JAMB 2025/2026 Recommended Novel | The Life Changer: Full Summary, JAMB Novel 2025/2026 – The Life Changer by Khadija Abubakar Jalli full summary
JAMB 2025/2026 Recommended Novel | The Life Changer: Summary of The Life Changer
The Life Changer is a novel that offers a unique view of university life through the experiences of a female student named Salma and her roommates. The novel addresses the challenges, opportunities, and lessons students face during their academic journey. It also highlights the role of parents, teachers, and mentors in shaping the character and future of young people.
The novel consists of nine chapters and spans 79 pages. It begins with a prologue where Salma’s mother, Ummi, shares her own experiences as a student and explains how they influenced her decision to allow Salma to study at the university. In the prologue, we also meet Salma’s father, Omar, and their four children: Salma, Omar Junior (OJ), Bint, and Teemah.
Chapter 1: Bint’s Clever Moment
The first chapter focuses on Salma’s younger sister, Bint, and her encounter with her Social Studies teacher. The teacher tries to test her knowledge of French but gets surprised when Bint asks him a question in French that he cannot answer. The teacher gets embarrassed and quickly runs out to fetch another teacher who speaks French. Bint’s siblings find the situation funny and praise her for her intelligence.
Chapter 2: Salma’s First Year Experience
The second chapter shifts to Salma’s life at the university. She talks about her roommates: Ada, a Christian girl from the South-East; Nancy, a Muslim girl from the North-West; and Tomiwa, a Yoruba girl from the South-West. Salma also mentions some of her coursemates, including Ugochi, a smart and outspoken girl, Sani, a handsome and friendly boy, and Labaran, a rude and arrogant boy. Salma tells the story of how she met Sani on her first day of registration, and how they became good friends.
Chapter 3: A Bad Encounter with Labaran
In the third chapter, Salma shares a disturbing encounter with Labaran, who tries to harass her sexually in the library. Salma resists his advances and reports him to the librarian, who scolds Labaran and warns him to stay away from her. Salma also tells Sani about the incident, and he advises her to be cautious around Labaran. Salma is grateful for Sani’s support and their growing friendship.
Chapter 4: First Semester Exams
The fourth chapter talks about Salma’s experience during her first semester exams. She explains how she prepared for the exams with the help of her roommates and Sani. She also describes witnessing some cases of exam malpractice but decides to stay away from them. Salma is confident that she will do well in her exams.
Chapter 5: Visiting Sani’s Family
In the fifth chapter, Salma visits Sani’s house during the semester break. She meets his mother, who treats her like her own daughter, and Sani’s younger sister, Nana, who is suffering from sickle cell anemia. Salma feels sympathy for Nana and prays for her recovery.
Chapter 6: A Scam Attempt
The sixth chapter describes Salma’s encounter with a scammer. A person calls her, pretending to be an admission officer from JAMB, claiming there was a mistake in her admission and asking for money to correct it. The scammer threatens to revoke her admission if she doesn’t comply. Salma feels confused and scared but decides to ask Sani for advice. Sani tells her that it’s a scam and advises her to ignore the caller and report him to the authorities.
Chapter 7: Joining a Campus Protest
In the seventh chapter, Salma becomes involved in a protest on campus against a new policy that requires students to pay extra fees for course registration. Salma joins other students in marching to the vice-chancellor’s office to demand that the policy be reversed. The students are confronted by security officers who try to disperse them using tear gas and batons. With the help of Sani, Salma manages to escape unharmed.
Chapter 8: Quiz Competition Victory
The eighth chapter shows Salma’s involvement in a quiz competition organized by the Department of English Language. Salma, along with Ugochi and Sani, is selected to represent her department. They work together to prepare for the competition and compete against other departments. Salma’s team wins the competition, and they are celebrated by their lecturers and fellow students.
Chapter 9: Graduation Day
The ninth and final chapter concludes the novel with Salma’s graduation ceremony. She successfully completes her final-year project and exams with excellent results. Salma receives her certificate and is congratulated by her parents, siblings, roommates, and Sani. She expresses her gratitude to God and everyone who supported her throughout her academic journey. Salma is hopeful for a bright future.
see also:
- How to Score Over 300 in JAMB 2025/2026: Key Secrets and Preparation Tips
- JAMB Secrets to Score 300+ and above in 2025/2026
Themes of The Life Changer
The novel explores several important themes that are relevant to society today:
- Education:
The novel highlights the importance of education in personal development and social change. It shows how education can empower young people to reach their potential and contribute to the growth of the country. It also exposes students to different cultures, perspectives, and opportunities. - Gender:
The Life Changer challenges the stereotypes and prejudices that limit women in society. The novel portrays women as intelligent, capable, and independent individuals who can excel in any area of life. It also shows women as powerful agents of change who can positively influence their families, communities, and nations. - Corruption:
The novel tackles the issue of corruption in Nigerian society. It shows how corruption can damage the quality of education, governance, and justice. Corruption also endangers the well-being of citizens and harms society. - Violence:
The Life Changer depicts the violence that often arises in Nigerian society due to ethnic, religious, or political conflicts. It shows how violence disrupts the peace and harmony of the community, affecting both the physical and psychological well-being of the victims and survivors. - Love:
The novel celebrates the power of love, showing how love binds people together despite their differences. It demonstrates how love can inspire people to care for and support one another, especially during tough times. Love also motivates people to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Characters of The Life Changer
The novel features various characters that represent different aspects of Nigerian society. Here are some of the major characters:
- Salma:
Salma is the main character of the novel. She is a young and intelligent girl who gets admitted to Ahmadu Bello University to study English. She is hard-working, friendly, and ambitious. Despite facing challenges in her academic journey, she overcomes them with courage and determination. Salma is a role model for other female students who want to pursue higher education. - Sani:
Sani is Salma’s best friend and love interest. He is a handsome and charming boy who also studies English at the university. He is smart, kind, loyal, and protective of Salma. He supports Salma in her academic and personal life and is respected by his peers. - Ummi:
Ummi is Salma’s mother. She studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University. She is a loving, caring, and wise mother who encourages Salma to pursue her education and offers valuable advice based on her own experiences. - Omar:
Omar is Salma’s father. He works as a civil servant in the Ministry of Education. He is a devoted and responsible father who ensures that his family is well taken care of. Omar supports his daughter’s education and believes in progress and empowerment through learning. - Bint:
Bint is Salma’s younger sister. She is five years old and attends primary school. She is witty, curious, and confident. Bint surprises her teachers and family with her intelligence and creativity. - OJ:
OJ is Salma’s younger brother. He is seven years old and goes to primary school. He is playful, mischievous, and enjoys teasing his sisters and making them laugh. - Teemah:
Teemah is Salma’s youngest sister. She is three years old and stays at home with her mother. She is cute, cheerful, and loves cuddling with her family. - Ada:
Ada is one of Salma’s roommates at the university. She is a Christian girl from the South-East, studying Mass Communication. Ada is friendly, cheerful, and likes to joke around. - Nancy:
Nancy is another one of Salma’s roommates. She is a Muslim girl from the North-West, studying Sociology. She is quiet, humble, and enjoys reading books and listening to music. - Tomiwa:
Tomiwa is Salma’s roommate from the South-West, studying Economics. She is fashionable, trendy, and stylish. She loves to dress up and go out with friends. - Ugochi:
Ugochi is Salma’s coursemate in the English department. She is brilliant, outspoken, and excels academically. Ugochi is also courageous and stands up for her rights and beliefs. - Labaran:
Labaran is a coursemate of Salma’s in the English department. He is rude, arrogant, and often harasses other students. He is also involved in dishonest activities such as exam malpractice. - Nana:
Nana is Sani’s younger sister. She suffers from sickle cell anemia but remains strong and optimistic. Nana does not let her condition stop her from being happy and chasing her dreams.
Check: 2025/2026 Chemistry JAMB Questions, Answers, Syllabus
FAQs:
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the novel The Life Changer by Khadija Abubakar Jalli.
-
Who is the author of The Life Changer?
- The author of The Life Changer is Khadija Abubakar Jalli.
-
How many chapters are there in The Life Changer?
- The Life Changer has 15 chapters.
-
What is the name of Salma’s university?
- The name of Salma’s university is not clearly mentioned in the book, but it is set in a Nigerian university.
-
Who is Salma’s best friend and love interest?
- Salma’s best friend and love interest is John. He is a young man who helps Salma at the university registration office.
-
Who is the fake admission officer who tried to scam Salma?
- There is no fake admission officer in the story who tries to scam Salma. John is a helpful person, not a scammer.
-
What is the name and summary of the novel recommended by JAMB for the UTME 2025/2026?
- The JAMB-recommended novel for UTME 2025/2026 is The Life Changer by Khadija Abubakar Jalli. It tells the story of a young woman, Ummi, who faces challenges when she enters university. The book explores her personal growth, the freedom of university life, relationships, and academic struggles.
-
What is the JAMB Recommended Novel for 2025/2026?
- The JAMB Recommended Novel for UTME 2025/2026 is The Life Changer by Khadija Abubakar Jalli.]
Conclusion:
In conclusion, The Life Changer by Khadija Abubakar Jalli is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that gives readers a glimpse into the life of a university student navigating the challenges of academics, relationships, and personal growth. It highlights the changes and lessons that come with stepping into a new phase of life. With its relatable characters and powerful themes, it is no surprise that this novel has been recommended by JAMB for the 2025/2026 UTME.
We hope this guide to frequently asked questions about the book has been helpful to you. If you have any more questions or thoughts, feel free to leave them in the comments. Thank you for reading, and enjoy your journey with The Life Changer!
