A story of stress to success unveils in Port Harcourt, Rivers State as Mrs. Precious Ozioma Tokuopuye rewrites the admission story for thousands of Nigerian youths as Premium Pre-Varsity became the answer to JAMB failure, cultism and idleness
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The first thing you notice about Mrs. Precious Ozioma Tokuopuye is her calmness and her convictions.
Meeting her in her office on No. 16 Railway Close, Port Harcourt, she speaks like a woman who has watched the dreams of many young dreams die at the gate of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, commonly called JAMB.
“I did IJMB myself. I did JUPEB myself. Both gave me admission,” she says, leaning forward. “So when parents say, ‘my child must enter by force this year,’ I understand the pressure. But I also know there’s another way.”
That “other way” is Premium Pre-Varsity, an A’Level preparatory institution by Mr. Adolphus Clifford Tokuopuye, founded in 2017.
Narrating the story, she said we started in a classroom to save a generation, adding that it didn’t begin in a big building, but at Masona International School, Oyigbo in 2017.
“Young people were idle. No admission. No direction. And idle minds… you know where that leads-cultism and crime,” she said, adding that she and Mr. Tokuopuye discovered IJMB and JUPEB programmes moderated by ABU Zaria and UNILAG that allow students to gain 200-Level admission without JAMB. But nobody was talking about them.
“We test-ran it. We saw hunger. People wanted university, but the system was choking them.Because Aba Road was under reconstruction, we opened Port Harcourt City centre in 2018 at Railway Close, off the former NITEL office. Students who needed hostel accommodation stayed in Oyigbo under strict supervision by teachers. In 2022, we closed the Oyigbo centre due to power costs and distance, and consolidated in Port Harcourt.”
Stressing that discipline remains non-negotiable, she explained, “Parents entrusted their children to us. They signed undertakings. We cannot afford to fail them. This is not secondary school. This is your university foundation and if you mess this up, you mess up 200 Level.”
“Last month we expelled three students for fighting in the hostel. We don’t condone that. Our reputation is that we produce outstanding students. One bad behavior can stain 9 years of hard work.”
Her strategy is simple: awareness first. “Most students misbehave because they don’t understand the weight of what they’re doing. So we talk to them. About digital footprints. About health. About life. Things some parents are too shy to say.”
To further pursue her dreams she told Tentacle that they plan to establish a Polytechnic in 10 years, adding that the institution will focus on Science and Technology focused and that the 10-year goal also includes advocacy: making Nigerians know that JAMB is not the only door to university education.
“JAMB and UTME is not the only option to get into university. Millions register for JAMB. Medicine takes between 50-150 per university. What happens to the rest? They’re not aware they can use IJMB/JUPEB. That’s our biggest fight, awareness.”
She also made it clear that competition doesn’t worry her, saying “The sky is big enough for every bird to fly. What matters is value. We walk with the students until they gain admission.”
She tells the story of a parent who came to her center early this year. Her friend’s child did attend Premium Pre-Varsity and is now studying Medical Lab Science like many others. Her own daughter did the same programme elsewhere and failed.
“She said, ‘What you’re teaching here, she was never taught there.’ That is because we take students through the scheme twice before exams and that is why most of our clients are returning parents.
On the challenges of being a woman, wife and administrator, she said, “I built structures so the school can run without me. Structures remain key. I’m not a housewife. I build systems. I can be away for two weeks and the school still runs. Same at home. Fridge. Microwave. Planning. Women don’t need to cook every day in 2026.
On how she funds the school, she informed that there are no government grants yet. Just church scholarships here and there. She’s been on radio, on TV, pushing the message herself.
Her message to Nigeria parents is to check the value for their money.“Go back to the drawing board. It is 33 not enough to pay millions. Is your child getting value? At 16, should they know this? At 17, should they know that?”
And to the students, “Don’t chase shortcuts. Education is still the key. I met a big CEO who came back here because international partners asked for his certificate. He had none. Don’t be that person.”
And her final word, “Fail honorably. Study harder. We give you an arm and a leg to teach you so you don’t have to cheat.”
As we leave, students are in class-some in their lab coats, others with textbooks. Quiet. Focused. Nine years ago, this was just an idea in Oyigbo. Today, it’s a bridge. And Mrs. Precious Ozioma Tokuopuye is the woman building it, one student at a time.
