Yola, Nigeria - Dressed in a red and blue gown and mortar board, Abubakar Umar collected his degree on Saturday looking like just another proud student.
But if there was nothing to make the 26-year-old petroleum chemistry student stand out from his classmates, the story of how he came to be at his graduation ceremony at the American University of Nigeria in the northeastern city of Yola, is one of sheer courage and determination.
Last November, Umar was driving home to the city of Kano 640 kilometres (400 miles) away when he ran into Boko Haram insurgents, who opened fire twice on his car, hitting him in both arms.
"I think I should have died on that day, I could have died on that day," he told reporters before the graduation ceremony.
"I lost so much blood, there wasn't any medication. But somehow I think the Lord kept me alive for a special reason and one of those reasons was to complete my degree."
AFP
