JAMB Novel The Life Changer – Khadija .A. Jalli Summary & Areas Concentration 2024/2025

“JAMB Novel The Life Changer” by Khadija Abubakar Jalli is the designated Use of English Novel for the 2024/2025 UTME examination. The novel moves into various themes and follows the journey of its characters through different chapters. While the specifics of each chapter are not provided here, prospective JAMB UTME and Direct Entry candidates can access the full book download in PDF format to read online for free.

• READ Also:JAMB Timetable 2024/2025: Mock & Main Exam Dates

JAMB Novel The Life Changer

“The Life Changer” by Khadija Abubakar Jalli is a transformative novel that redefines the campus experience with a thread of optimism, emphasizing hope and redemption among youth. This debut publication by Jalli heralds a resurgence of the female voice in African literature.

The narrative follows Salma and her roommates navigating the challenges and complexities of university life. As the recommended novel for JAMB UTME 2023, we are pleased to offer the full text of “The Life Changer” by Khadija Abubakar Jalli for free, allowing readers to delve into its compelling story.

About the Author Khadija Abubakar Jalli’

Khadija Abubakar Jalli holds a B.Sc (Ed) Mathematics degree and is an entrepreneur, serving as the CEO of She’s Boutique Afrique. Married with children, she marks her literary debut with “The Life Changer,” suggesting a resurgence of the female voice in African literature.

JAMB Novel The Life Changer Summary

JAMB announced that candidates sitting for the 2023 UTME will be tested on a Use of English Novel titled “The Life Changer” by Khadija Abubakar Jalli, so read closely

“The Life Changer” by Khadija Abubakar Jalli is a debut novel that dedpicts the realities of life on a Nigerian university campus, themes of freedom, attitudes, and the diverse human character responses to newfound freedom.

Through the experiences of Salma and her roommates, the novel navigates through the challenges and complexities of academia, emphasizing underlying optimism towards hope and redemption among the youth. The story begins with Bint’s classroom encounter with her social studies teacher and transitions to Omar’s admission into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Omar’s mother, Ummi, reflects on her own university experiences, emphasizing the transformative nature of university education. As the narrative unfolds, it reveals Salma’s experiences at the university, including encounters with registration delays and interactions with university staff.

Ummi uses these stories to impart important life lessons to her children, cautioning them against trusting appearances and choosing friends wisely to avoid negative influences like cultism and examination malpractice

Life Changer by Khadija Abubakar Jalli Character Summary

The Life Changer” by Khadija Abubakar Jalli portrays diverse characters whose personalities shape the narrative and contribute to its themes. Here’s a summary of some key characterizations:

• Salma: Salma is portrayed as a fair-complexioned, tall, and slim girl who challenges authority and expresses dissatisfaction with bureaucratic inefficiencies at the university. Her experiences highlight the complexities of student life and the challenges of navigating academic institutions.
• Ummi: Ummi is Omar’s mother, a character who reflects on her own university experiences and emphasizes the transformative potential of education. She imparts wisdom to her children through storytelling, using her past encounters to teach valuable life lessons.
• Bint: Bint is a precocious five-year-old girl whose classroom encounter with her social studies teacher sets the stage for the narrative. Her curiosity and intelligence foreshadow the themes of education and learning explored throughout the novel.
• Mallam Salihu: Mallam Salihu is Bint’s social studies teacher, portrayed as somewhat rigid and traditional in his approach to teaching. His inability to answer Bint’s question reflects the limitations of traditional education and the importance of humility in learning.
• Omar: Omar is Ummi’s son, who gains admission to Ahmadu Bello University to study Law. His journey into university life symbolizes hope and opportunity, highlighting the transformative power of education for young people.
• Dr. Samuel Johnson: Dr. Samuel Johnson is the head of the department at the university, described as a young, hospitable man with religious inclinations. His assistance to Ummi and his interactions with Salma underscore themes of mentorship and the importance of positive role models in academia.
• Roommates: Salma’s roommates represent different facets of university life and student experiences. Their interactions with Salma and each other provide insight into the challenges and dynamics of campus relationships.

The Life Changer Chapter One Concised Summary

This chapter narrates Ummi’s admission journey to the university, where she recounts agreeing to her father’s marriage condition but her husband married her before she started her studies. It highlights her encounter with Salma and her embarrassment at the faculty registration office due to her negative remarks about university officials. Additionally, Ummi’s discomfort with Dr. Samuel Johnson’s hospitality is depicted, only to later discover that he had helped her husband secure her admission. Ummi feels remorseful and asks her husband to apologize to Dr. Samuel Johnson on her behalf.

 The Life Changer Chapter Two Concised Summary

In this chapter, Ummi’s admission journey to the university is detailed, including her marriage before starting her studies. It highlights her encounter with Salma and her subsequent embarrassment at the faculty registration office due to her negative remarks about university officials. Ummi’s discomfort with Dr. Samuel Johnson’s hospitality is depicted, but she later learns that he had helped her husband secure her admission. Feeling remorseful, Ummi asks her husband to apologize to Dr. Samuel Johnson on her behalf.

 The Life Changer Chapter Three Concised Summary

In Chapter Three of “The Life Changer,” Ummi narrates her university registration experience to her children, emphasizing the importance of humility and gratitude. She recalls her initial misjudgment of Dr. Samuel Johnson and her subsequent realization of his role in her admission process. The chapter underscores the significance of acknowledging others’ kindness and avoiding hasty judgments.

 The Life Changer Chapter Four Concised Summary

In this chapter, Salma’s journey to the university unfolds as she encounters Dr. Dabo, the 100 level coordinator. Despite Dr. Dabo’s reputation for fairness and discipline, he becomes infatuated with Salma upon meeting her in his office. However, Salma rejects his advances, causing Dr. Dabo to regret his behavior and pledge to maintain professionalism. Salma then settles into Queen Amina Hall and initially struggles to connect with her roommates. However, she eventually forms a close bond with Tomiwa, Ngozi, and Ada. On her way back to campus from home, Salma meets Habib and Labaran, whom she mistakenly introduces as Tomiwa, sparking a potential misunderstanding.

 The Life Changer Chapter Five Concised Summary

In this chapter, Habib calls Tomiwa to hang out, mistaking her for Salma, whom they had given a ride to previously. Tomiwa goes along with it, but Habib realizes the mistake and confronts her. Despite the misunderstanding, they enjoy Suya and provisions together, and Habib gives Tomiwa money to share with her roommates. This causes a brief rift between Salma and Tomiwa, but it is quickly resolved with the help of Ada and Ngozi. Additionally, the chapter sheds light on the friendship between Habib and Labaran, who supports Habib financially and later becomes his driver when Habib enters politics.

 The Life Changer Chapter Six Concised Summary

In this chapter, the girls are in their final year of school and are excelling academically despite their involvement with men. However, Salma struggles with Moral Philosophy, a course she neglected to attend classes for. She relies on past exam papers and attempts to cheat during the exam by copying from a fellow student, Kolawole Abdul. However, she is caught by the invigilator and security, resulting in her signing an EMAL form and Kolawole being implicated and expelled along with her.

 The Life Changer Chapter Seven Concised Summary

In this chapter, Salma seeks help from Tomiwa to influence Labaran to speak to Honourable Habib, hoping he could assist her with her troubles. However, the only influential person Labaran knows is Professor Dabo, whom Salma had insulted in the past. Salma desperately pleads with Honourable Habib for money to bribe the chairman of EMEC, offering something in return. After receiving the money, she meets with an impostor posing as Dr. Mohammed Kabir, whom she believes to be the chairman of EMEC, and gives him a bribe, only to realize later that she had been swindled.

 The Life Changer Chapter Eight Concised Summary

In this chapter, the origin of Dr. Mohammad Kabir’s nickname is revealed, stemming from his secondary school days. Despite being employed as a Laboratory Technician at the university, his friendly demeanor allowed him to establish connections with influential individuals. Labaran, upon hearing Salma’s plight, enlists Zaki’s help to track down Mohammad Kabir, leading to the recovery of a significant sum of money he had swindled from Salma. Additionally, the chapter unveils Honourable Habib’s involvement in instructing Zaki to kidnap Alhaji Adamu’s son, resulting in significant complications and financial repercussions.

 The Life Changer Chapter Nine Concised Summary

In Chapter Nine, Ummi recounts Salim’s harrowing encounter with smartphone usage. Salim’s rendezvous with Natasha, a girl he met on a social media platform, turns into a life-threatening ordeal. Despite agreeing to meet her in the evening due to her claim of not being allowed out in the afternoon, Salim soon realizes that Natasha and her associates are actually kidnappers and armed robbers. Through divine intervention, Salim narrowly escapes the dangerous trap set by Natasha, emerging from the ordeal unscathed.

 The Life Changer Areas Concentration / Likely Question