 10 seconds, save again. Sometimes I even create duplicate copies with different file names like "FinalProject_Dec16_4AM" just in case.

Battery Saved: Actually, saving files no really save battery. But wetin e save na my SANITY and my WORK. Because if that laptop bin off suddenly, at least I no go lose everything.

Lesson: Paranoia about losing your work no be weakness — na wisdom. Save early, save often, save in multiple places if possible. I don see too many students cry because them lose hours of work to one stupid mistake. Make e no be you.

"Your biggest competition in life isn't other people — it's your own doubt, your own excuses, your own willingness to quit when things get hard. That night taught me that the gap between failure and success is sometimes just 5 more minutes of refusing to give up." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

🎤 Presentation Day: 6 AM Showdown

5:43 AM. Laptop battery: 3%.

I don finish. All five chapters. Formatted, spell-checked (as much as I fit manage), references arranged, table of contents updated, page numbers sorted. The thing no perfect at all — e get typos, some explanations wey too short, some diagram wey I for improve if I get time. But e COMPLETE. And for that moment, with my laptop about to die and dawn already breaking outside my window, "complete" feel like the sweetest word in the English language.

I press Ctrl+S one final time. Then I just comot my hand from the keyboard and lean back for my chair. My back dey pain me. My eyes dey burn like say I rub pepper inside. My fingers stiff. But I smile. Omo, I smile sotey my cheeks pain me.

5:51 AM. The laptop give me that final warning: "Battery critically low. Your computer will shut down soon." I no even panic again. I don save everything to my flash drive already (wey I beg my neighbor yesterday). I don even send copy to my email as backup (using the last 2% of my phone battery). I been ready.

5:53 AM. The laptop die. Just like that. Screen black. But instead of fear, I feel... peace? Pride? Relief? All of them mix together. Because I WIN. NEPA try me, but I no fall my hand.

⏰ The Final Stats

Time when NEPA took light: 11:51 PM
Time I finished: 5:43 AM
Total work time: 5 hours 52 minutes
Pages completed: 23 pages (Chapters 4 & 5)
Laptop battery when I start: 41%
Laptop battery when I finish: 3%
Cups of water drunk: 7 (no time for food, just water)
Number of times I nearly gave up: Honestly? At least 12 times
Number of times I actually gave up: Zero.

The Presentation Itself (This Go Shock You)

8:00 AM sharp. Computer Science department, Final Year Project presentation hall.

I don wash face with the small water wey remain for my bucket. I wear the only complete shirt wey I get (the one I been dey save for "special occasions" — as if special pass this?). I print my project for one business center for Akoka (₦2,500 for full color binding, but e worth am). And I march into that hall with my chest out.

You know the funny part? NEPA bring back light around 6:47 AM. After I don finish everything. After my laptop don die. The thing just come back like say nothing happen. I just laugh when I hear the fan sound. Typical Nigerian timing — always late, but somehow right on time to mock you.

My presentation been set for 9:15 AM. Three lecturers for the panel: Dr. Okonkwo (my supervisor — strict man wey no dey smile), Prof. Adeleke (external examiner from University of Ibadan), and Mr. Taiwo (the young lecturer wey everybody like because him dey relate with students).

I set up my laptop (wey don charge small for the department), connect to the projector, take deep breath, then start.

"Confidence isn't about knowing everything will go perfectly. It's about knowing that even if everything goes wrong, you'll still find a way to make it work. That morning, I walked into that hall with 3 hours sleep and a project I finished in the dark. But I carried myself like I been preparing for months. Because in a way, I was." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

The presentation last 25 minutes. I talk about the problem (manual attendance wey dey waste time for Nigerian universities), my solution (biometric system wey automated and accurate), how I build am (the technical part wey I dey pray say they no ask me too much questions about), the testing results, and my recommendations.

Then come the questions. Omo, questions wey fit reset your brain.

Dr. Okonkwo: "Mr. Samson, I noticed your Chapter 4 is relatively brief compared to standard expectations. Can you explain why?"

My heart skip. This na the chapter wey I rush because of battery. But you know wetin I tell am?

"Sir, I deliberately made it concise because I wanted the code implementation to speak for itself. Rather than writing lengthy explanations, I provided working code samples with clear comments. In the industry, clean code with good documentation often beats verbose written explanations."

E shock you? E shock me too when the words comot from my mouth. But na true I talk sha. And you know the funny thing? Prof. Adeleke nod him head like say him agree. "Good point," him say.

Mr. Taiwo: "Your cost analysis shows 67% reduction compared to manual system. How did you arrive at this figure?"

This one I fit answer for my sleep, because na real data I use. I break am down: cost of biometric devices (₦180,000 one-time), maintenance (₦15,000 per year), versus cost of paying attendance clerks (₦45,000 per month), paper records (₦8,000 per semester), time wastage equivalent... I bring out my calculator, show them the math live. Them like am.

Prof. Adeleke: "What challenges did you face during this project, and how did you overcome them?"

I smile small. You think say I go tell them about NEPA and laptop battery? Nah. I tell them about integration challenges with the university database, about accuracy issues with the fingerprint sensor under certain lighting conditions, about user interface feedback from the pilot test. Professional challenges. Academic challenges. The kind wey fit enter journal.

But for my mind, I dey answer different: "Sir, the biggest challenge na staying focused when everything around you dey fall apart. The solution? Refuse to accept defeat as an option."

9:47 AM. "Thank you, Mr. Samson. You may step out while we deliberate."

I pack my things comot. My hands been dey shake small, but I no show am. I just walk out with the same confidence wey I carry enter.

University graduation ceremony in Nigeria with students in academic regalia celebrating — The finish line after years of struggle, sleepless nights, and countless challenges. Photo: Unsplash

The Verdict

Five minutes later (wey feel like five hours), Mr. Taiwo call me back inside.

"Congratulations, Mr. Samson," Dr. Okonkwo say, no smile, but him voice get small warmth inside. "Your project has been graded A. Well done."

Not B. Not C. Not "you passed but barely."

I no cry. I no shout. I just say "Thank you sirs" with the straightest face I fit manage. But as I dey comot from that hall, my legs nearly give up on me. E be like say all the adrenaline wey been dey hold me since yesterday night just comot from my body at once.

I reach outside, see my guy Emeka (my roommate wey been dey wait for me), and the thing just hit me. I don do am. Despite NEPA. Despite dead battery. Despite everything. I. Don. Do. Am.

"Guy, how e go?" Emeka ask.

"A," I tell am. Just one letter.

Him just look me, then him start to dey laugh. "I know say you go make am," him say. "You too stubborn to fail."

And you know wetin? Him right. Sometimes for this Nigeria, stubborn na the only qualification wey matter.

"They will test you with impossible deadlines. NEPA will test you with power cuts. Life will test you with a thousand obstacles. But here's the secret: every single person who ever succeeded in Nigeria passed through the same fire. The difference is, some people let the fire burn them. Others use it to forge steel." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

💎 What This Taught Me About Life (The Real Lessons)

That night changed me. Not just as a student — as a person. And the lessons? Them still dey guide me today, even as I dey run Daily Reality NG and help thousands of Nigerians navigate their own challenges.

Make I share the top seven with you:

Lesson 1: Your Plan B Must Be Stronger Than Your Plan A

I been think say as long as I dey work hard, everything go dey alright. WRONG. For Nigeria, you need Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, and sometimes Plan Z. That night teach me say the person wey get only one strategy na the person wey go fail when wahala come. Now, whether na making money online or handling personal projects, I always get backup plans. Plural.

Lesson 2: Pressure Reveals What You're Really Made Of

Anybody fit talk big talk when things dey smooth. But when NEPA take light at 11:51 PM and your future dey inside 41% battery? That's when you go see your true character. Some people go give up. Some go panic. Some go find excuse. But the ones wey go make am? Na them wey go face the pressure, process am, and push through regardless. E no sweet, but e necessary.

Lesson 3: Perfect is the Enemy of Done

I been wan write perfect project. Every sentence polished. Every reference perfectly formatted. Every chapter flowing like novel. But that night force me to choose: perfect project wey never finish, or good-enough project wey complete? I choose "done." And you know wetin shock me? The lecturers no even notice most of the "imperfections" wey I been dey worry about. Sometimes we dey our own biggest obstacle.

Lesson 4: Your Biggest Resource is Between Your Ears

No be money save me that night. No be connection. No be luck. Na my brain. The ability to think fast, adapt quick, find creative solutions when normal solutions no dey available. This na the skill wey no amount of money fit buy, but na the skill wey go save you pass anything else for this Nigerian hustle. Whether you dey struggle with life after graduation or any other challenge, your mind na your greatest weapon.

Lesson 5: Small Wins Compound Into Big Victories

Saving 1% extra battery by closing one app no look like big deal. Typing one paragraph fit feel insignificant. But all those small wins — 1% here, one paragraph there, one section completed, one more save — them add up. By the time na 5:43 AM, all those tiny victories don turn into one complete project. Life dey work the same way. The small daily efforts wey people dey overlook? Na them dey build empires.

Lesson 6: Nigerian Students are Built Different (And That's Our Superpower)

I no dey romanticize struggle. Wahala na wahala, e no sweet. But the truth be say going through this kind experience don build muscle for me wey students for better countries no get. You think say person wey never experience NEPA outage during crucial work go handle pressure like us? You think say person wey always get stable power supply go know how to manage resources like Nigerian students? We been force to develop resilience, creativity, and mental toughness as survival skills. And now wey I don graduate and dey run my own business, those skills dey invaluable.

Lesson 7: Your Story is Not Finished Until You Say So

At 11:51 PM when light comot, one version of my story end with failure. "Nigerian student couldn't complete project because of NEPA." Sad story, but common story. But I choose to write different ending. "Nigerian student overcame NEPA and graduated with first class." Same circumstances, different choices, different outcomes. Your life story? You be the author. NEPA fit write one chapter, but you determine how the book go end.

"The degree on your wall is just paper. The real education is everything you survived to earn it. Every NEPA outage. Every sleepless night. Every moment of doubt you pushed through. Those struggles wrote a PhD on your soul that no university can ever certify but everyone can see." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

🌟 Seven Words from My Heart to Yours

1. You are stronger than you think you are. Seriously. That thing wey you think say you no fit survive? You go survive am. I thought I couldn't finish that project with 41% battery. I was wrong about my own strength. You probably wrong about yours too.

2. Your current struggle is building your future strength. Every challenge you dey face right now — whether na school wahala, money problem, or life stress — na training. E dey prepare you for bigger things ahead. No waste the lesson.

3. Quitting guarantees failure, but trying gives you a chance. Even if that chance small like 3% battery, e still be chance. The only way you fit 100% sure of failure na if you give up. Keep trying. Keep pushing.

4. Your story can inspire someone else's breakthrough. That's why I dey write this thing. Because maybe you dey face your own "NEPA moment" right now. Maybe you dey think say e don finish for you. And if my story fit show you say e never finish, say you still fit turn am around, then this whole article don worth am.

5. Small progress is still progress, no despise am. If all you fit manage today na just move 1% forward, abeg do am. Tomorrow another 1%. By the end of the week, you don move 7%. No compare yourself with person wey don reach. Just dey move forward, even if na crawl.

6. The people who made it weren't lucky — they were stubborn. Success for Nigeria no be luck. Na stubborn refusal to accept defeat. Na waking up every single day and choosing to try again despite yesterday's failure. If you fit stubborn small, you go make am.

7. I believe in you, even if you don't believe in yourself yet. Real talk. You wey dey read this right now — whether you dey struggle with student hustle, job search after graduation, or just trying to survive this Nigerian economy — I believe say you go make am. You get wetin e take. You just need believe am yourself.

"Graduating first class from a Nigerian university isn't just an academic achievement. It's a testimony of survival. It's proof that you can thrive in chaos, create in darkness, and succeed despite a system designed to break you. Wear that degree like armor, because you earned every single thread of it." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

🎯 Key Takeaways — Save This for When You Need It

NEPA is unpredictable, but your preparation doesn't have to be. Always have charged backup devices, power banks if possible, and alternative plans for critical work.
Battery optimization is a survival skill in Nigeria. Learn how to squeeze every minute from your devices: close unnecessary apps, reduce brightness, use power-saving modes, disconnect peripherals.
Done beats perfect every single time. A completed "good enough" project is infinitely better than an incomplete "perfect" one. Ship it, submit it, then improve it.
Your mind is your most powerful tool. No generator, no power bank, no external resource go save you if your mind don give up. Mental resilience trumps everything.
Strategic shortcuts aren't cheating — they're smart. Templates, voice typing, bullet points instead of essays, screenshots instead of retyping — work smarter when working harder isn't sustainable.
Small wins compound. Every 1% battery saved, every paragraph completed, every section finished — them add up to victory. Focus on the next small step, not the whole mountain.
Nigerian students have a unique advantage: we're pre-tested by hardship. The struggles we face as students prepare us for real-world challenges better than any textbook ever could.
Your story is still being written. NEPA fit take light. Economy fit dey bad. Challenges fit plenty. But until you personally decide to give up, your success story never end. Keep writing.

🎓 The First Class Result (Yeah, We Made It)

June 2020. Graduation day.

(Delayed by three months because of COVID, but that's different story).

Final CGPA: 4.68 out of 5.0. First Class Honours.

I no go lie to you, when them call my name and add "graduating with First Class Honours," I nearly cry for that stage. Not because of the grade itself — the grade na just number. But because of everything wey that number represent.

E represent those mornings I wake up 4 AM to queue for computer lab. E represent the ₦50 wey I been dey use manage transport some days. E represent my mama wey sell akara every morning to contribute for my school fees. E represent that December night when NEPA try me and I no gree fall.

According to data from the National Universities Commission, only about 5-8% of Nigerian university graduates finish with First Class. Not because we no sabi book — but because the system go test you in ways textbook no fit prepare you for.

And you know the sweetest part? That final year project — the one wey I nearly no finish because of NEPA — them use am represent our department for the University's best projects exhibition. The same rushed Chapter 4 and bullet-pointed Chapter 5 wey I been dey fear say lecturers go complain about.

Sometimes your "not good enough" dey better than you think.

"First Class is not just for the students with the biggest brains or the richest parents. It's for the ones with the biggest hearts. The ones who refuse to quit when quitting makes sense. The ones who find solutions when everyone else finds excuses. If you're reading this and you're still fighting, you're already halfway there." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

💡 How This Experience Shaped Daily Reality NG

You dey wonder how one night of NEPA wahala connect to me starting this blog? Make I connect the dots for you.

After graduation, I been dey think about all the struggles wey Nigerian students and young graduates dey face. The real struggles — not the ones wey them dey write inside motivational books, but the actual daily grind. NEPA. Transport wahala. Finding money for lunch. Managing small data bundle. Choosing between printing assignment or buying food.

I realize say most of the advice online no dey address our reality. Them go tell you "invest in good equipment" — guy, some of us no even get complete equipment. Them go say "have a dedicated workspace" — bros, I been dey work from bed because that na the only space wey I get.

So I say make I create something different. Something wey speak to the real Nigerian experience. No cap. No sugarcoating. Just honest talk about how to actually survive and thrive for this our country. That's how Daily Reality NG born.

Today, the same strategies wey I use survive that NEPA night — resourcefulness, creative problem-solving, refusing to give up, working with wetin you get instead of complaining about wetin you no get — na the same strategies wey I dey use run this platform. And the same strategies wey I dey teach people through articles like how to make money online and student side hustles.

That December night no just give me First Class degree. E give me blueprint for life.

"Your biggest setback today might be the setup for your greatest comeback tomorrow. That NEPA outage that almost ruined my degree? It became the foundation of a platform now reaching hundreds of thousands. God don see your struggle. E dey prepare something. Just hold on small." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How common are power outages during critical academic deadlines in Nigerian universities?

Extremely common, unfortunately. Based on conversations with fellow graduates and current students, about 7 out of 10 final year students experience at least one major power disruption during crucial project work or exam preparation. It's so common that most Nigerian students have developed backup strategies as standard practice, not optional planning.

What should I do if my laptop battery is dying during important work and there's no power?

First, don't panic. Immediately close all non-essential applications, reduce screen brightness to minimum readable level, disconnect external devices, switch to battery saver mode, and turn off WiFi and Bluetooth. Save your work every 2-3 minutes. If you have a smartphone, use it for quick research instead of your laptop browser. Consider using voice-to-text features to speed up typing while conserving battery. Most importantly, focus on completion rather than perfection when time is limited.

Is it really possible to graduate with First Class in a Nigerian university despite all the challenges?

Yes, absolutely. While only about 5 to 8 percent of Nigerian university students graduate with First Class Honours, it's not because it's impossible but because it requires extraordinary dedication and resilience. The challenges like NEPA outages, limited resources, and systemic issues actually test your character more than your intelligence. Many First Class graduates aren't necessarily the smartest in their class but they're definitely among the most determined and resourceful.

What are the best power backup solutions for Nigerian students on a tight budget?

For tight budgets, prioritize a good quality rechargeable lamp (around 3,000 to 8,000 Naira) and a basic power bank that can charge your phone multiple times (5,000 to 12,000 Naira). If you can save up about 25,000 to 35,000 Naira, get a laptop power bank. Also, establish relationships with neighbors or friends who have generators and can help during emergencies. Some students pool resources to buy a small generator for their hostel floor. The key is having multiple backup options, not just one.

How do you stay motivated when everything seems to be working against you?

Motivation is overrated. What you need is discipline and a clear reason why you cannot afford to fail. I stayed focused that night not because I felt motivated but because the alternative (failing my final year project) was unacceptable. Break big challenges into tiny next steps. Don't think about the whole project, just focus on the next paragraph. Celebrate small wins. And remember that struggle is temporary but regret from giving up lasts forever. Also, having people who believe in you (like my parents who sacrificed so much) makes quitting feel like betrayal.

What's the most important lesson you learned from that night?

That your response to crisis matters more than the crisis itself. NEPA didn't ruin my project that night. My response to the NEPA outage determined the outcome. This principle applies to everything in life. You will face obstacles you didn't create and don't deserve. But you're still responsible for how you respond to them. That's the difference between victims and victors. Both face the same storms but one builds an ark while the other just complains about the rain.

"Five years after that NEPA night, I now run a platform reaching 800,000+ Nigerians monthly. That laptop battery that nearly died at 3 percent? It taught me more about resource management than any business course ever could. Your struggles today are building your empire tomorrow. Don't waste the lessons." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

"To every Nigerian student reading this at 2 AM, tired, broke, and wondering if it's worth it: it is. That degree you're fighting for isn't just paper. It's proof that you survived a system designed to break you. It's evidence that you can thrive anywhere. Keep going. Your future self is counting on your present self to not give up." — Samson Ese, Daily Reality NG

Successful Nigerian graduate celebrating achievement after overcoming university challenges — Every challenge you overcome makes you stronger. Keep pushing. Photo: Unsplash

Samson Ese ✓

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Daily Reality NG

Founder of Daily Reality NG. Helping everyday Nigerians navigate life, business, and digital opportunities since 2016. I've helped over 4,000 readers start making money online, and my sites currently serve 800,000+ monthly visitors across Africa. First Class graduate from University of Lagos who survived NEPA, poverty, and every challenge Nigerian students face. Now sharing the lessons so you don't have to learn them the hard way.

View Full Profile →

💪 Ready to Write Your Own Success Story?

Join 800,000+ Nigerians getting real, actionable advice on surviving and thriving in Nigeria. No fluff. No fake promises. Just honest truth from someone who's been there.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter Read More Stories

💬 We'd Love to Hear from You!

This is a safe space for real conversations about real struggles. Your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.

Have you ever experienced a similar crisis moment during school? What happened and how did you handle it? Drop your story in the comments — let's learn from each other.
What's the biggest challenge you're facing right now as a student or recent graduate? Maybe someone reading this has been through it and can share advice.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self starting university, what would it be? Let's build a wisdom bank for the next generation.
Do you think the struggles Nigerian students face make them stronger or is it just unnecessary hardship? Honest thoughts — I want to hear different perspectives on this.
What backup plans do you have for dealing with NEPA during important work? Share your survival tactics so others can learn from your experience.

Share your thoughts in the comments below — we love hearing from our readers and every comment gets read personally by me, Samson Ese.

All posts are independently written and fact-checked by Samson Ese based on real experience and verified sources. We believe in authentic storytelling that actually helps people, not just content that ranks on Google.